Liverpool left with no room for error as Premier League title picture becomes clear

Liverpool and Arne Slot may believe they can reverse their current poor form - after all, the season is still in its early stages. However, they cannot overlook the number of losses they've accumulated.

The Reds have already made English top-flight history by becoming the first team to win their initial five matches only to lose the subsequent four. Since their defeat at Crystal Palace, Slot's squad has been on a downward spiral.

They were bested by Chelsea, shocked at Anfield by Manchester United, and most recently, Brentford outplayed them at the weekend. This leaves them in seventh place, trailing leaders Arsenal by seven points. With 29 matches remaining, there's plenty of time for the Reds to regain their form and re-enter the title race.

Manchester City, considered one of the three teams capable of clinching the league, is just one point ahead. Arsenal has managed to establish a comfortable lead at this early stage, having won seven and lost one of their nine games

However, Liverpool's four defeats do not leave much room for manoeuvre. A glance at the list of previous Premier League winners reveals that no team has ever won the title with more than six losses throughout the season.

This implies that Slot's team can only afford to lose two more matches over the next seven months, or they'll need to make history if they wish to retain their champion status. Last season, Liverpool suffered four defeats, but only one of those came within their first 30 matches. The other three losses occurred once the title was virtually secured.

In the past decade, only Manchester City in 2021 managed to lose six matches and still clinch the title, thanks to an impressive 15-match winning streak. It's clear that the bar has been raised in recent seasons, making it increasingly challenging to secure the title.

The points needed to become champions illustrate this point. In seven of the last nine seasons, a minimum of 89 points was required to lift the trophy. This level of consistency is further emphasized by the small number of defeats.

It's also important to consider the timing of these losses. A championship-winning team might end the season with four or five losses - but if most of those losses occurred after April when they had a comfortable lead, it paints a different picture compared to a team who had suffered four defeats by November and then had to maintain a relentless pace.

That's the predicament Liverpool finds itself in. When Liverpool secured the title under Jurgen Klopp in 2020, they suffered three losses. Last season, it was four.

City claimed the title in 2024 and 2022 with three losses. In 2018, their Centurions team endured just two defeats. So, the margin for Liverpool to bounce back from defeats is slim. And their fixture list doesn't offer much respite.

They still have to face Arsenal at the Emirates. Manchester City home and away. Away games against Tottenham, Aston Villa and United could all potentially go awry. No draws opens doors.

Liverpool's shortage of draws could yet prove beneficial to their cause. An uptick in defeats can be partially balanced by avoiding stalemates, which would help boost their points-per-game average.

Chelsea in 2016/17, for instance, suffered five defeats. Two of those setbacks occurred within the opening six matches.

However, throughout the campaign they managed just three draws - the second-lowest tally for a championship-winning side in Premier League history.

City narrowly pipped Liverpool in what many consider the finest Premier League title race in 2018/19. Pep Guardiola's outfit lost four times compared to Liverpool's solitary defeat, yet the Manchester side recorded only two draws.

The Reds, meanwhile, shared the points on seven occasions and ultimately fell short by a single point.

The lowest points haul to secure Premier League glory stood at 75, achieved by the Red Devils in 1996/97. However, as the years have progressed, standards have risen and the room for mistakes has diminished.

Even by the mid-2000s, Sir Alex Ferguson recognized his team needed to adapt.

"We once won the Championship with 76 points, but those days have gone," remarked the Scot. This means Slot cannot depend on competitors faltering, instead he must count on his squad delivering near-flawless performances from this point onwards.