{"id":1190577,"date":"2021-02-21T11:15:16","date_gmt":"2021-02-21T11:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1190577"},"modified":"2021-02-21T11:15:17","modified_gmt":"2021-02-21T11:15:17","slug":"liverpool-title-defence-challenge-over-jurgen-klopp-stats","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/liverpool-title-defence-challenge-over-jurgen-klopp-stats\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cI don\u2019t think we can close the gap this year\u201d \u2013 11 crushing stats behind Liverpool\u2019s title defence"},"content":{"rendered":"

When asked after the Leicester City defeat if Liverpool had just conceded the Premier League title, Jurgen Klopp responded: “Yes. I can’t believe, but yes. I don’t think we can close the gap this year, to be honest.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Those words came after the Reds conceded three goals in seven minutes to surrender a 1-0 lead against Brendan Rodgers’ side, falling 3-1 away from home.<\/p>\n

The result means Liverpool have now won just two of their last 11 Premier League matches and have slipped 16 points behind leaders Manchester City. But how did we get to this stage?<\/p>\n

Here are 11 stats behind Liverpool’s failed title defence.<\/p>\n

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Premier League Sky Bet<\/a> <\/strong>title odds:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Manchester City 1\/66<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Manchester United 33\/1<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Leicester City 80\/1<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Chelsea 200\/1<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Liverpool 200\/1<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    All odds stated in this article are accurate at the time of publication (10:48, 21\/02\/2021). <\/em><\/strong>You have to be 18+ to gamble. GambleAware<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n

    1. Biggest points dip by defending Premier League champions so far<\/h2>\n

    Remember when Roy Keane accused Liverpool of being “bad champions”?<\/p>\n

    Okay, so a little benefit of the doubt must be given to the Reds. After all, losing three centre-backs and a midfielder who can play centre-back to injury is far from ideal. And besides, it’s a weird year with weird things happening. Liverpool are the perfect case in point for that having won 7-0 and lost 7-2 in the same season.<\/p>\n

    But the fact remains that after 24 games, Liverpool have the worst points differential of any defending champion in Premier League history.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Liverpool after 24 games of the 2019-20 season:
    \u25c9 70 points<\/p>\n

    Liverpool after 24 games of the 2020-21 season:
    \u25c9 40 points<\/p>\n

    The worst points differential by a defending PL champion after 24 games in the competition's history. pic.twitter.com\/0YphJs2j0i<\/a><\/p>\n

    — Squawka (@Squawka) February 13, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n