Joe Gomez: Liverpool fans entitled to voice frustrations but ‘it does hurt’

Sun, 10 May, 2026 - 14:28

By Carl Markham, Press Association

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez accepts fans are entitled to voice their frustrations however they want but it does impact the players.

There were jeers at the end of Saturday’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Chelsea which left Arne Slot’s side still needing three points from their remaining two matches to guarantee a return to the Champions League, although two points should be enough due to their superior goal difference.

The boos were even louder when teenage winger Rio Ngumoha was substituted midway through the second half, although Slot said that was due to cramp and not tactical.

Gomez, who watched most of the game from the bench before his entrance in the 77th minute, is the club’s longest-serving current player so has seen highs and lows since arriving in 2015 and admits the booing is tough to hear.

“We feel it. It’s the last thing we want. For us older boys who have experienced so many good times here, it does hurt,” he said.

“If it didn’t then you shouldn’t still be here. We want to make it right.

“I guess it just is a summary of our year and it’s just a reaction to the whole year, and that’s fair enough.

“The fans pay their hard-earned money to come and watch us and they’re entitled to show their frustration, in the same way they cheer us.”

A lovely finish from Ryan 🎯 pic.twitter.com/9Gn6cYm8l6

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 9, 2026

What was particularly frustrating was the regression shown by the team, having taken a sixth-minute lead through Ryan Gravenberch.

Slot’s tactics have come in for criticism all season but the way Chelsea – a team which had lost their last six league matches – were handed the initiative infuriated Anfield.

“I think we have to remember that tactically we made a step last year which was very effective,” added Gomez, referring to the changeover from Jurgen Klopp which saw them win the league.

“One of the strengths of our coaching staff is to adapt every game and try and expose and overload in certain areas and that is a different style to the faster pace.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot with Rio Ngumoha — Liverpool head coach Slot (second right) was booed for substituting Ngumoha (centre) (Peter Byrne/PA)

“We get that sometimes it’s not as fluid or as high intensity on the ball as always.

“It does get frustrating when it gets fragmented but there’s also been times when it’s controlled the game, (although) not as much this year.

“It’s a Catch 22 sometimes when you’re trying to control the game, keep possession. We expect to dominate possession percentage-wise any game we’re in but that isn’t always high-paced, trying to thread the ball in behind and score.

“Fundamentally, the supporters want to see us give it all, but that is on the ball trying to play progressive football and being passive in any sense is not what I know and (what) no one wants to see.”

Enzo Fernandez scored Chelsea’s equaliser with a low free-kick which sneaked past everyone even though Wesley Fofana attempted to get the final touch, but one of the big bonuses was defender Levi Colwill’s first 90 minutes since July after a knee injury.