Reed it and WEEP

IN the search to find an accurate assessment of the latest leg of the most unconvincing unbeaten streak in years, Arne Slot might find that this was a game that encapsulated Liverpool's entire Premier League term.

- By PAUL GORST

For large portions it was drab, lacking in imagination and a difficult watch. There was the odd moment of magic to cherish and a sucker punch or two to deal with in the process. All perfectly in keeping with the trials and tribulations of 25/26 then. Liverpool won't concede another goal as sublime this season as the effort from Harrison Reed that earned a point for Marco Silva's side. And the fact that the substitute had only been on the pitch a matter of seconds and hadn't scored for nearly three years only added to the sheer ridiculousness of the 30-yard effort that made it 2-2.

But, deep down, this was no hard-luck story for the Reds, who paid for a tired performance by being pegged back at the death after it looked like Cody Gakpo was sending the away end home in delirium.

Gakpo, who scored a first Premier League goal since the end of November here, looked devastated as the whistle blew that it was not his contribution that was the most decisive. Rather than dwell on that fact, however, what the Netherlands forward must do now is use it to gain enough confidence to get back to the sort of levels he enjoyed last season.