Arne Slot shares biggest problem with most of the Premier League - and Liverpool needs it to change

Liverpool has undoubtedly been boring to watch at times this season, but it is far from the only team in the Premier League that falls into that category at the moment

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

While Liverpool's 1-1 draw against Burnley on Saturday was far from the worst performance that Anfield regulars have been served up this season, it was more an accumulation of frustrations that led to boos at the final whistle.

Those who opted to jeer did so not because Liverpool had played especially poorly here — the game with Leeds United was far more boring and the defeat against PSV considerably more dismal — but because this was just the latest in a long line of difficult performances to stomach.

As much as the result against a newly-promoted team was "unacceptable", as Steven Gerrard labeled it, Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez were positives. It wasn't a complete write-off, and there have been matches in L4 this season that have been.

What it was, though, was slow and predictable. Dominik Szoboszlai was among those guilty of taking his time when Liverpool had the opportunity to move the ball faster — and that is never going to help against a low block.

Many fans had queued for up to an hour to get into Anfield because of the additional security checks being undertaken outside the turnstiles. In the cold and wet, they then needed to see something to lift the mood.

Instead, there was anger and annoyance at Liverpool dallying and showing little in the way of urgency. Szoboszlai was one culprit but he was far from alone.

Had Liverpool won consistently this season, of course, then all would be forgiven. Fans would go home happy enough with a 'boring' 2-0 win if that victory had put the Reds a point clear of Arsenal.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)

That is far from the reality, however. Liverpool is a mile off the pace at the top of the Premier League and just about inside the top four after wins for Manchester United and Chelsea.

When you are not winning games, a complete lack of entertainment becomes a glaring issue, and it is not one that Slot is oblivious to, either.

But Liverpool is not alone in being a tough watch. Indeed, who across the Premier League can say that they are happy right now? It is four teams at best.

Arsenal is leading the title race but has drawn 0-0 twice in a row. Its system under Mikel Arteta relies heavily on set-pieces. Even Manchester City, which is performing below its previous standards, has gone much more direct than ever before under Pep Guardiola.

Leeds United and Sunderland are both outperforming expectations this season as newly promoted sides. Brentford, having lost Thomas Frank, is going much better than even itself was likely prepared to predict.

Aside from that, though, few sets of supporters will be pleased with what they are watching. Even Aston Villa, third under Unai Emery, has an attacking plan that largely seems to hinge on Morgan Rogers scoring a screamer — fine for as long as it works.

The 2025/26 Premier League is filled with teams that are playing for long balls and set-pieces. For the small handful for which that is working, it makes sense; for the rest, there is discontent and unease.

Liverpool is not being slowed down by waiting 60 seconds to line up a long throw every few minutes, but it is far too ponderous in its build-up play nonetheless. Though it generated more than three expected goals against Burnley, that was more by sheer volume of low-quality shots than sustained pressure and clear-cut opportunities.

For the teams that win, the current Premier League trends are acceptable. For those that aren't as often as they feel they should be — the majority, in truth, and that includes Liverpool — something has to change.