Liverpool's trip to Old Trafford couldn't have started any worse—and for fans watching at home, it was a gut punch from the opening whistle. Matheus Cunha struck inside just six minutes, handing Michael Carrick's Manchester United an early lead in Sunday's Premier League showdown. The Brazilian's opener set the tone, and within 15 minutes, Benjamin Šeško doubled the Red Devils' advantage, leaving Liverpool scrambling before the game even settled.

This early blitz is becoming an all-too-familiar script for Arne Slot's side. Across all competitions this season, Liverpool have now conceded the first goal in 21 of their 54 matches. That's nearly 40% of games where they're playing catch-up from the start—a worrying trend for any team with title aspirations. Even more troubling? The fallen English champions have only managed to overturn an early deficit twice in their previous 20 attempts. When you're trailing, the odds are stacked against you, and those numbers don't lie.

But the bad news doesn't stop there. Liverpool have now set an unwanted club record in the Premier League era: the most goals conceded from non-penalty set-piece scenarios in a single campaign. Dead-ball situations have become a glaring weakness, and opponents are exploiting it ruthlessly. For a club built on defensive solidity, this stat is a red flag that can't be ignored.

With these mounting struggles, it's no surprise that Slot is feeling the heat from the stands. For Liverpool fans, the early kickoff at Old Trafford was a harsh reminder that even the strongest teams can be undone by slow starts and defensive lapses. As the season wears on, the Anfield outfit will need to find answers fast—or risk watching their rivals pull further ahead.