Third-worst in the league: One alarming statistic from this season might worry Liverpool fans.

Even the most die-hard Liverpool supporter would struggle to call this season anything but disappointing so far.

Arne Slot’s side began the campaign as Premier League champions and pre-season favourites to retain the title, yet they’ve lost five of their opening 11 league matches and already sit eight points behind leaders Arsenal.

While Opta’s supercomputer predicts a somewhat respectable third-place finish for the Reds (currently eighth), Roy Keane has dismissed them as genuine title contenders.

Liverpool’s struggles highlighted by a worrying stat

A striking statistic from this season has emerged that is likely to alarm Liverpool fans. According to Opta Analyst on X, an analysis of the amount of time each team has spent in different game states (winning, drawing, losing) shows that Liverpool have been behind for 37% of the league campaign so far, compared with 39% level and just 24% ahead.

Only Wolves (58%) and West Ham (47%) have spent more time trailing in matches — and both are currently in the relegation zone.

Early setbacks have plagued Liverpool this season

Although statistics like these aren’t everything (for instance, league leaders Arsenal have trailed only 1% less than 14th-placed Newcastle), it helps explain just how difficult the season has been for Liverpool.

When Dango Ouattara gave Brentford an early lead last month, it marked the fourth consecutive Premier League game in which Liverpool conceded within the first 15 minutes — something that hadn’t happened for almost three decades.

Unlike last season, when the Reds often came from behind to win, they have lost every league game this term in which they fell behind, with their renowned comeback ability largely absent (except for the 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in Europe).

These numbers suggest a potential mentality issue, as Liverpool frequently struggle to recover when forced to chase a game. Even when they managed to equalise, they often failed to secure a point, highlighting a troubling trend.

On the positive side, the Reds have maintained their advantage when leading, showing that first goals still matter — perhaps even more than usual this season.

In times of adversity, Liverpool need to remember their status as reigning champions and showcase the quality in their squad. With the league table tightly packed at the top, a strong winning run could quickly propel them back into contention.