Liverpool’s latest low arrived on Sunday as the champions were beaten by Manchester United at Anfield.
Arne Slot’s side have endured a difficult run of form in recent weeks, losing four consecutive games in all competitions, including three straight losses in the Premier League.
Their dip has seen Liverpool drop to fourth in the table, while only two reigning Premier League champions have ever lost more league games on the bounce.
The reigning Premier League champions who lost the most consecutive games
Blackburn Rovers – 1995/96 (3)
Blackburn Rovers scaled the Premier League Everest in 1994/95, as Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton spearheaded their title success. Rovers pipped Manchester United to the title, securing the club’s first top-flight crown in 81 years.
Kenny Dalglish departed as manager after that success and replacement Ray Hardford struggled during a disappointing defence. Blackburn ended the campaign seventh in the table, during a season that saw the club twice lose three consecutive games.
Rovers were beaten by Sheffield Wednesday, Bolton and Manchester United in August amid a disastrous start to their title defence, before losing in successive games to Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa in February 1996.
Chelsea – 2015/16 (3)
Jose Mourinho’s second spell as Chelsea manager imploded in 2015/16, just months after winning his third title with the club. The champions lost seven of their opening 12 games, including three consecutive defeats to West Ham, Liverpool and Stoke.
Chelsea sacked Mourinho in December, having lost nine of their opening 16 games. The Blues were just a point above the relegation places at the time of his exit. Guus Hiddink arrived as interim boss to steady the ship and led Chelsea to the relative safety of 10th.
Liverpool – 2025/26 (3)
Liverpool’s three consecutive defeats is the joint-third worst run of any reigning champion. Having started the season with five successive wins to lead the table, the wheels have fallen off for Arne Slot’s side.
Crystal Palace scored a stoppage-time winner to sink the champions on September 27th, before Chelsea also netted a decisive goal in the final seconds a week later. Manchester United made it three defeats in a row on Sunday, as Harry Maguire’s header sealed the visitor’s first win at Anfield since 2016. With a Champions League defeat at Galatasaray sandwiched in between, Slot is under pressure to turn results around.
4 – Liverpool have lost four consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since November 2014 under Brendan Rodgers. Sobering. pic.twitter.com/6X4zWswy21
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 19, 2025
Manchester City – 2024/25 (4)
Manchester City’s vice-like grip on the Premier League was loosened in 2024/25, as Pep Guardiola’s side finished third. Having won a record-breaking four titles in succession, the champions struggled to go again last season.
A nightmare run saw the Citizens lose four straight games between November 2nd and December 4th, as Bournemouth, Brighton, Tottenham and Liverpool all bested the champions. City lost twice more before the turn of the new year, but eventually improved their form to seal Champions League qualification.
Leicester City – 2016/17 (5)
Leicester City hold the unwanted record for the longest losing streak by reigning Premier League champions. The Foxes had caused one of sport’s greatest-ever shocks by winning the title in 2015/16, despite starting the season as relegation favourites.
The summer departure of N’Golo Kante to Chelsea impacted their title defence, as Leicester sank to 12th in the table. Their worst run came in January and February, as the Foxes lost five on the bounce without scoring a goal. A decision was made to sack title-winning coach Claudio Ranieri, with Craig Shakespeare named as his replacement.
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