Liverpool
Where Liverpool’s Title Defence Fits Among Premier League’s Poorest Reprieves
Defending champions Liverpool sit 11th, 11 points behind Arsenal and tracking a poor defence. Today.
Liverpool’s defence of the Premier League title has slipped into unfamiliar territory. The Reds sit 11th and are 11 points adrift of leaders Arsenal after a chastening 3–0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, now led by former Everton boss Sean Dyche. That loss felt like the low point for Arne Slot’s side and has intensified debate about how this campaign will be recorded in the competition’s history.
Through 12 games Liverpool have accumulated 18 points, the fourth-lowest total recorded by a defending Premier League champion. Only Chelsea in 2015–16 (11), Leicester in 2016–17 (12) and Blackburn in 1994–95 (14) compiled fewer points in equivalent starts. If Liverpool continue at their current rate they will finish on 57 points, a 27-point drop from their title season, which would rank as the third-worst defence by that measure.
There are precedents for catastrophic falls. Leicester, after their 2015–16 miracle, finished 12th in 2016–17 with 44 points, 32 fewer than in their title-winning campaign. The loss of N’Golo Kanté and the February sacking of Claudio Ranieri, replaced by assistant Craig Shakespeare, were cited among the reasons for their decline.
Chelsea’s collapse after 2014–15 is another reminder: José Mourinho was dismissed when the Blues were 16th and just a point above the relegation places after a 2–1 defeat at Leicester; Guus Hiddink steadied the side but Chelsea still suffered a 37-point drop to finish tenth. Chelsea later endured a 23-point fall under Antonio Conte yet still finished fifth and won the FA Cup, with Conte’s dispute with Diego Costa and missed transfer targets highlighted as factors.
Other difficult defences include Manchester United in 2013–14 under David Moyes, who inherited from Sir Alex Ferguson and finished seventh, and Blackburn in 1995–96, when Sir Kenny Dalglish resigned and Ray Harford struggled before Alan Shearer’s 31-goal season ended with a move to Newcastle United.
Liverpool also have recent memory of a stuttering defence: injuries in 2020–21 left Jürgen Klopp’s side 30 points worse off than 2019–20, though they still finished third. For now, Liverpool’s title defence looks set to join the list of those that unravelled dramatically.
Bournemouth
Iraola Highlights Liverpool Rest Edge Before Bournemouth Meeting
Iraola says Liverpool may have an edge from extra rest ahead of Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium reunion.
Andoni Iraola has suggested Liverpool’s extra recovery time could tilt Sunday’s meeting in their favour at the Vitality Stadium.
Liverpool arrived into the fixture after Tuesday’s Carabao Cup third-round win over Tottenham Hotspur, where a rotated side claimed a 3-1 victory. Bournemouth, by contrast, were in Europa League action on Thursday and returned from their trip to Real Sociedad with a 2-1 win, earned through goals from Justin Kluivert and Rayan.
Speaking in his prematch press conference, Iraola was clear about the scheduling imbalance. “I think we have an advantage,” he said. “Most of the times it has been the opposite. We have been the team that played last, but this time we played two days before they played.
“I think there should be an advantage there, but also I know where we are going, and I know what they have there, not only the stadium but overall.
“When you see the number of games they have lost in a long while [just three defeats in 2026], you realize how difficult it is to beat Bournemouth.”
Liverpool were able to use younger players and lesser-used squad members against Spurs, while Marco Rose selected a full-strength Bournemouth line-up in San Sebastián. On that basis, the Reds are expected to arrive fresher for Iraola’s reunion.
Even so, the Bournemouth boss will have noticed Liverpool’s flat display in last Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Fulham. After their victory over Atlético Madrid only a few days earlier, Liverpool appeared drained at Anfield and struggled to impose themselves in a match that finished without a goal.
That pattern is not new. In the 11 Liverpool matches that have followed midweek trips this calendar year, they have won only six. Three draws and two defeats sit alongside that return, including one loss at Bournemouth in January. For Iraola, the recent numbers offer reason to believe this could be a tighter contest than the schedule alone might suggest.
Bournemouth
Iraola and Klopp back Wirtz amid rising scrutiny
Iraola and Klopp defend Wirtz as criticism grows, stressing his team role and work rate.
Andoni Iraola has offered firm backing to Florian Wirtz as criticism of the Liverpool midfielder continues to build, aligning himself with the view already expressed by Jürgen Klopp.
Wirtz has faced increasing scrutiny over a modest return of goals and assists, with frustration around his output rising after each passing week. Yet Iraola was clear in his defence ahead of Liverpool’s visit to Bournemouth, stressing that the German should be assessed in the same way as every other player.
“He should be judged like everybody else, whether he plays well or doesn’t play well” Iraola told reporters at his Friday news conference. “Mostly I always say how does the team play when you are on the pitch? I am very happy with Florian, I rate him very highly, he understands what we need from him. He is trying to help in every aspect of the game.
“Obviously we want him to have assists and goals also, but he is helping us in a lot of different areas.”
Klopp has also defended Wirtz this week after naming his first squad since becoming Germany head coach. The former Liverpool manager selected two separate squads of 44 players for the upcoming three-week international break, with Wirtz included among them.
Asked about the player’s recent displays, Klopp was equally supportive. “I think he’s the player who covered the most ground at Liverpool this season, so the willingness is absolutely there,” Klopp told media on Thursday.
“We have to move away from expecting to always see special moments in front of goal from him. He needs to help us as a team. We have to make sure Flo feels comfortable with us. When the team works, every player shines as a result.
“So we have to be satisfied when Flo plays a game in which he gave everything but didn’t register a goal or assist. We need to give the boy the feeling, ‘That was more than good enough today. You helped us as a team.’”
There is little mystery behind the growing frustration. Wirtz arrived with significant expectation, and supporters have naturally wanted more decisive contributions. Still, his work without the ball has improved under Iraola, with the midfielder leading his teammates for possession won in the final third and distance covered per 90 minutes in the Premier League. Even so, when measured against other attacking midfielders at England’s elite sides last season, he fell short.
Arsenal
Iraola’s selection choices may shape Liverpool’s push to keep Ngumoha
Liverpool want a new deal for Rio Ngumoha as Arsenal’s interest grows and Iraola’s minutes may prove decisive.
Liverpool are working to secure Rio Ngumoha on a new contract as interest from Arsenal continues to grow around the teenage winger.
Ngumoha has already made five more appearances for Liverpool this season and remains central to the club’s first-team thinking. That is notable given the summer arrivals of Bradley Barcola and Victor Muñoz, both of whom operate in the same left-wing role that suits the youngster best.
The situation is made more pressing by the fact that his current deal runs until 2028, with no agreement yet in place on an extension. David Ornstein has confirmed Arsenal’s interest on The Athletic FC podcast, while also stressing that Liverpool are not ready to entertain a sale.
“I think there is some interest from Arsenal in Rio Ngumoha,” said Ornstein. “There’s surely interest from lots of clubs in him, because he’s such a precocious talent. I did hear over the summer that they like him. They’re allowed to like him; that’s their prerogative. It doesn’t mean Liverpool are going to sell him.
“They want to renew his contract. He’s 18 and tied down at Anfield until 2028. I don’t know of an agreement yet on a new deal, so clearly that’s something they’ll try to progress.”
Liverpool regard the teenager as untouchable after already turning away interest from Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig last summer. Even so, the amount of football he receives under Andoni Iraola could prove important in the months ahead.
With Barcola, Muñoz and Cody Gakpo among the options on the flanks, there is pressure on the manager to keep Ngumoha involved and avoid any frustration while Liverpool work on a renewal.
“I heard Arsenal have some interest in him, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens with him and Liverpool because there is no suggestion he’s unhappy there,” Ornstein added.
“I reported over the summer that Ngumoha was actually Bayern Munich’s top target at one point to strengthen in the wing position. They’d done quite a lot of work on it, but it didn’t develop. Liverpool had no interest in trading him.
“RB Leipzig were another club credited with interest. What will be really interesting is to see how much game time he gets at Liverpool, because wingers are the big thing for Andoni Iraola.
“You would expect him to be a real asset for them. Let’s see how it develops.”
Arsenal’s interest is also tied to their lack of depth on the left side. Christos Tzolis has arrived from Club Brugge, but the loss of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard has left the area short of natural options.
At present, Tzolis is mainly competing with Eberechi Eze, who is more naturally suited to central attacking midfield. Mikel Arteta will want reinforcements soon, especially after Arsenal’s unsuccessful attempt to sign Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior over the summer.
