Liverpool’s Struggling Title Defense: A Rocky Start

Current State of Affairs

It’s not unusual for teams to struggle after reaching the pinnacle of success, but Liverpool’s performance this season has raised considerable concerns. Expectations were high for this squad, especially after clinching their 20th league title in the 2024-25 season under the guidance of Arne Slot. Last season, they were dominant champions, and significant summer investments led many to believe they would easily secure another title.

However, the reality is starkly different. Liverpool is currently far from the top of the league standings. A crushing 3-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest, led by former Everton manager Sean Dyche, seemed to symbolize their struggles. Fans will certainly hope that this defeat won’t mark the lowest point for Slot’s team.

With Liverpool sitting in 11th place, they find themselves 11 points behind league leaders Arsenal. Without a miraculous turnaround, it appears unlikely that they will pose a serious challenge for the title, and they might be on track to be one of the least effective defending champions in Premier League history.

A Comparison of Title Defenses

The Worst Title Defenses in Premier League History

For Leicester City fans, finishing 12th in the 2016-17 season would’ve seemed like a dream, especially after their incredible title win the year before, which saw them defy the odds of 5,000 to 1. Their inability to repeat their success was influenced significantly by losing star midfielder N’Golo Kanté. Claudio Ranieri, who orchestrated their title-winning campaign, was dismissed midway through the season.

Although Leicester advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals, they ended up with 44 points, which was significantly reduced compared to their previous successful campaign. Chelsea’s fall in status post-2014-15 season allowed Leicester to rise to the top. The dismissal of José Mourinho reflected Chelsea’s troubles defending their title, marking a turbulent phase that saw them barely avoid relegation.

Despite a rocky period, Guus Hiddink stepped in to stabilize Chelsea, but they still finished 10th, experiencing a drop of 37 points from their championship season. Similarly, Chelsea under Antonio Conte in 2017-18 saw a lackluster performance and a significant drop in standings, though they did finish fifth and won the FA Cup.

Many would argue that Manchester United’s 2013-14 season stands out as the worst, with David Moyes failing to fill the shoes of Sir Alex Ferguson, leading the club to a disappointing seventh-place finish. Blackburn Rovers also found themselves in a similar situation during the 1995-96 season after Kenny Dalglish’s resignation.

Liverpool’s Record Compared to Other Poor Defending Champions

Liverpool’s current tally of 18 points from 12 matches is among the lowest for a defending champion. Only Chelsea (2015-16), Leicester (2016-17), and Blackburn (1994-95) had worse starts in terms of points.

Should the team continue at their present pace, they could end the season with merely 57 points, marking a shocking drop of 27 points, thus being ranked among the worst title defenders in the league’s history.

The chances of Liverpool retaining their title, something they haven’t done since 1984, appear bleak. In the 2020-21 season, injuries impacted their performance significantly as they fell 30 points short of their previous title tally, yet they still managed to secure third place.

However, there’s a glimmer of hope—Manchester United, for instance, overcame a dismal start in the 1996-97 season, winning their title after only amassing 19 points in their first 12 matches. It remains to be seen if Liverpool can find a similar resurgence, though it will require much more than 75 points to secure this season’s title.