Comparing Liverpool's Lackluster Title Defence to Premier League History: A Look at the Worst Defending Champions
Liverpool's Premier League title defence this season has been far from impressive, with the team currently sitting in 11th place in the table, 11 points behind the leaders Arsenal. The Reds, who were dominant champions last season, have struggled to replicate their success this term, with a recent 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest highlighting their woes. Fans will be hoping that this defeat marks the lowest point of their season.
Comparing Liverpool's lackluster title defence to some of the worst in Premier League history, Leicester City's decline in the 2016-17 season stands out. After their miraculous title triumph in 2015-16, the Foxes struggled to maintain their form, finishing in 12th place with 44 points, a significant drop from their title-winning campaign. The loss of key players and the sacking of manager Claudio Ranieri were major factors in their downfall.
Chelsea also experienced a sharp decline following their title success in 2014-15, with José Mourinho losing his job after a poor start to the season. The Blues finished in 10th place, a significant drop from their title-winning campaign. Similarly, under Antonio Conte, Chelsea's title defence in the following season saw a 23-point drop but still resulted in a fifth-place finish, with the team also winning the FA Cup.
Manchester United's 2013-14 season under David Moyes is often considered one of the worst title defences in Premier League history, as the team finished in seventh place after Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement. Blackburn Rovers also struggled in the 1995-96 season after manager Kenny Dalglish resigned following their title win, with the team finishing in seventh place.
Liverpool's current points tally of 18 through 12 games is the fourth-lowest recorded by a defending Premier League champion. If they continue at their current rate, they are projected to finish with 57 points, a 27-point decrease from their title-winning campaign, which would rank them as the third-worst defending champion in Premier League history. The Reds will need to turn their season around quickly if they hope to salvage their title defence.