Liverpool’s dreadful start to the season sees their title defence ranked among the worst in Premier League history after 12 games.
Liverpool Title Defence Among Worst In Premier League History
Arne Slot’s Liverpool continued their poor start to the 2025/26 campaign with a dreadful 3-0 defeat by relegation strugglers Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
It was their second successive loss by a three-goal margin in the division, having lost by the same scoreline to Manchester City at the Etihad prior to November’s international window.
The Reds are now in 11th place after 12 games, with a record of six wins and six defeats.
They have lost five of their last six Premier League matches – a return that sees them sit in 18th place in the form table, ahead of only Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Unsurprisingly, this has seen serious pressure begin to mount on Slot.
He is currently ranked as the second favourite to go in the Premier League sack race odds market.
Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp is favoured to make a sensational return to Anfield to replace the Dutchman should he depart, according to the next Liverpool manager betting odds market.
They look a far cry from last season’s title-winning side, with their defence of the English top-flight crown ranked among the worst in Premier League history after 12 matches.
At this stage of the season, only three reigning champions have amassed fewer than the Reds’ 18-point total.
Chelsea’s 2015/16 side take the crown for the worst title defence after 12 games, having totalled 11 points off the back of their previous title-winning season. They finished that season in a disappointing 10th place on 50 points, missing out on Europe.
The other two title-winning sides with fewer points than Liverpool after 12 games are Leicester City’s 2016/17 team (12 points) and Blackburn Rovers’ 1995/96 team (14 points). They finished those seasons in 12th place on 44 points and in seventh place on 61 points, respectively.
Based on history, the Reds’ current standing doesn’t bode well for the remainder of the season.
On the other hand, there is only one point between the current Liverpool side and Manchester United’s title-winning squad from 1996/97 after 12 Premier League games.
United amassed 19 points after 12 matches during that campaign and were crowned champions come the end of the season after finishing with a record low of 75 points.
Unfortunately for the Reds, should they match that total, it is very unlikely that it’ll be enough to retain the title. 75 points should be enough for a top three finish though, and almost guarantees qualification for the UEFA Champions League based on recent history.
Premier League Title Defences Ranked
Below, we have listed each and every Premier League title defence since the league’s formation in 1992/93, ranked from the worst in history to the best.
| Team | Season | Points After 12 Games | Final League Position | Final Points Tally |
| Chelsea | 2015/16 | 11 points | 10th | 50 points |
| Leicester | 2016/17 | 12 points | 12th | 44 points |
| Blackburn | 1995/96 | 14 points | 7th | 61 points |
| LIVERPOOL | 2025/26 | 18 points | N/A | N/A |
| Manchester United | 1996/97 | 19 points | 1st | 75 points |
| Manchester United | 2001/02 | 21 points | 3rd | 77 points |
| Manchester United | 2013/14 | 21 points | 7th | 64 points |
| Arsenal | 1998/99 | 23 points | 2nd | 78 points |
| Manchester City | 2024/25 | 23 points | 3rd | 71 points |
| Manchester United | 1999/00 | 24 points | 1st | 91 points |
| Manchester United | 2008/09 | 24 points | 1st | 90 points |
| Manchester City | 2014/15 | 24 points | 2nd | 79 points |
| Manchester United | 1994/95 | 25 points | 2nd | 88 points |
| Manchester United | 1997/98 | 25 points | 2nd | 77 points |
| Manchester United | 2009/10 | 25 points | 2nd | 85 points |
| Chelsea | 2017/18 | 25 points | 5th | 70 points |
| Manchester City | 2019/20 | 25 points | 2nd | 81 points |
| Liverpool | 2020/21 | 25 points | 3rd | 69 points |
| Arsenal | 2002/03 | 26 points | 2nd | 78 points |
| Manchester City | 2021/22 | 26 points | 1st | 93 points |
| Manchester United | 2000/01 | 27 points | 1st | 80 points |
| Arsenal | 2004/05 | 27 points | 2nd | 83 points |
| Manchester United | 2007/08 | 27 points | 1st | 87 points |
| Manchester United | 2003/04 | 28 points | 3rd | 75 points |
| Chelsea | 2006/07 | 28 points | 2nd | 83 points |
| Chelsea | 2010/11 | 28 points | 2nd | 71 points |
| Manchester City | 2012/13 | 28 points | 2nd | 78 points |
| Manchester City | 2023/24 | 28 points | 1st | 91 points |
| Manchester United | 2011/12 | 29 points | 2nd | 89 points |
| Manchester City | 2022/23 | 29 points | 1st | 89 points |
| Manchester United | 1993/94 | 31 points | 1st | 92 points |
| Chelsea | 2005/06 | 31 points | 1st | 91 points |
| Manchester City | 2018/19 | 32 points | 1st | 98 points |
What Next For Liverpool?
Liverpool are next in action on Wednesday night when they host PSV in the Champions League.
They then return to domestic action against another side in the midst of a relegation battle, as they travel to the English capital to take on West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday.
Favourable fixtures against Sunderland and Leeds follow, while they are also scheduled to face Inter Milan, Brighton, Tottenham and bottom of the table Wolves before the end of the year.
Slot will be hoping to mastermind a good run of results as we approach the back end of 2025, not only to turn his side’s season around but also to keep himself in a job for the foreseeable.
