After both Liverpool and Manchester City slipped to defeat on Saturday, football writer Sam Cunningham discusses what it means for the title race as leaders Arsenal prepare to host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
There were still 12 minutes plus stoppage time to play when some Liverpool fans trudged out of Anfield after the third Nottingham Forest goal went in.
They had seen enough of yet another shock result for the Premier League trophy holders – enough of the heaviest home league defeat for head coach Arne Slot and the type of result that simply doesn’t happen to Liverpool often.
It is more than four years since Liverpool were this badly bruised at Anfield in the league in a 4-1 defeat to Man City, the last time they lost by a three-goal margin.
By the end of the match, they were closer to the bottom three than top of the table: seven points ahead of 18th-place Leeds United, eight points behind leaders Arsenal and a title defence that has almost slipped from their grasp.
Slot has his work cut out to arrest such a surprising slump in form for a side that cruised to the title last season. It is hard to pinpoint what has gone so wrong after five wins in their opening five league matches suggested they had carried that title-winning form into this campaign.
But six defeats in seven league games now and conceding three goals without reply in back-to-back matches, first against Man City before the international break and again against Forest, points to deep problems that need fixing fast.
And there is little in Liverpool’s recent history in which to find answers. The last time they lost successive league games by three or more goals was under Bill Shankly, in April 1965.
“If things go bad or things go well it’s always my responsibility,” Slot told BBC Match of the Day, adding: “We are in a very bad spell. That’s simple.”
Liverpool's six defeats in the opening 12 matches are the joint-second highest for defending champions in Premier League history, after Chelsea were beaten seven times in 2015/16.
It certainly brings into sharp focus the impending relentless run of three Premier League games in seven days.
After a UEFA Champions League tie against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday, Liverpool then go to West Ham United on Sunday, followed by the visit of Sunderland on Wednesday, and on the road against Leeds on Saturday.
Liverpool's next PL fixtures
It could be a defining week. For now, they are in the bottom half of the table after 12 matches for the first time in more than a decade.
'Keep our head up'
“It’s nice if you work somewhere and things go well, it’s nice to be part of it,” Slot said. “Now it’s a bit more difficult. But keep our head up, work incredibly hard and try to turn things around. That has been very difficult until now but that’s what I and we are trying every single day here at Liverpool.”
Forest, resurgent since Sean Dyche took over as head coach in October, were fully deserving of the victory and scoreline. Murillo put them ahead on 33 minutes with a powerful shot and Nicolo Savona doubled their lead 39 seconds into the second half.
Morgan Gibbs-White scored the third with a rebound and even at 1-0, Igor Jesus also had a goal ruled out for handball.
“We scored, knocked their confidence and never let them recover,” Forest captain Ryan Yates told Sky Sports.
Virgil van Dijk, the Liverpool captain, did not hold back in his assessment. “We were not good in terms of battles, challenges, the fight, too rushed,” the centre-back said. “It's a very difficult situation at the moment.
“I've been at this club so long now and we've been through adversity. We will bounce back but it doesn't happen overnight. I'm not a quitter and we will keep going until the end.”
Watch: Van Dijk's full reaction to Liverpool 0-3 Forest
Van Dijk admitted that the defence is an issue. “We concede far too many goals. Whether it’s through set-pieces or like the second goal, far too easy. These things definitely shouldn’t happen. That’s where it starts, you have to make sure we have the foundation and at the moment we don’t.
“I know the fans have been through thick and thin with us. They will be there with us when we come out of this because we will come out of this."
Man City miss chance to close gap on Arsenal
Meanwhile, in the later kick-off Man City stumbled in their pursuit of Arsenal at the top of the table, a defeat by Newcastle United dropping them to third behind Chelsea, who eased past Burnley in the lunchtime game.
Since the disappointment of last season and an indifferent start to this one, City have quietly emerged as title contenders, but Newcastle produced a stunning result to win only their second Premier League game against Man City in two decades.
Pep Guardiola said it was “always” frustrating to drop points but had no complaints about the result.
“Newcastle is a top side, top players, top manager, so unfortunately tonight we could not make the momentum that we had count,” Guardiola told BBC Match of the Day.
“It was an entertaining game, we both had chances and then there was a momentum shift and ultimately we couldn't win.”
After a goalless but eventful first half at St James’ Park – the seven big chances are the most in a goalless first half in Opta records – there was a flurry of three goals in six minutes and 36 seconds.
None, however, came from Erling Haaland, who has failed to score in three of Man City’s four league defeats this season.
Harvey Barnes opened the scoring on 63 minutes with a well-taken shot from the edge of the box. Guardiola could not hide his frustration, beating a dugout seat with his hand.
Ruben Dias levelled five minutes later when a ball came out from a corner. But Newcastle were back in front again within two minutes when Nick Woltemade’s header caused chaos in City’s penalty area, they failed to clear and Barnes’ clever flick sent the ball over the line.
Barnes became the first Newcastle player since Alan Shearer, in November 2003, to score twice against Man City.
“It was a big result for us, one we definitely needed on the back of a few poor results,” Barnes told Sky Sports. “What a game to be involved in.”
Does the weekend’s results now leave Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea as Arsenal’s main title contenders?
Victory for Arsenal over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday would extend their lead over Man City to seven points, and 11 points clear of Liverpool.
Even though they would be six clear of Chelsea next weekend’s game between the pair is a chance for Maresca’s young team to reveal how serious they are.