A closer look at Liverpool’s poor start to the campaign after defeat at Man Utd

Tue, 23 Aug, 2022 - 06:23

By Tom White, PA Sport Data Journalist

Liverpool’s defeat to rivals Manchester United extended their poor start to the new Premier League season.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were beaten 2-1 to leave them on two points from three games, already five behind title rivals Manchester City and seven adrift of leaders Arsenal.

Here, the PA news agency assesses their dismal start and how it compares to previous years.

Triple trouble

Fulham 2 Liverpool 2 (August 6th)

Aleksandar Mitrovic, left, holds off Liverpool's Andy Robertson — Liverpool struggled to contain Aleksandar Mitrovic, left (Adam Davy/PA)

Klopp’s side trailed twice to goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic, the second a penalty, but new signing Darwin Nunez came off the bench to score the first equaliser and set up the second for Mohamed Salah.

Liverpool 1 Crystal Palace 1 (August 15th)

Darwin Nunez, centre, argues with referee Paul Tierney during Liverpool's draw with Crystal Palace — Darwin Nunez, centre, was sent off against Crystal Palace (Peter Byrne/PA)

If Nunez’s Premier League debut was a triumph, his first start was in stark contrast as he was sent off for headbutting Joachim Andersen. His side were already trailing to Wilfried Zaha’s goal at that point but Luis Diaz earned them a point.

Manchester United 2 Liverpool 1 (August 22nd)

Marcus Rashford scores Manchester United's second goal — Marcus Rashford scores Manchester United’s second goal (David Davies/PA)

Liverpool headed to Old Trafford looking to pile the misery on their in-crisis rivals, but the game ended with Erik ten Hag’s side above the visitors in the table. Goals from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford gave United a deserved 2-0 lead and despite Salah’s goal setting up a tense finale, Klopp’s side could not conjure an equaliser.

Out of character

Luis Suarez and Martin Skrtel stand dejected during Liverpool’s defeat to Arsenal in September 2012 (Peter Byrne/PA)

Liverpool and Manchester City’s recent dominance of the Premier League means it is the first time since the 2012-13 season the Reds have taken so few points from their opening three games.

On that occasion they managed only a solitary draw, with City, in between defeats to West Brom and Arsenal – and indeed went on to suffer a five-match winless start after they were held by Sunderland and beaten by United.

That left them 18th in the table and, though Brendan Rodgers’ side recovered somewhat to finish seventh, that is only one place better than their lowest Premier League finish.

It is only the seventh time Liverpool have had three points or fewer at this stage, with an average finishing position of fifth in those campaigns. Under Klopp’s management, they had averaged seven points from their first three games prior to this term.