• October 1, 2020: It was no indication of the turbulence to come, but Liverpool's first setback of the 2020-21 season was being knocked out of the League Cup by Arsenal on penalties after a 0-0 draw. AFP
    October 1, 2020: It was no indication of the turbulence to come, but Liverpool's first setback of the 2020-21 season was being knocked out of the League Cup by Arsenal on penalties after a 0-0 draw. AFP
  • Arsenal's German goalkeeper Bernd Leno (L) celebrates with midfielder Joe Willock (3l) after winning the penalty shoot out. AFP
    Arsenal's German goalkeeper Bernd Leno (L) celebrates with midfielder Joe Willock (3l) after winning the penalty shoot out. AFP
  • October 4, 2020: Aston Villa 7-2 Liverpool. A result that sent shockwaves around the Premier League. But this early in the season, it was regarded as a blip rather than something more serious. AFP
    October 4, 2020: Aston Villa 7-2 Liverpool. A result that sent shockwaves around the Premier League. But this early in the season, it was regarded as a blip rather than something more serious. AFP
  • Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins (R) celebrates with defender Ezri Konsa after completing his hat-trick. AFP
    Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins (R) celebrates with defender Ezri Konsa after completing his hat-trick. AFP
  • October 17, 2020: Everton 2-2 Liverpool. No shame in drawing a Mersey derby, but that wasn't the real story at Goodison Park. Defender Virgil van Dijk left the field with a damaged anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee following a challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. He has not played since. AFP
    October 17, 2020: Everton 2-2 Liverpool. No shame in drawing a Mersey derby, but that wasn't the real story at Goodison Park. Defender Virgil van Dijk left the field with a damaged anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee following a challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. He has not played since. AFP
  • December 13, 2020: Fulham 1-1 Liverpool. Just two points dropped, but against a newly promoted Fulham who were struggling badly. Bobby Decordova-Reid celebrates after scoring the opening goal. AFP
    December 13, 2020: Fulham 1-1 Liverpool. Just two points dropped, but against a newly promoted Fulham who were struggling badly. Bobby Decordova-Reid celebrates after scoring the opening goal. AFP
  • Mohamed Salah scored from the penalty spot, but Liverpool could not find the win at Craven Cottage. AFP
    Mohamed Salah scored from the penalty spot, but Liverpool could not find the win at Craven Cottage. AFP
  • January 4, 2021: Southampton 1-0 Liverpool. A New Year, and not a good start. Goalkeeper Fraser Forster and midfielder Stuart Armstrong celebrate a famous win for the Saints. AFP
    January 4, 2021: Southampton 1-0 Liverpool. A New Year, and not a good start. Goalkeeper Fraser Forster and midfielder Stuart Armstrong celebrate a famous win for the Saints. AFP
  • Manager Jurgen Klopp looks miserable in defeat as Southampton's Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhuttl (C) celebrates. AFP
    Manager Jurgen Klopp looks miserable in defeat as Southampton's Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhuttl (C) celebrates. AFP
  • January 21, 2021: Liverpool 0-1 Burnley. The start of a horror run for the Reds. Unbeaten at home in the Premier League for 68 games, Ashley Barnes' goal was historic for Burnley, and indicated that Liverpool's troubles were running deep. AFP
    January 21, 2021: Liverpool 0-1 Burnley. The start of a horror run for the Reds. Unbeaten at home in the Premier League for 68 games, Ashley Barnes' goal was historic for Burnley, and indicated that Liverpool's troubles were running deep. AFP
  • Jurgen Klopp on the touchline during the defeat to Burnley. AFP
    Jurgen Klopp on the touchline during the defeat to Burnley. AFP
  • January 24, 2021: Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool. Just a few days after the shock Burnley defeat, and Liverpool were out of the FA Cup, beaten by bitter rivals Manchester United. Marcus Rashford celebrates United's second goal. AFP
    January 24, 2021: Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool. Just a few days after the shock Burnley defeat, and Liverpool were out of the FA Cup, beaten by bitter rivals Manchester United. Marcus Rashford celebrates United's second goal. AFP
  • Liverpool players react to conceding the third goal at Old Trafford. AFP
    Liverpool players react to conceding the third goal at Old Trafford. AFP
  • February 3, 2021: Liverpool 0-1 Brighton. Another home defeat, during a horrific February, this time against lowly Brighton. AFP
    February 3, 2021: Liverpool 0-1 Brighton. Another home defeat, during a horrific February, this time against lowly Brighton. AFP
  • Brighton players celebrate their win at Anfield. AFP
    Brighton players celebrate their win at Anfield. AFP
  • February 7, 2021: Liverpool 1-4 Manchester City. Three Premier League defeats in succession at Anfield. The champions' crown was falling off, and the visitors were running away with it. City's Phil Foden celebrates netting their fourth. AFP
    February 7, 2021: Liverpool 1-4 Manchester City. Three Premier League defeats in succession at Anfield. The champions' crown was falling off, and the visitors were running away with it. City's Phil Foden celebrates netting their fourth. AFP
  • Liverpool striker Sadio Mane can't believe he has missed a chance against Manchester City. AFP
    Liverpool striker Sadio Mane can't believe he has missed a chance against Manchester City. AFP
  • February 13: Leicester 3-1 Liverpool. The horror month of February continues as Leicester claim the three points, and the Reds slip further out of contention. AFP
    February 13: Leicester 3-1 Liverpool. The horror month of February continues as Leicester claim the three points, and the Reds slip further out of contention. AFP
  • Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker looks disconsolate during the defeat at the King Power Stadium in Leicester. AFP
    Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker looks disconsolate during the defeat at the King Power Stadium in Leicester. AFP
  • February 20, 2021: Liverpool 0-2 Everton. Anfield, and another defeat. The script was becoming all too familiar for Mohamed Salah and his teammates. It hurt even more against their Merseyseyside rivals. AFP
    February 20, 2021: Liverpool 0-2 Everton. Anfield, and another defeat. The script was becoming all too familiar for Mohamed Salah and his teammates. It hurt even more against their Merseyseyside rivals. AFP
  • Everton's Tom Davies, Lucas Digne, Ben Godfrey and Michael Keane celebrate their victory in the Mersey derby. AFP
    Everton's Tom Davies, Lucas Digne, Ben Godfrey and Michael Keane celebrate their victory in the Mersey derby. AFP
  • March 4, 2021: Liverpool 0-1 Chelsea. Galvanised by new manager Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea travelled to Anfield with confidence, and it paid off. Yet another home defeat in a Liverpool season spiralling out of control. AFP
    March 4, 2021: Liverpool 0-1 Chelsea. Galvanised by new manager Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea travelled to Anfield with confidence, and it paid off. Yet another home defeat in a Liverpool season spiralling out of control. AFP
  • Trent Alexander-Arnold and midfielder Fabinho at the final whistle against Chelsea. The body language says it all. AFP
    Trent Alexander-Arnold and midfielder Fabinho at the final whistle against Chelsea. The body language says it all. AFP
  • March 7, 2021: Liverpool 0-1 Fulham. Mario Lemina's goal on the stroke of half-time, after the Gabon midfielder had dispossessed Mohamed Salah, inflicted a sixth successive Premier League home defeat on the Reds. AFP
    March 7, 2021: Liverpool 0-1 Fulham. Mario Lemina's goal on the stroke of half-time, after the Gabon midfielder had dispossessed Mohamed Salah, inflicted a sixth successive Premier League home defeat on the Reds. AFP
  • Midfielder Naby Keita and Sadio Mane look glum after the Fulham result. AFP
    Midfielder Naby Keita and Sadio Mane look glum after the Fulham result. AFP
  • April 6, 2021. Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool. The Reds picked up with three wins on the bounce, until this damaging defeat in the Champions League quarter-final first leg. Real's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium. AFP
    April 6, 2021. Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool. The Reds picked up with three wins on the bounce, until this damaging defeat in the Champions League quarter-final first leg. Real's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium. AFP
  • Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder Luka Modric celebrates with Lucas Vazquez (L) at the end of the game. AFP
    Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder Luka Modric celebrates with Lucas Vazquez (L) at the end of the game. AFP
  • April 14, 2021: Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid. It was always going to be a tall order, and so it proved. No stirring comeback from Liverpool as they exited the Champions League at Anfield after missing chances to at least make a game of it. AFP
    April 14, 2021: Liverpool 0-0 Real Madrid. It was always going to be a tall order, and so it proved. No stirring comeback from Liverpool as they exited the Champions League at Anfield after missing chances to at least make a game of it. AFP
  • Another miserable night for Liverpool's Egyptian genius Mohamed Salah after the Real Madrid draw effectively ended their season. AFP
    Another miserable night for Liverpool's Egyptian genius Mohamed Salah after the Real Madrid draw effectively ended their season. AFP

Football

Pain, misery, anguish: How Liverpool's season went from bad to worse - in pictures

The key games from a season of decline for Jurgen Klopp's champions

Dominic Hart

April 15, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

It has been a spectacular fall from grace for Liverpool after their domination of the Premier League last season.

Out of the League Cup in October, the same month they lost Virgil van Dijk to injury. Out of the FA Cup in January. Out of the running to retain their league title with months of the season to go.

Now out of the Champions League after their quarter-final defeat to Real Madrid.

Despite losing the Community Shield Cup to Arsenal on penalties in their opening game, it would have been impossible to predict Liverpool's demise after they won their next four matches in all competitions.

It looked like the Reds were up and running in brilliant fashion, just like 2019-20. Then the wheels came off.

The key results where the season went wrong for Jurgen Klopp's champions can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.

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