Liverpool ROT goes far deeper than 9 defeats in 12 games | OneFootball

Liverpool are in their worst run of form for 76 years. It goes far, far deeper than that, though.

Liverpool lost yet again on Wednesday evening. This time it was in the UEFA Champions League, with PSV Eindhoven rocking up with four goals to just one in reply.

It was an awful performance and one that extends Liverpool's run of atrocious form to nine defeats in 12 fixtures. That's not good enough, obviously, and it's the worst run of form for the Reds in 76 years.

Liverpool never lose like this - not consistently, anyway. But they just can't put together solid performances and even their win over Aston Villa required a slice of luck, given Unai Emery's side twice hit the woodwork.

Now, you can certainly say that the luck has deserted Liverpool and it most certainly has. Virgil van Dijk hit the bar with what would have given them the lead against PSV, after all.

And to some extent, you can claim that nine defeats in 12 games is down to poor luck. It's no longer a small sample size but it's hardly a massive one.

Only, the rot does not go back just 12 games. That's the real problem.

Liverpool's rotten run

Yes, the last 12 games have been atrocious. Liverpool's poor form, however, goes back nearly a year - this is not something brand new.

The Reds have now won just 21 of their last 42 fixtures. That's a shocking run. If you can even call it a run of form - at 42 games, that's just what the club is.

Liverpool's poor form over the second half of last season was essentially covered by two things. Firstly, they walked to the Premier League title and so a lot of it could be put down to a natural drop in intensity.

Secondly, Liverpool looked very tired after New Year and there was a sense that things would correct themselves after the summer. The club could bring in players to give them a deeper squad.

So I suppose you could say there were actually three things that covered it, given transfers were expected and it wouldn't be the same team in 2025/26. That's now a reason for panic, though.

Because this is a different group. Liverpool strengthened in various positions and yet the performances look remarkably similar to early 2025. It seems that's just what you get now, regardless of who's playing.

When that's the case, you have to question the system and the ideas behind the players. Something needs to change because despite a change in personnel, we're seeing the same results.

Well, the literal results are even worse. But focusing simply on the last 12 games is missing the real worry - the drop has been going on for a long, long time and that makes it all the less likely that things turn around.