Liverpool's Worst in 60 Years, Defending Champions at Rock Bottom.

Liverpool is facing a major storm. In their last two Premier League matches, they suffered heavy defeats, a repetition recorded only 60 years ago for The Reds. After collapsing 0–3 to Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday, November 22, 2025, the atmosphere around the Merseyside camp grew increasingly tense.

The first half ended with Forest leading thanks to a goal from Murillo. Before that bitter taste subsided, Liverpool had to swallow two more goals in the second half from Nicolo Savona and Morgan Gibbs-White. The result: a painful 0–3 defeat.

A significant irony emerged just weeks prior, as The Reds also suffered an identical 0–3 defeat when facing Manchester City at the Etihad. Momentum that should have inspired instead became a continuing nightmare.

Tragic Numbers, Records Erased by History

Analytical records cannot be ignored. According to Opta, this is the first time in 60 years that Liverpool has lost by more than three goals in two consecutive English league matches. The last such record occurred in April 1965 under Bill Shankly, when Liverpool fell consecutively to West Bromwich and Tottenham Hotspur.

Furthermore, the defeat record is now increasingly heavy; they have suffered 8 losses in their last 11 matches across all competitions, while in the Premier League alone they have slumped 6 times in 12 games. This trend is deeply concerning for the defending champions.

Slipping Down the Table, Crisis is Not an Illusion

The defeat to Forest confirms the cracks in Liverpool's performance. In the current Premier League standings, they are stuck in 11th place with 18 points, just below Manchester United who also have 18 points but have yet to play their 12th match.

If this continues, the nightmare could resemble old history: for the first time in six decades, the defending champion could "fall" from the top-tier race. It's worth remembering that 60 years ago, Liverpool, despite being champions the season before, finished only seventh.

Virgil van Dijk Delivers Critical Response

Not staying silent, captain Virgil van Dijk gave sharp comments after the match. He stated that the goals conceded by the team were "basic mistakes" that should have been avoided, especially from set pieces. 

"We conceded too many easy goals, weren't good in duels, and were too rushed. It's a very difficult situation right now," he commented in an interview.

Van Dijk also admitted that nervousness became increasingly visible after the opponent's first goal, and that improvement isn't enough just by talking.

"It takes hard work," he said. 

Those words clearly contain a call to rise, but also an alarm that structural problems are serious.

Unaddressed Weak Spots

One of Liverpool's biggest demons this season is the set-piece situation. Van Dijk stated the team lost focus on set pieces again. Data supports this; recently, they have conceded many goals from such situations.

This is ironic, as last season set pieces were a strength for Liverpool. Now, however, the defensive report card from dead balls is one of the main causes of the crisis. Arne Slot has also highlighted this several times as a collective team responsibility, especially since the performance of his new wing-backs isn't yet fully mature. 

More concretely, in a press conference, Slot admitted their defense is too vulnerable on set pieces, a problem that must be fixed immediately so it doesn't keep being a thorn in The Reds' side. 

Several media analyses highlight the fact that even though Liverpool won the title last season, their defense was not flawless. The backline became an "emergency" needing repair. 

In their last 10 matches across all competitions, Liverpool hasn't recorded a single clean sheet. They have conceded 18 goals during that period.

Momentum to Rise?

Amid the crisis, Arne Slot still signals optimism. In an interview, he stated the team's confidence hasn't vanished despite the poor form. However, Slot also acknowledged that improving the defense, especially in dead-ball duels, is the top priority.

When Liverpool won big in the Champions League (5–1 against Eintracht Frankfurt), one of the glorious moments actually came from a set piece. This shows the potential exists, but the problem lies in consistency and execution when facing the pressure of the Premier League.