Before today, the last time Liverpool were in the bottom three of the Premier League was after the opening day of the very first Premier League season. That day they lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest. But any team can be near the bottom after losing its opening fixture of a season. Prior to that, the last time Liverpool sunk into the bottom three of top flight football was during the 1964-65 season when they dropped down to last but one after eight games. But they soon picked themselves up that season and ended in seventh position.

Whether the Reds of Merseyside will be able to pick themselves up into seventh or higher this season seems unlikely at the moment. Such is the doom and gloom that permeates the Anfield club.