Last season's runners-up Liverpool FC fell to perennial mid-table side West Ham United, 3-1 on Saturday at Upton Park.
Things went sour quickly for Liverpool as they found themselves 1-0 down just 90 seconds into the game in the 2nd minute. A costless kick was sent into to the back post by former-Liverpool player Stewart Downing to center-back James Tomkins, whose header was put in by center-back partner Winston Read.
Things would go from bad to worse before Liverpool could even muster their first shot on goal, when in the 7th minute Mark Noble, sprinting through the center of midfield found West Ham's Sakho on the right of Liverpool's box who then proceeded to hit a cross turned shot that found it's way past Mignolet and into the back of the net to give West Ham the 2-0 lead.
West Ham would continue to cause Liverpool problems down the wings with Sakho and Downing helping to pin Liverpool in their own half as as a run from Sakho in the 12th minute forced Henderson to track back to recover the ball off of the West Ham midfielder only for West Ham to recover possession shortly after.
Liverpool failed to trouble West Ham much of the first half as they would eventually resort to playing long-balls due to West Ham's high press which was well dealt with by West Ham's central defensive pairing, as well as their 6' 2" right back, Guy Demel.
Shell-shocked, it would take until the 21st minute for Liverpool to muster their first opportunity of the game when Sterling's cross was nodded out for a corner, but the corner was dealt with well by the West Ham defense and Liverpool were once again put on the defensive.
Rodgers would attempt to regain control of the game with a tactical switch in the 22nd minute when center back Mamadou Sakho was brought on for right back Javier Manquillo.
Liverpool managed to pull one back with their first shot of the game in the 26th minute, when Henderson's lifted ball into the box found Balotelli who brought it down, only to have his shot blocked. The deflection fell to the feet of Sterling who made no mistake in the box to smash it home and cut the deficit to 2-1.
With the addition of Sakho, the game took a more physical turn with several more cards being handed out following his inclusion, with several more perhaps unjustly not given.
West Ham came close to adding a third in the 33rd minute, but Valencia's costless kick was tipped over the bar by Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet.
West Ham would continue to tear Liverpool apart on the wings with Downing and Sakho causing problems thanks to a combination of pace and trickery, with Noble occasionally switching positions with Downing including in the 44th minute when Noble's cross from the right side of midfield found Tomkins, but the West Ham defender nodded the ball just wide of goal.
West Ham would continue to pile on the pressure in added time as 6 minutes were played out due to an injury to Lovren earlier in the half, but could not find a third goal to kill Liverpool off as the first half ended 2-1.
Liverpool would start the second half on the front foot with the more offensive Adam Lallana coming on for Lucas at half time.
Several early costless kicks would come to nothing for either side, but Liverpool would have the first shot on target of the second half in the 54th minute as Borini sprinted down the right wing following a fast break, but the angle was all wrong for the Italian as his shot was easily saved by Adrian.
West Ham's Sakho would continue to cause Liverpool problems as he did in the first half, this time from a central position, battling it out with Liverpool's Sakho in the 55th minute but the ball was cleared by Sakho's defensive partner Lovren.
West Ham were fortunate not to concede a penalty in the 65th minute when Adrian got a hand on Borini's shin following the rebound of the Italian's shot.
The second half was filled with physicality despite a lack of cards but that did not frighten Sterling who was the best player on the pitch for a very poor looking Liverpool.
Balotelli would manage to get a save out of Adrian in the 70th minute despite being physically well handled by the West Ham defense much of the game as evaded a West Ham defender, dropped his shoulder and drove a shot low but Adrian reacted well to push it wide of goal.
Liverpool would manage another shot in the 72nd minute as Lallana was found by Sterling, but his effort was blocked and like they have all season so far, Liverpool failed to do anything with the ensuing corner.
Liverpool would continue to pressure well for the remaining 15 minutes, earning another corner in the 75th minute, but struggled to break West Ham down as the Hammers dropped into a defensive formation with 5 at the back and hacked clear what Liverpool threw at them.
Then, in the 88th minute, West Ham would break the pressure, surging forward on the fast break as Sakho's poor clearance fell to Downing whose pass across the face of goal was met by the toe of Amalfitano who poked it past Mignolet to seal the 3-1 victory for West Ham. Liverpool continued to press West Ham in vain following the goal, but their efforts to break West Ham down failed and essentially summed up the night for last year's runners-up.
For winner's West Ham they take on new-look Manchester United at Old Trafford, on September 27 with confidence high following the victory, where as Liverpool will hope a win in their return to Anfield for the Merseyside Derby on September 27 can spark what's been a dismal start to the season.
It is perhaps too soon to call Liverpool a club in crisis, but this, Liverpool's third loss so early in the season rings alarm bells for a side that was expected to potentially challenge for the title if not qualify comfortably for the UEFA Champions League.