How Liverpool lined up the last time they began a season so badly with Gerrard, Sterling, Borini, Manquillo and Lambert

LIVERPOOL have had their worst start to a Prem season in SEVEN years.

The Reds slumped to a 2-1 defeat at home to Leeds last night, meaning they have picked up just 16 points from their first 12 games.

The last time they made a worse start than this was in the 2014-15 campaign, when Brendan Rodgers was still at the helm.

Liverpool had come close to winning the title the season before, but were rocked by the departure of talisman Luis Suarez to Barcelona.

Rodgers would never be able to recapture the magic during his Anfield tenure, with his side enduring a miserable start to his last full campaign in charge.

The Reds’ 3-1 defeat at Selhurst Park in November 2014 made it just 14 points from their opening 12 matches that year.

Boyhood Red Rickie Lambert gave Liverpool the best possible start by scoring after just two minutes.

But the Eagles hit back through the Reds’ previous tormentor Dwight Gayle – with late goals by bearded duo Joe Ledley and Mile Jedinak winning it.

Rodgers lined up with Simon Mignolet in goal, the Belgian not really challenged by then-deputy Brad Jones.

Javier Manquillo, now frozen out at Newcastle, was at right-back for the Reds, with Glen Johnson filling in on the left.

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Martin Skrtel partnered Dejan Lovren at centre-half – with Rodgers opting for a midfield trio in front of them.

Steven Gerrard, recently sacked as Aston Villa boss, was deployed at the base of the engine room – with Joe Allen to his right and Adam Lallana to his left.

Philippe Coutinho, now of Villa, was on the right of the front three, with Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling to the left.

Lambert was the target man in the middle – the former Southampton ace scoring one of his three goals in 36 Liverpool outings that day against the Eagles.

Rodgers desperately turned to his bench to turn the match around, but to no avail.

He called on Emre Can and Fabio Borini to come on – with Jones, Kolo Toure, Alberto Moreno, Lucas Leiva and Lazar Markovic remaining unused.