The situation with St Helens elected a whole council rather than a third does seem odd.
Anyway, to illustrate how catastrophic it was for Labour, this is the final result:
The final results:
Reform: 34
Liberal Democrats: 3
Newton-le-Willow Independents: 3
Rainhill Independents: 3
Labour: 2
Conservative: 1
In a town it has dominated for decades and where it still holds both the parliamentary seats (for now), Starmer has managed to reduce it to a pitiful 2 council seats. But he still thinks he is the man for the job. 
The sole Conservative was elected in Rainford, where I was yesterday. I don’t expect that situation will last much longer as the old Rainford continues to die off.
Now part of St Helens North, Rainford used to be in the old Ormskirk constituency before its abolition. Which means the village’s MPs have included a young Harold Wilson (before he ran away to Huyton) and the unforgettable Robert Kilroy Silk..