A 0-3 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers recently marked the next low point in what has already been a disastrous sporting season for Liverpool FC. No wonder that the critical voices of team manager Jürgen Klopp are increasing. A glance at the statistics reveals that the Germans are running out of arguments.
The “magic” with which coach, whisperer and motivational monster Jürgen Klopp has been enchanting Anfield Road for years seems to have degenerated into a cheap sleight of hand.
One can only speculate about the reasons for the sharp downward trend, that something is wrong, but the data prove it impressively.
The alarming figures for Liverpool FC’s horror season:
- Currently standing just once 1.45 points per game On record: A yield that Klopp last undercut in his last BVB season in 2014/15 (1.35) and the relegation season with 1. FSV Mainz 05 in 2006/07 (1.00). Jürgen Klopp has scored an average of 2.10 points in his 278 Premier League games with Liverpool. The weakest result so far is his debut season 2015/16 with an average of 1.60 points, the record of the championship season 2019/20 with 2.61 points.
- Seven defeats after 20 league games: Klopp has never collected more bankruptcies with Liverpool at this time of the season. In Dortmund there were only more in 2014/15. The yield ultimately led to the separation at the end of the season.
- Crazy away weakness: Especially away from home, Liverpool 2022/23 lack everything that makes a top team. In ten league games they celebrated only two wins (2 draws, 6 defeats). A clear negative for Klopp, who in Liverpool has never lost six times away from home in an entire Premier League season.
- Many bankruptcies against underdogs: You can lose at Manchester United (1-2) or Arsenal (2-3), but Liverpool even celebrated against Newcastle United (1-0), Manchester City (1-0) and Tottenham Hotspur (2-1). Victories and the 0-0 draw against Chelsea doesn’t speak for a weak season either. However, the Reds dropped points against Crystal Palace (1-1), Everton (0-0), Nottingham Forrest (0-1), Leeds United (1-2) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (0-3). The surprise teams FC Brentford (1:3) and Brighton (0:3) also painfully showed Liverpool the limits.
- Defensively weak: 28 goals conceded after 20 league games set Klopp’s next negative record on the Mersey. The last time a Klopp team was weaker was in 2006/07. 1. FSV Mainz 05 had a goal difference of 13:30 after 20 Bundesliga matchdays.
- Offensive not powerful: 34 goals isn’t great compared to the top teams either, but the full extent only becomes clear when you take into account the nine goals in Klopp’s career-record win against AFC Bournemouth at the end of August.
Scores that illustrate why the tide is turning for Klopp, who led Liverpool to Champions League victory in 2019 and back to the top of the Premier League in 2020, earning a place in fans’ hearts forever.
“Sky” expert and ex-Liverpool professional Jamie Carragher railed after the recent series of bankruptcies, for example: “These are probably three of the worst away defeats, not just under Klopp, but in the history of the Premier League that Liverpool has ever experienced. So bad to lose. Not only did they lose, they got beat up.”
Meanwhile, Klopp is not ready to leave the sinking boat. Some things will have to change, the 55-year-old recently emphasized and then explained: “As far as I’m concerned, I won’t go unless someone tells me.” Klopp’s contract ends in the summer of 2026.