Just a few weeks ago, Jurgen Klopp was expected to have an incredible farewell to his final season at Liverpool. However, with the Reds going badly, talk of a possible quadruple has long since been forgotten.
Liverpool lost the first leg of their last-eight match 3-0 at home to Atalanta, so they have a mountain to climb if they hope to advance to the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday.
Last month, Manchester United also eliminated Klopp's team from the FA Cup. After an exciting match, the Red Devils prevailed 4-3 at Old Trafford.
Liverpool dropped two points behind Manchester City in the title race after failing to learn from their defeat, as they were held 2-2 by United three weeks later and then shocked 1-0 at home by Crystal Palace in their final two Premier League games.
Did you read this?
Earlier in the season, Liverpool's resilience after falling behind was hailed as evidence of the "mentality monsters" Klopp has cultivated at Anfield.
They started slowly again and lost against Palace on Sunday, but they have gained 27 points this season despite falling behind in the Premier League alone.
Liverpool has given up the first goal 21 times this season across all competitions.
"It's been the story of the last few games, and that's why we have been punished," said left-back Andy Robertson of his side's sluggish starts. We are struggling to keep clean sheets right now."
Liverpool's forward line has also cooled off towards the end of the season, adding to a stretch of nine games without a clean sheet.
The 19-time English champions have only managed nine goals from 149 shots in their last six league games, a conversion rate of 6% that would rank them bottom in the Premier League season-long standings.
Following his return from a hamstring injury sustained during the Africa Cup of Nations, Mohamed Salah has appeared apathetic.
Furthermore, Diogo Jota, who is frequently hailed as the team's most natural finisher, has only recently returned from a two-month injury layoff.
Despite their combined 45 goals this season, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Cody Gakpo still need to be more reliable in front of goal.
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has called that trio "scruffy" in contrast to the Salah, Firmino, and Sadio Mane trio that led Liverpool to victory earlier in Klopp's tenure.
