Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenbirch has insisted the Reds do not deserve to be booed off the pitch by their own supporters after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea. The Dutch midfielder broke the deadlock after just five minutes with a superb strike, allowing Enzo Fernandes to level the score with a low free-kick into the Kop end.
Liverpool fans immediately voiced their displeasure when manager Arne Slott removed Rio Ngmoja and replaced him with Alexander Isak midway through the second half, but many returned to jeer at the full-time whistle. In response to the second wave of complaints, Gravenbirch told TNT Sports: “To be honest, we need them (the fans) to support us.
“OK, we didn’t win, but I really don’t think we deserved this (reaction). The fans have to support us for the whole 90 minutes because in the second half, when they were behind us, we pressed so much. We need them. I hope they don’t repeat the same in the next two games.”
“Of course we have to share the points, so we are (disappointed),” said Graben-Birch, reflecting on his failure to preserve the advantage his goal gave the Reds.
“We wanted three points, but obviously they’re a very good team and they’re playing well here, so I think in the end they deserved one point too.”
“We created a chance with two goals from Dom (Szoboszlai). If we had been a little bit more lucky, we would have converted it. In the end, we couldn’t convert it, so it’s a little disappointing.”
Graben-Birch added: “It hasn’t been a great season for us. We still have two games left and we have to win them to secure Champions League qualification.”
