Liverpool's Second Straight Home Loss Threatens to Derail Its Title Defense

With Man City visiting Anfield next, it's rapidly become do-or-die time for the reigning Premier League champions.

After going 68 Premier League games unbeaten at Anfield, Liverpool has slumped to back-to-back losses at the stadium that was its impenetrable stronghold for nearly four years.

The latest defeat — to lowly Brighton — left the champions’ title defense on the brink of collapse.

Just like against Burnley two weeks ago, Liverpool was beaten 1-0 by a team battling to avoid relegation. Jurgen Klopp’s team dropped seven points behind leader Manchester City, which has a game in hand and is on a nine-match winning streak.

City is the next visitor to Anfield, on Sunday. A win for Pep Guardiola’s team may effectively knock Liverpool out of the title race — with more than three months of the season remaining.

After going 68 Premier League games unbeaten at Anfield, Liverpool has now lost back-to-back ones–to Burnley and Brighton 😳

(via @NBCSportsSoccer) pic.twitter.com/GDneWvwmzR

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) February 3, 2021

Seeking to regain the title it relinquished to Liverpool last season, City produced another dominant display in overwhelming Burnley in a 2-0 victory at Turf Moor.

That restored City’s three-point advantage over second-place Manchester United, which won 9-0 over Southampton on Tuesday. City has played a game less than United, too.

Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling scored first-half goals as City won a 13th straight game in all competitions — a run of victories stretching back to Dec. 15.

Gabriel Jesus couldn't have asked for an easier header! #BURMCI pic.twitter.com/LyRpQQTr1C

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 3, 2021

Sterling! Two for City! #BURMCI pic.twitter.com/BByNPqwBgM

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 3, 2021

While City has conceded just two goals in 13 league games, Liverpool’s issues in defense continue as it struggles to overcome the likely season-long absence of Virgil van Dijk. They weren’t helped by goalkeeper Alisson Becker missing out against Brighton because of an illness.

The title might soon be gone for Liverpool, and a place in the top four is hardly guaranteed.

The Reds are in fourth place but only two points ahead of fifth-place West Ham, which won 3-1 at Aston Villa. Everton is two points further back in sixth after beating Leeds 2-1.

Leicester moved above Liverpool into third place with a 2-0 win at Fulham.