Both Liverpool and Manchester City faced unexpected defeats over the weekend, reshaping the dynamics of the Premier League title race. Liverpool’s loss to Nottingham Forest marked a significant blow, as they endured a shocking 3-0 defeat at Anfield, their heaviest home league loss since 2019. The defeat leaves the defending champions in a precarious position, now closer to the relegation zone than the top of the standings—sitting seven points above 18th place Leeds United and eight points adrift of league leaders Arsenal.
Under the management of Arne Slot, Liverpool’s fortunes have taken a downward turn after a promising start, where they won their first five matches. The team’s recent form is stark, showing six defeats in their last seven league games, including back-to-back losses where they conceded three goals without reply in both matches. This represents the most difficult stretch for the club in decades, with Liverpool experiencing consecutive league defeats by three or more goals for the first time since 1965.
Slot acknowledged the team’s struggles, accepting responsibility for their poor performance. Liverpool’s current tally of six losses in 12 matches is among the highest for defending champions in Premier League history, second only to Chelsea’s seven losses in the 2015-16 season. The upcoming matches—three Premier League games within a week—will be critical for Liverpool as they navigate through this difficult phase, starting with a UEFA Champions League clash against PSV Eindhoven followed by a match against West Ham and a visit from Sunderland.
In the later match on Saturday, Manchester City also stumbled in their pursuit of Arsenal. Their defeat to Newcastle United pushed them down to third place, allowing Chelsea to leap ahead following their own victory over Burnley. City has struggled with consistency this season, and despite Pep Guardiola’s acknowledgment of Newcastle as a strong adversary, the loss is viewed as a missed opportunity to close the gap on Arsenal.
Newcastle secured their win with a remarkable display, scoring twice in quick succession after a goalless first half. Harvey Barnes starred with two goals, becoming the first player since Alan Shearer to score multiple times against City in a single match since 2003. Guardiola’s frustration was evident as his team failed to capitalize on opportunities, with key striker Erling Haaland struggling to find the net during this stretch.
The weekend’s results set a stage for an intriguing battle as Arsenal prepares to face Tottenham Hotspur. A win for Arsenal would extend their lead over City to seven points and push Liverpool a further 11 points back, heightening the urgency for the two teams to reverse their current trajectories. With the title race heating up, every upcoming match carries significant weight for teams aiming to regain their footing in the Premier League.