Liverpool’s defensive capitulation exposed by damning stat after Chelsea defeat
Liverpool have been a mess in defence this season.
Liverpool have lost 2-1 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after Estevao scored a 96th-minute winner, making it three defeats in a row for Arne Slot‘s men.
After being favourites to win both the Premier League and Champions League this season, a disastrous week has seen Arsenal overtake them as the favourites to win it all this season.
The biggest problem this season so far for Liverpool has been their defence, which has conceded nine times in the Premier League already, with both Milos Kerkez and Ibrahima Konate struggling.
Slot needs to sort out his backline quickly, and one damning stat has proved it.
Liverpool concede last-minute winners in back-to-back games
Estevao’s winner at Stamford Bridge was the second last-minute winner that Liverpool have conceded in the Premier League in a row.
Liverpool looked to have salvaged a point at Crystal Palace through Federico Chiesa’s late equaliser, but Eddie Nketiah struck in the 97th minute to steal the three points for the Eagles.
Estevao’s winner means that the Reds have become just the second Premier League Champions to concede two injury-time winners in a season.
The only other side to do that is Arsenal in 2004-05, who conceded stoppage time winners to both Liverpool and Birmingham City.
The more worrying thing is that Liverpool are now the only Champions to achieve this in back-to-back games, while also doing so within the first seven games of the season.
Liverpool’s last-minute luck is finally biting back
Liverpool have been known this season for being the kings of late winners, scoring in the final 10 minutes in six of their opening seven games of the season.
It had looked as though the Reds were unstoppable, and that wins were inevitable, but now these are beginning to come back and bite them in the cruellest fashion.
| Liverpool late winners this season | Minute of winning goal |
| Bournemouth (H) | 88 |
| Newcastle United (A) | 90+10 |
| Arsenal (H) | 83 |
| Burnley (A) | 90+5 |
| Atletico Madrid (H) | 90+2 |
| Southampton (H) | 85 |
Back-to-back winners against Slot’s side have completely dampened the mood around Anfield, and now Liverpool’s title defence is in serious jeopardy after slipping to second in the table.
With a return to Anfield for the visit of Manchester United coming up for the Reds after the international break, they need to sort out their performances to avoid needing luck to be in their favour against the old enemy.
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