Liverpool have now lost six out of their last seven games in all competitions, including four in the Premier League to bow out of the title race – and that could see them match an unwanted record that has stood for 20 years.
Liverpool began the Premier League campaign on fire, with five wins from five over Bournemouth, Arsenal, Newcastle, Burnley and Everton getting their season rolling after clinching the top-flight title last season.
However, four consecutive defeats have seen them slip to seventh in the table, with Liverpool’s last-minute losses against Crystal Palace and Chelsea being followed up by defeats to Manchester United and Brentford.
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It’s an almighty collapse by Arne Slot, who coasted to the title last season and has already lost as many league games as he did in the entirety of last season. And a loss to Aston Villa on Saturday night would see him equal a 20-year-old record in the league which only Wigan Athletic have achieved.
Arne Slot ahead of Brentford v Liverpool in the Premier League
Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Liverpool are just one game away from matching two-decade-long Premier League feat
Winning five consecutive games before losing five in a row in the Premier League would be extraordinary, especially for the title holders. And that is a run of games that has only been seen once in the league’s history.
Wigan Athletic were promoted to the top-flight for the first time in their history, never mind in just the Premier League era, under Paul Jewell in the 2004-05 season.
Losing their first two games of the season, they eventually got off to winning ways in their third game – and barring a draw to Middlesbrough, the Latics incredibly won eight of their nine games in the Premier League, including a run of six straight wins from late September to mid-November to go second.
Wigan Athletic, 2005-06 streak Liverpool, 2025-26 streak
Bolton Wanderers – 2-1, win Bournemouth – 4-2, win
Newcastle – 1-0, win Newcastle – 3-2, win
Aston Villa – 2-0, win Arsenal – 1-0, win
Fulham – 1-0, win Burnley – 1-0, win
Portsmouth – 2-0, win Everton – 2-1, win
Arsenal – 3-2, loss Crystal Palace – 2-1, loss
Tottenham – 2-1, loss Chelsea – 2-1, loss
Liverpool – 3-0, loss Manchester United – 2-1, loss
Chelsea – 1-0, loss Brentford – 3-2, loss
Manchester United – 4-0, loss Aston Villa – …
However, they quickly spiralled when a tough run of fixtures saw them face Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United – losing all five.
They became the first side to achieve such a feat, and that is a record that has stood for almost 20 years to the day, with their fifth defeat in a row coming in December 2005.
Liverpool could dust off the history books to copy that against Aston Villa, if they lose to the Villans on Saturday.
Wigan Athletic celebrate scoring vs Arsenal in the Premier League at Highbury
Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images
Liverpool loss against Aston Villa would wave goodbye to any Premier League title hopes
Arne Slot has already been criticised by Liverpool fans for their defeat to Crystal Palace.
An exit out of the Carabao Cup has prompted pressure on his job, though Slot won’t be sacked by Liverpool just yet.
Should Liverpool lose to Villa, they could slip into the bottom half of the Premier League table for the first time since August 2023 under Jurgen Klopp, where they recovered after an opening day draw to Chelsea to remain in the top four for the rest of the season.
But a loss on home turf would not only see them match the unwanted Premier League record, but also potentially slip 10 points behind in the title race.
Leaders Arsenal are away to newly-promoted Burnley, who have not registered a home point against the Gunners for the past four years and notoriously struggle against the ‘Big Six’. A win for Mikel Arteta’s men would continue their Premier League title hopes, with Paul Merson tipping Arsenal to win the title.
If Liverpool do lose, and go 10 points behind the Gunners at the close of play on Saturday, it could see them wave goodbye to silverware and give Mikel Arteta a huge boost in the running for his first Premier League title.