Are we in store for a famous European night at Anfield, or simply yet another Liverpool defeat? Fair to say, if Arne Slot's side are to keep their Champions League dreams alive, they require something of a miracle, 2-0 down against Paris Saint-Germain from the first leg in the French capital. In all honesty, it was the men from Merseyside who were relieved to witness just the two goals at Parc des Princes.
This was Liverpool's 16th defeat of the season, and counting, beaten four times in the Champions League, a whopping ten times in the Premier League as well as being dumped out of both domestic cups. With away matches at Everton, Manchester United and Aston Villa still to come, as well as visits to Anfield from Crystal Palace, Chelsea and then Brentford on the final day, that tally could still rise.
So, where does this rank among Liverpool's worst-ever seasons in terms of number of defeats?
Liverpool's most defeats in a season (1964-present)
Season | Matches | League defeats | Total defeats |
|---|---|---|---|
1992/93 | 55 | 15 | 20 |
2004/05 | 60 | 14 | 19 |
2009/10 | 56 | 11 | 19 |
2014/15 | 58 | 12 | 18 |
1993/94 | 49 | 16 | 18 |
1998/99 | 48 | 14 | 18 |
2010/11 | 54 | 14 | 17 |
1991/92 | 64 | 10 | 16 |
2002/03 | 60 | 10 | 16 |
2006/07 | 58 | 10 | 16 |
2025/26 | 50 | 10 | 16 |
1984/85 | 63 | 9 | 15 |
2011/12 | 51 | 14 | 15 |
This season is only the 13th time since the 1964/64 campaign that Liverpool have suffered 15 or more defeats across all competitions. This most-recently occurred 11 years ago as Brendan Rodgers' side, after very nearly winning the title, slumped to a sixth place finish, which ultimately saw him replaced by Jürgen Klopp.
The Reds' record number of defeats during this time frame came in 1992/93, again finishing sixth and again Graeme Souness would lose his job soon after. So, could the same fate soon be bestowed upon Slot? Well, were Liverpool to repeat '93 and 2015 by finishing sixth, they would almost certainly miss out on Champions League qualification and the Dutchman would surely pay the price. They are fifth, four points clear of Chelsea, but still have to face the teams currently third, fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth during the run-in, meaning pretty much anything is on the table.
Were les Parisiens to beat them again, as was the case, resoundingly so, six nights ago, the Reds would edge closer to that unwanted record tally of 20 defeats in a campaign. This is ahead of Sunday's first-ever Merseyside derby at Bramley-Moore Dock and, considering Everton are a mere five points behind their city rivals, you can bet your bottom dollar they'll be bang up for that.
Some seasons in which Liverpool supporters have endured plenty of defeats have culminated in great triumph. This was none more so the case than in Rafa Benítez's first year, suffering 19 defeats all told, including 14 in the Premier League, albeit no one remembers that part, given that they pulled off the most astonishing comeback in Champions League Final history to defeat AC Milan in İstanbul of course.
While ousting PSG on Tuesday night would not top that, it currently appears about as unlikely, as does the idea that Slot will still be occupying the Anfield dugout come August. The spectre of Xabi Alonso, scorer that night at the Atatürk Olimpiyat Stadı 21 years ago, looms large.
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