In the Premier League last season, reigning champions Liverpool were thrashed 7-2 by Aston Villa, who only narrowly avoided relegation in the 2019-20 season. However, as shocking as the result was, it wasn't the first time the reigning Premier League champions had suffered a humiliating defeat. It's all about the agony and the ecstasy in football. You wouldn't have the other if you didn't have the first.
The beautiful game's highs are made all the sweeter by the fact that every fan has also experienced crushing lows. Years have passed since some of history's most humiliating defeats. Others, on the other hand, have never truly been forgotten. The 7-2 loss against Villa wasn't the first time Liverpool had been defeated in such a humiliating manner. The Reds have suffered some truly shocking losses over the years, and here are five of them.
5. Arsenal 8-1 Liverpool (1934-35 First Division)
Liverpool had been playing football for 43 years when the 1934-35 season began. Liverpool faced the Gunners at the Highbury in the 3rd game of the First Division after winning their first game and losing the second. However, They were crushed at the Highbury as Arsenal scored eight goals past them. Bowden and Drake scored the first two goals for the Gunners in the first half. Bowden completed his hattrick quickly after the first half. Crayston scored the fifth for Arsenal. Alf Hanson pulled one back for the Reds but it went on to be a consolation goal as Drake and Bastin scored to make it eight for the Gunners.
4. Bolton Wanderers 8-1 Liverpool (1931-32 First Division)
Bolton were a lower-ranked team than Liverpool that season and the Reds couldn’t have predicted what was coming. Bolton hosted Liverpool at Burnden Park and scored eight goals past Arthur Riley, Liverpool no.1. The game started badly for the Reds as they concede three goals inside 6 minutes. Three mins later, McRorie pulled one back for Liverpool. Bolton led 3-1 at half-time through Milsom’s brace and Edmed’s solitary goal. Milsom was on top form and added another two goals on the scoresheet in the 2nd half. Westwood completed his brace to make it eight goals for one for Bolton.
3. Newcastle United 9-2 Liverpool (1933-34 First Division)
Quite possibly the greatest goalkeeper in Liverpool's history, Elisha Scott was humiliated at St. James’ Park on New Year’s eve in 1934 as Newcastle scored 9 goals past him. This was the first time, the Reds conceded nine goals in a match. Jimmy Richardson and Sam Weaver scored hattricks and Boyd, Lang and Williams scored one goal each in the nine-goal humiliation of Liverpool. Harold Taylor scored one goal for Liverpool and they bagged another goal in the 1st half through Betton’s own goal.
2. Huddersfield Town 8-0 Liverpool (1934-35 First Division)
Jimmy Richardson joined Huddersfield Town in 1934 from Newcastle United for a fee of £4,000. However, he haunted Liverpool again in 1934 as he scored a brace in the Terriers’ 8-0 win. Goerge Patterson’s Liverpool conceded four goals in each half. Albert Malam scored a hattrick, Richardson scored a brace and Lythgoe, Luke and Bott made it to the scoresheet. It was Liverpool’s biggest loss in top-tier football.
1. Birmingham City 9-1 Liverpool (1954-55 Second Division)
Liverpool’s biggest loss in their century-old history is their loss at St. Andrews’ Stadium in December 1954. The 1954–55 season was Liverpool F.C.'s 62nd, and it was the club's first in the Second Division since 1905, following their relegation from the First Division the year before. Eddie Brown bagged a hattrick for the Blues at home, who was followed by Astall and Murphy’s brace and goals for Govan and Lane. Birmingham ran riot with their first goal coming in the 1st minute and the eighth goal coming in the 85th minute. Not only did Liverpool fail to challenge for the promotion that season, but they were also in serious danger of relegation to the Third Division North for much of the season due to a poor start. Liverpool were saved by a late run of form, but their 11th-place finish remains their lowest-ever Football League final position. They were saved because they had more goals per game than Middlesborough, who were relegated despite the same points (42).
