The final whistle sounding at an angry Anfield was the cue for throats to be cleared by an increasing number of disgruntled home supporters.
Several home players slumped to the turf with head in hands while Arne Slot wearily rose from his seat in the dugout.
They knew what was coming. And, sure enough, the boos and jeers that rained down from the stands were wholly justified after another tortuous showing from the outgoing Premier League champions.
It was bad enough the Reds once again allowed a positive result – if not performance – to slip through their fingers with the concession of yet another late goal.
But that it came against a Tottenham Hotspur hampered by injury, suspension and, well, the fact they aren’t very good was sufficient for the fume that had been building during the final half-hour of the game to boil over.
Former Everton striker and full-time pantomime villain Richarlison scoring the 90th-minute equaliser in front of the Kop seemed a bit on the nose even for a season in which almost everything that could possibly go wrong for Liverpool has come to fruition.
Nobody, though, could say it wasn't merited as the Reds, given a deserved early lead with another memorable Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick, proceeded to meekly hand the initiative back to a Tottenham side who realised in the second half the home side weren’t actually that impressive either.
With the officials seemingly at times playing by their own rulebook, it made for a genuinely dreadful encounter in which the overall poor standards were very much in keeping with a tedious Premier League campaign.
Of course, the lack of quality elsewhere in the division means Champions League qualification remains very much achievable for Liverpool.
In fact, this point was sufficient to elevate Slot's side back into a fifth place which most likely will be sufficient to earn a place at Europe’s top table next season.
Nobody of a Red persuasion, though, was in the mood to celebrate here with Liverpool having become the first team not to beat a Tottenham side managed by Igor Tudor.
Now Slot has mere days to motivate and rouse his squad while finding some tactical response to address Liverpool’s ongoing stupor before they attempt a Champions League recovery at home to Galatasaray.
This was a very, very bad day at the start of a big week. It’s up to Liverpool to ensure it doesn’t turn into something worse. Anfield is becoming restless.
Liverpool FC and adidas have unveiled a retro Bringback collection inspired by the club's 1995/96 away kit.
Ian Doyle has covered Liverpool for more than 25 years, following them across Europe in multiple Champions League and Europa League finals and as far afield as Thailand, Singapore, the United States, Hong Kong and Qatar, and has reported on the Reds winning every major honour. He previously also covered Everton for 18 years and has followed England, reporting on the European Championships and World Cup final. Once had to tell Jude Law he does not drive a Mini.
