Liverpool's fall from grace clear to see as uncomfortable truth emerges

Liverpool's title defense has been a disappointing one, with the Reds already mathematically unable to surpass the points tally that landed them the league last year

Arne Slot pictured during Liverpool's draw with Burnley(Image: 2026 Getty Images)

Liverpool's draw with Burnley on Saturday means it is already impossible for the Reds to surpass last season's title-winning points tally.

Arne Slot's men are now 17 points off where they were at this stage last season, sitting on 36 points from 22 games, with Saturday's draw the latest in a string of poor results. The Reds took the lead through Florian Wirtz - who looked impressive throughout - but surrendered their lead to a Marcus Edwards equalizer.

With 16 league games remaining this term, there are 48 points still up for grabs — collecting all of those would see Liverpool end the season on 84 points, which is the exact amount that the club won the league with last term.

Liverpool started this season in impressive fashion – results-wise, at least – winning its opening five top-flight games, despite producing a series of unconvincing performances.

The following seven league games saw Liverpool rack up six defeats to slide down the table, and although there have been no further defeats since that run, negativity continues to surround the team's form.

Liverpool is currently on a 12-game unbeaten run in all competitions, but six of those games ended in draws – including four of the last five.

Some supporters booed after the final whistle in Liverpool's draw with Burnley, which was a sign of the discontent that has grown this term.

Arne Slot was asked about the reaction of those supporters in a post-game press conference and said that he understood their frustrations.

Dominik Szoboszlai missed a penalty in Liverpool's draw with Burnley(Image: Getty Images)

"in my head it wasn’t a boo, but in my head it was frustration as well," Slot said. "We are Liverpool and we play against Burnley – and we have to give them credit [for] how they defended, cleared balls off the line, all the things you want to see if you are a Burnley manager.

"Players that try to do everything to prevent us from scoring – but if we, as Liverpool, are not disappointed anymore by having a draw at home against Burnley then something is completely wrong.

"I completely understand the frustration. I can tell you I have the same and the players definitely have the same frustration as the fans have."

Liverpool took a first-half lead against Burnley through Florian Wirtz, but ended up drawing after Marcus Edwards equalized in the second half.

The club remains in the top four of the table – but only by a single point after Manchester United's surprise victory over Manchester City earlier in the day.