Liverpool's home form is becoming a worry for most Anfield supporters
By Russell Barder BBC Sport at Anfield
With the groans of dissatisfaction ringing around Anfield on Saturday you could be forgiven for thinking that Liverpool are a club in crisis.
However, they remain top of the Premier League, despite a third straight home draw that has raised serious doubts about their title-winning credentials.
Consecutive goalless encounters with Fulham and West Ham preceded this weekend's 2-2 draw with Hull City and Rafael Benitez's side will know that this kind of form is no way to end a 19-year wait for a league championship triumph.
Despite their uninspiring recent home form, Liverpool have been aided by the fact teams around them are failing to capitalise when they falter - and their fans' frustrations are aimed largely at their team's inability to pull clear.
For the second weekend this season, no team from the so-called big four recorded a victory and Benitez will undoubtedly be delighted to see his side top despite them yet to hit top gear.
The new generation of Liverpool supporters will struggle to remember the last time the title arrived on the red half of Merseyside and, with this season turning into one of the closest Premier League races since its inception in 1992, they have rarely had a better chance to end that wait.
There was a nervous hush inside Anfield at the weekend as the home fans prepared themselves for another potentially tricky clash - and once the visitors had taken a shock two-goal lead their frustration was clearly audible.
Hull draw frustrates Benitez
After the game Benitez admitted, "everyone was getting very nervy" and it was clear that the reaction of the fans after Liverpool had gone two goals down affected the players. Every misplaced pass, missed tackle and hurried clearance was greeted by a chorus of discontented voices and the players suffered as a result.
Hull did not let their hosts settle and if it were not for Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, the two dropped points could have easily become three.
The midfielder came to the rescue once again as he dragged his side out if trouble with two goals inside 10 minutes to take his season's total to 11.
Hull were intent on playing good attacking football and with wins away at Newcastle, Arsenal and Tottenham already under their belt, it is a philosophy that has helped propel Phil Brown's side to sixth in the Premier League in their debut season in the top flight.
It made for an open and attacking game which should have suited Benitez's team. However, despite largely dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Liverpool were unable to find a winner.
It may be stating the obvious, but when Benitez said "you have to score more goals to win these games" he highlighted exactly where Liverpool have been going wrong.
Those words would have been ringing in Robbie Keane's ears as he was once again left to watch his side struggle from the substitute's bench for the second league match in a row, no doubt desperate to prove himself worthy of Benitez's attention.
Robbie Keane spent most of Saturday running up and down the touchline
The £20.3m summer signing has not enjoyed the best start to his Liverpool career but, in the absence of the injured Fernando Torres, the sight of Keane jogging up and down the touchline while his side laboured was puzzling at best.
The fans were calling for the Irish striker to be brought on as early as the 35th minute as Liverpool took their foot off the gas having fought back from being two goals down.
The Merseysiders do not have the strength in depth to match their rivals and the absence of a player of Torres' calibre would hurt any team.
However, Benitez still had the means at his disposal to change things around against Hull and, with Chelsea held to a 1-1 draw by West Ham on Sunday, Liverpool remain at the top of the table.
After yet another week where results have gone in their favour, Liverpool know they are lucky to still be leading as they head into the hectic Christmas period.
But the stats do not lie. The fact remains that they lead the way after one of their best starts to a Premier League campaign and they are still well placed to launch a serious title challenge with a trip to Arsenal their next challenge.
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