Liverpool was on the verge of an unprecedented quadruple of trophies three months ago. They have failed to win a game this season after three contests.
Liverpool was on the verge of a record quadruple of trophies three months ago. They have failed to win a game this season after three contests. Monday's 2-1 loss at Old Trafford allowed Manchester United to leapfrog Jurgen Klopp's team in the inaugural English Premier League table. United had spent the previous week being mocked for a 4-0 loss at Brentford.
Liverpool's worst start in a decade has put them five points behind defending champions Manchester City and seven points behind early leaders Arsenal.
"It's not a pretty sight," stated Klopp regarding his team's drop to 16th place after three games.
Even more worrisome for the Germans is that there appears to be no quick solution to the problems that have led to such a slow start.
Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita, Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip, and Diogo Jota were unable to go to Old Trafford due to an early-season injury issue.
Darwin Nunez was also absent after serving the first game of his three-game suspension for receiving a red card for headbutting Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen last week. Nunez cost Liverpool 75 million euros.
Nunez's acquisition from Benfica represents the majority of Liverpool's transfer window expenditures, and the Reds' fans are growing increasingly frustrated with Klopp's lack of midfield reinforcements.
Without Thiago and Keita, James Milner, 36, and Harvey Elliott, 19, lined up alongside Jordan Henderson, the team's captain, in midfield on Monday.
Before the game, Klopp acknowledged that it would be "cool" to have another midfield option.
- Alexander-Arnold targeted -
This is not Klopp's only area of concern.
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The opposition is targeting Trent Alexander-defensive Arnold's positioning with increasing frequency.
Following Real Madrid's victory in last year's Champions League final and Fulham's success on the opening weekend of the season, United's first goal sprang from an attack down Liverpool's right flank.
Milner reprimanded Virgil van Dijk for his role in allowing Jadon Sancho the space to score the game's first goal. Virgil van Dijk has seemed far from the world's greatest central defender in recent weeks.
Up forward, the departure of Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich is having a significant impact, with Roberto Firmino appearing exhausted while deputising for Nunez.
Slow starts have been a recurring element in Liverpool's recent difficulties.
They have allowed the first goal in each of their previous seven Premier League contests dating back to the conclusion of last season.
Andy Robertson stated, "We can't keep giving ourselves an uphill struggle because we're giving every team a goal start."
"During the warm-up, the stadium was the quietest I have ever heard it, and the crowd sought something to energise them, which we provided.
"Two points out of nine is hardly the beginning we desired. We must improve our individual and collective performances.
"Things is simple to discuss it in the locker room, but we must take action. We cannot continue to concede goals. They began the day better than we did. It needs to be altered."
A first loss in 31 domestic matches dating back to December is not cause for alarm.
Over the past five years, though, City and Liverpool have upped the bar in their battle for the title, requiring typically more than 90 points to be declared champions.
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To return to those heights, Klopp's side must immediately shake off their early-season sleep.
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