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Liverpool’s demise this season has been startling and the nadir arrived at the weekend with the emphatic defeat to Manchester City. The performance levels in the 4-0 defeat were galling with the form of several leading players under the microscope and pressure ramping up on Arne Slot. The Dutchman enjoyed an incredible maiden season on Merseyside, winning the Premier League title but Slot has unquestionably endured second-season syndrome.
Speaking after the Man City defeat, Slot said: “That’s an unbelievable disappointment. Losing is already a disappointment, losing with 4-0 and in the quarter-final of the FA Cup against a team which Liverpool played so many times great games against – or fights against – and then losing 4-0 is, of course, a big disappointment. The 20 minutes where we conceded four goals were not of our standards.” The Champions League now represents Liverpool’s only opportunity to lift silverware but PSG are overwhelming favourites and they are at serious risk of missing out on qualification for the most prestigious club competition next season.
Liverpool’s record amount of defeats in a single season
Remarkably, the defeat to Man City was Liverpool’s 16th of the season in all competitions - Transfermarkt includes the penalty shoot-out loss to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield as a defeat. We’ve analysed the data this century to assess in which season Liverpool lost the most games and they are tracking to surpass that unwanted record under Slot. As the graphic below illustrates, Liverpool have twice lost 19 games in a single season this century - in 2004/05 and 2009/10.
The 2004/05 campaign was Rafael Benítez’s first in charge at Anfield and it was memorable as they completed one of the most iconic comebacks in history to beat AC Milan in the Champions League final. The 2009/10 season was Benítez’s final as Liverpool manager after finishing 7th in the Premier League. Three more defeats this campaign would equal the record of 19 defeats and Liverpool have a daunting Champions League tie with PSG on the horizon and several tough Premier League fixtures.
