by Liverpool’s title defense has faltered so dramatically that the discussion at Anfield has shifted from expectations of another deep run to the question of whether the champions can even stabilize.
Twelve games into the Premier League season, having taken home the trophy last season, the initial optimism of Arne Slot’s tenure has evaporated, replaced by pressure, confusion and a growing sense of vulnerability.
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Currently sitting in the bottom half of the table after 12 games, Liverpool have a 6-6 record that reflects both inconsistency and lack of identity, leaving fans united over Slot’s future with the club given recent difficulties.
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The defending champions have already lost six league games, slipped out of the top four discussion and suffered a devastating 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest that heightened concerns about their defensive structure and attacking cohesion.
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That’s a stark contrast to the opening weeks of the season, when a five-game winning streak suggested Slot had made a smooth transition from the Jurgen Klopp era. Instead, the ensuing slump, six defeats in seven league games, has left the club in one of the worst 12-game starts for a reigning Premier League champion.
With this in mind, ChatGPT predicted where Liverpool could realistically finish this season after a terrible start in the Premier League.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool are in 12th place overall – Source: Getty
Based on 18 points from 12 games, an average of 1.5 points per game, the model predicts a rise from the current mid-table to finish around sixth place.
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This forecast assumes Liverpool’s attacking talent normalizes, defensive numbers even improve slightly, and the club avoids the free fall of some previous title defenses.
Historically, champions who stumble early tend to recover to somewhere between sixth and ninth at the end of the season, and Liverpool’s underlying metrics point to a similar path.
Liverpool suffered their sixth defeat in seven league games – Photo credit: Getty
Liverpool now faces a crucial phase that will shape the rest of the season and decide whether a drop to sixth place is realistic or too generous. Next up is a trip to West Ham, followed by home games against Sunderland and Brighton, with a visit to Leeds in between.
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These opponents are in the bottom half or close to the relegation battle and offer Liverpool the opportunity to get back into the swing of things. But the current form does not allow them to take anything for granted.
Obtaining nine or more points from this four-game run would confirm the prediction of a promotion to the middle of the table. Anything else could even lead to the loss of Europa League territory.
For now, Liverpool remain caught between their promise at the start of the season and the harsh reality of their current run. What happens next month will show whether this is just a difficult period or the start of a season that completely rewrites expectations.
