As for defeats, Liverpool’s 4-1 loss at Napoli on Wednesday was perhaps the most humiliating of the Jurgen Klopp era, and the statistics are there to prove it.
Perhaps more worrying, however, is the fact that many fans saw it coming.
Aside from the Community Shield win over Man City and a bizarre 9-0 win over Bournemouth, the Reds haven’t been good all season.
Delve into the numbers behind a terrible night in Naples and the problems are there for all to see.
Here, we pick out six startling stats from a terrible start to Liverpool’s Champions League campaign.
Overcome and overtake once again
Liverpool overcame Liverpool with Napoli, and Luciano Spalletti’s side aren’t the only team to knock the Reds off the pitch this season.
In fact, Liverpool have been outclassed by all seven teams they have faced this season.
That can’t be right. Even in defeat, Klopp’s side often pride themselves on their work ethic and full-throttle style of play, with and without the ball.
Is this equipment out of stock?
Conceded first in five of seven games this season
This team is really struggling to get out of sloppy beginnings.
Once again, they fell behind in first place, having done so in five of the seven games they have played in 2022/23 so far, the joint most of any Premier League side along with Southampton.
In fact, apart from Bournemouth’s victory and a few seconds against Newcastle, Liverpool have not been in front at any point in their other games this season.
Big Virg not in the races
Virgil van Dijk has done a lot for this club, and I am sure he will get back on his feet, but right now, for whatever reason, he is struggling.
In the first half, he brought down Napoli striker Victor Osimhen on the hosts’ second penalty.
After a run of 150 games without conceding a penalty in all competitions for Liverpool, he has now conceded two penalties in his last seven appearances.
If Liverpool want to get back on track this season, they need their defensive rock at its best.
Thiago showing what we have been missing
The difference in quality in midfield when Thiago returned from injury in the second half was clear to all.
He was on the pitch for 28 minutes but made six tackles, more than the three starting midfielders and two full-backs combined.
Thiago also won seven of their nine duels, with Fabinho winning two of eight and Milner just three of 11.
The Spaniard had 42 touches on the ball, just two fewer than Milner, who spent an hour on the pitch, and completed 30/33 passes.
It’s nice to have him back, but he can’t be trusted alone!
9 great chances of 1
One overall stat from the match stood out from the others that were actually fairly evenly contested.
In the full 90 minutes, Napoli had nine big chances, eight more than Liverpool, who were only able to take advantage of one.
That describes all of the Reds’ problems right now. Yes, they have had defensive problems in recent years, but many of them were without Van Dijk.
The fact that these problems exist with the Dutchman playing every game so far is even more worrying.
Joint biggest Champions League defeat
How not to start a new Champions campaign.
This was Liverpool’s joint biggest defeat in the Champions League, along with 3-0 defeats to Real Madrid in 2014 and Barcelona in 2019.
It was also the heaviest loss by an English Premier League side in their opening game of the UEFA Champions League campaign since Arsenal lost 3-0 to Inter Milan in 2003-04.
Napoli are a good team, but they just shouldn’t put four against any Liverpool team, and could easily have been more.
