It was another day of frustration for Liverpool as they were held to a goalless draw at home to Chelsea on Saturday lunchtime.
In a game that was befitting of the relatively lowly places of ninth and 10th that the Reds and the Londoners respectively found themselves in before kick-off, there were few genuine chances for either team.
The visitors had an early goal ruled out for offside and new £88m signing Mykhailo Mudryk ruffled the side netting late on, while Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez brought out second-half saves from Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga
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There was not a whole lot else to write home about on what was a dour draw played out in plunging Merseyside temperatures. What you might have missed, however, were a series of intriguing subplots at Anfield on Saturday.
Alisson anger
There was plenty of frustration to go around on Saturday afternoon as Liverpool failed to take advantage of home comforts in their first Premier League game at Anfield of 2023.
After an ordinary first half was brought to a close, goalkeeper Alisson Becker could be seen launching the ball into the crowd in annoyance of how a quiet, tepid first period had gone in what was a vital game for both sides' hopes of an assault on the top four places.
The normally mild-mannered Alisson was clearly unhappy by how the first half had been played out having just conceded an unnecessary corner moments earlier when he miscued a clearance with the outside of his foot from Andy Robertson's pacy backpass.
The throw from the Brazilian might have earned someone a bit of a unique keepsake of a forgettable game, at least.
Klopp demands more from Gomez
It wasn't just Alisson whose exasperation was visible in the first period. Jurgen Klopp was left in fuming at Joe Gomez after the defender played a harmless pass back to Alisson.
Clearly wanting the ball to go forward, Klopp, in full arm-waving fury, admonished his centre-back after he had, under no pressure, opted to go backwards as Liverpool tried to build something from the back.
Gomez was made aware, in no uncertain terms from Klopp, that the ball needed to go forward if it was possible to. The Liverpool boss has found himself becoming increasingly more agitated on the sidelines this season as the struggles go on for the Reds on the pitch. It's been that kind of campaign.
Terry in the away end
Anfield is unlikely to hold any particularly special memories for Chelsea legend John Terry.
The former captain of the Londoners was twice on the receiving end of Champions League exits at the semi-final stage and was left in tears in both 2005 and 2007 when Rafa Benitez's men bested their visitors in a couple of famous European nights for the Reds.
Former England skipper Terry was back on enemy turf on Saturday experiencing Anfield from the away end. Terry was part of the 3,000 or so Chelsea supporters in the Anfield Road and was inevitably filmed by those surrounding him both on the concourses and in the seats.
The former England man even joined in with Chelsea supporters chanting about him winning the double.
As one of the finest defenders of his generation, Terry might very well have been impressed by the performance of Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate on the day, but even a staunch, fully paid-up member of the 'centre-backs union' might have recognised the paucity of display from both sides' attacking departments.
Rumours that Terry was at Anfield in full Chelsea kit were wide of the mark, however...
Protest? What protest?
Social media had not exactly been awash with talk of a protest outside Anfield on Saturday earlier this week but there were at least a couple of accounts attempting to rouse the troops.
It was decreed that any would-be dissenters around the club's owners Fenway Sports Group should meet at the Kop End bar on Oakfield Road, just a few minutes' walk from the stadium itself.
Unsurprisingly, there was no protesting and the chosen venue itself was peppered only with a handful of typical match-goers simply enjoying some pre-match food.
There may be very legitimate concerns about the lack of investment in recent transfer windows, particularly in a midfield department in need of rejuvenation, but protesting against ownership is not something that is taken lightly by Liverpool's core fanbase.
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