Three games, no wins and a subterranean 16th in the table.
They’ve conceded the first goal seven games in a row.
Already five points behind City, seven behind leaders Arsenal and one behind last week’s laughing stock, Manchester United.
But this week it’s Liverpool who are the butt of jokes.
It’s not a crisis yet, but could become one.
A pandemic of injuries. Their big-money signing is suspended and sure to become a target for streetwise provocateurs.
Players arguing on the field, shadows of their all-conquering selves.
Even their colossus has become calamitous. But Virgil van Dijk is not alone.
There’s no creativity, no spark, few goals. Individual players look knackered; overall the team looks flat.
These are the bare and brittle bones of their season so far.
Three games! But all clubs are only ever three games from a crisis, as a wise manager once said.
But this is Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
Three short months ago, they were on the cusp of immortality, eyeing an unprecedented Quad.
But they had to settle for a mere double as the two big trophies slipped agonisingly past the post.
Still, it was one of the great seasons of modern football history by one of the great teams.
And now this.
The loss of Sadio Mane can’t explain such a drop in standards. Even the injuries can’t.
It’s a combination of many things including bad luck, but perhaps – and you hesitate to say this about such a slick, well-run, think-of-everything operation – it could be bad judgment?
It’s obvious to everyone except perhaps the bean counters at Fenway Sports Group (FSG) that midfield is the problem.
When questioned about it a couple of weeks ago, Klopp countered by saying: “I have nine midfielders.”
Yes, but three of them – Thiago, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita – are fully paid-up members of the Sicknote Club and currently crocked.
Two – Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho – are teenagers and the combined age of another two – Jordan Henderson and James Milner – is 68.
That leaves only Curtis Jones – also crocked – and Fabinho – currently out of form – in the 20-28 age bracket.
Against United, it was Henderson, Milner and Elliott who got the nod.
Not much of an engine room.
Klopp has been known to “cover” for FSG’s occasional stinginess before.
It’s his job and they did cough up a then world record £75m for a defender (Van Dijk) soon followed by £55m for goalkeeper Allison.
But the impression is that Liverpool have blown this window’s allocation on Darwin Nunez.
They got much of the £80m fee back in the sales of Mane, Neco Williams and Takumi Minamino but the feeling is there’s no money for a midfielder.
We know that Liverpool are a meticulously run operation. If you’re a player on their wanted list, they know more about you than the FBI does.
Even Klopp himself was put through the digital wringer before he was hired.
That infamous “blip” season with Borussia Dortmund was examined forensically by director of research, Dr Ian Graham.
At the end of the first half of the season, Klopp’s team were in the relegation zone before recovering to seventh and grabbing a Europa League place.
Graham discovered that according to all the stats, the manager was blameless, Borussia should have finished second and the lower spot was all down to rank bad luck.
So Klopp was given the benefit of the doubt and hired.
Liverpool will have a list of all eligible midfielders, their age, height and inside leg measurement as well as Klopp’s opinion of them.
Jude Bellingham appears to be top but the plan is for next season.
If Liverpool were suddenly to jump in for him now, Dortmund would be sure to whack on an extra £20m knowing the urgency of Liverpool’s need.
That would take him into £100m plus territory. He’s a great prospect but not there yet.
And is he the answer anyway?
What they want, according to The Times, is “a No 8 who can also play as a No 6 and play now and also when the cavalry returns.”
If you can think of one, please WhatsApp Liverpool’s money men.
It’s a tall order but two names mentioned are Leicester’s Youri Tielemans and Florian Neuhaus of RB Leipzig.
Both are 25 and tick a few boxes, but would cost a bomb that would blow a hole in next season’s budget.
But the Reds badly need a box-to-box, ball-carrier who could bring the best out of Mo Salah and Luis Diaz, not to mention Nunez.
Klopp has flip-flopped on this matter, telling Sky Germany that he “could use another player.”
And there is a precedent for a late change of mind – even by the accountants.
Diaz was on the list for the summer window, but in January, with Liverpool languishing way behind City and needing a boost, the club decided not to wait and splurged on the Colombian there and then.
And what a shot in the arm he provided!
Hitting the ground at a sprint, the Colombian sparked that late season revival that saw the Reds remain 100% throughout the African Cup of Nations and chase down City.
You feel they need a similar injection of quality right now. Being penny-wise could make them look foolish.
The right new player can lift an entire team and Liverpool needs a lift.
The loss of form has been mystifying as they bossed the Community Shield against City. And Klopp seemed satisfied with their pre-season.
But there are those who think there’s a hangover from last season’s 63-game marathon.
But this is not the worst blip of the Klopp era. In March 2021, they were 10th having just lost six in a row at Anfield.
They still made it into the Champions League, but were lucky to do so: Alisson’s unlikely header against West Brom proving crucial.
Klopp will sort it out, but can forget the title unless he can pull off a late swoop for the right No.8/6.
Only then will we see the real Liverpool.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.