Liverpool faces a critical moment to salvage their season as supporters express discontent with the club.

LIVERPOOL, England — Even “Doctor Tottenham” was unable to remedy Liverpool’s troubles.

Spurs’ tendency to offer a struggling opponent the chance for revival is one of the most well-known narratives in English football, leading to the enduring “Dr. Tottenham” joke. Yet, even Spurs — a team plagued by injuries and precariously close to the relegation zone — could not help Liverpool improve their performance.

This season for Liverpool has fluctuated between the impressive and the absurd, but on Sunday afternoon, it reached another disappointing low as they drew 1-1 with Igor Tudor’s beleaguered Spurs at Anfield. Even prior to Richarlison taking advantage of some poor defending to equalize Dominik Szoboszlai’s remarkable first-half free-kick, some fans had begun to leave their seats.

“Your support is f—ing s—,” was the chant from Tottenham supporters in the away section. The fact that fans of a losing team still seeking their first win in 2026 exhibited more faith in their players than those of the Premier League champions was a stark reflection of Liverpool’s latest lackluster performance.

A club that once transformed from “doubters to believers” under former manager Jürgen Klopp now appears to be filled with anxiety and uncertainty. The point earned against Spurs allows Liverpool to move up a position in the standings — surpassing Chelsea, who lost to Newcastle United on Saturday — yet the loud boos from Liverpool supporters at the final whistle indicated that this is not a fanbase looking forward with optimism.

Last season, it was against Tottenham that Liverpool experienced their most memorable day under manager Arne Slot, winning 5-1 to secure a record-equalling 20th league title. Those glorious days now seem a distant memory.

Where just 11 months ago there was red smoke and ticker tape, there are now grey skies and doubt. While last April it appeared Slot was laying the groundwork for a dynasty on Merseyside, there are now calls for the Dutchman to step down.

After suffering a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie midweek, this weekend presented Liverpool with a chance to regain some confidence against a Tottenham team missing several key players, including their primary center-back duo of Micky van de Ven and captain Cristian Romero.

When Szoboszlai put the hosts ahead with another superb free-kick within 18 minutes, it seemed as though Spurs — who conceded four goals in just 22 minutes away to Atletico Madrid midweek — were vulnerable. However, whether due to complacency, inadequate coaching, individual errors, or a mix of all three, Liverpool failed to capitalize on their fragile opponents.

Too frequently, promising attacks dwindled as the hosts reverted to the disjointed, slow style of play that has drawn near-constant criticism this season. At the opposite end, Tottenham found gaps in Liverpool’s weak defense, and when Richarlison scored his late equalizer, it was difficult to argue that the visitors did not merit it.

The Brazilian’s goal marks the eighth Premier League goal Liverpool has conceded in the 90th minute or later this season, the highest total for the club in a single campaign. The fact that all these goals have changed the outcome, forcing Liverpool to settle for draws or losses, highlights how detrimental the Reds’ vulnerabilities have been this term, with numerous valuable points squandered due to late lapses in concentration.

Having witnessed their team repeatedly squander leads in recent months, it was perhaps unsurprising that some felt compelled to express their frustrations at the conclusion of the match.

“I think it is understandable for fans to be frustrated because it has happened already so many times that they have seen the home team not picking up the points they’re expecting due to goals conceded in the last minute,” Slot stated in his post-match press conference.

“… We are all frustrated — that is completely clear. It is now up to me and the players to channel that frustration into Wednesday evening and deliver the performance and result the fans deserve because they have been supportive all season. If it happens so many times that they are frustrated at the end of games or after the final whistle, that makes complete sense to me.”

From Tottenham’s viewpoint, Sunday afternoon could potentially serve as a turning point in their fight against relegation. While Spurs are still in search of their first victory under interim manager Tudor, their determination and resilience at Anfield should provide a model for the upcoming matches, beginning with next weekend’s crucial encounter against fellow relegation battlers Nottingham Forest.

The away section celebrated at the final whistle, applauding Tudor and his players for a performance that exceeded expectations, earning a point that could prove invaluable in the battle for survival. In contrast, the Liverpool players appeared stunned.

In a season marred by tragedy, misfortune, and sheer bad luck, extensive justifications have often acted as a buffer against the most severe criticism. For Slot and his squad, however, there can no longer be any places to hide.

Time is running out for them to salvage their season. Based on their latest performance, they simply do not appear ready for the challenge.