Wayne Rooney felt Chelsea were the ‘better team’ for the majority of their Premier League draw with Liverpool.
Chelsea had lost six successive Premier League games ahead of their trip to Anfield on Saturday but managed to stop the rot with a 1-1 draw.
The Blues’ miserable run looked set to continue when Ryan Gravenberch curled home a superb strike to give Liverpool an early lead.
But Enzo Fernandez’s cross-come-shot evaded Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and brought Chelsea level before half-time.
Both teams had chances to score a winner after the break but the game finished 1-1, meaning Chelsea could be in the bottom-half of the Premier League at the end of the weekend.
Liverpool, meanwhile, stay fourth and move a step closer to qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Arne Slot’s side were booed off after the stalemate and Rooney says the Anfield faithful were clearly ‘a bit edgy’ throughout a game they were perhaps fortunate not to lose.
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‘I thought Liverpool actually started quite well, got the goal, and then from there Chelsea were the better team,’ Rooney told BBC Sport.
‘They caused Liverpool big problems, especially Marc Cucurella running behind.
‘The crowd were obviously a bit edgy, which you very rarely get from Liverpool fans. You never like to see that, but it comes from not having the season they hoped for, and after spending a lot of money.’
As well as booing at the full-time whistle, Liverpool fans also made their feelings felt when lively youngster Rio Ngumoha was subbed off with around half an hour remaining.
Explaining that substitution, Slot said: ‘I don’t think it was some of them – there were a lot that didn’t agree with the change which is completely understandable.
‘He was having problems with his muscles and when I asked him he said he was not sure he could continue. I knew this would be the reaction because he is such a good player.
‘So often in football, people don’t know everything. I am the manager and I need to make decisions. Knowing why makes it more sense for people.’
Reacting to the boos at full-time, Slot added: ‘That’s probably got something to do with us not winning. It completely makes sense people are disappointed if Liverpool don’t win.’
Discussing Liverpool’s performance as a whole, the under-pressure Dutchman said: ‘We started off really well and got a big chance from a set-piece which was close to making it 2-0.
‘Unfortunately, like last week, we conceded a set piece. It was such a sloppy goal.
‘The second half I saw a completely different intensity. We went close a few times. Like so many times this season, we hit the post and bar.
‘We were not able to control their players. They played with a lot of midfielders today.’
Liverpool face top-four rivals Aston Villa next weekend while Chelsea take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
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