Liverpool have been knocked out of the Champions League, failed to win any domestic trophies and risk missing out on top-four spots in the Premier League this season.
This is roughly the same team that nearly won the quadruple yesterday. What did go so horribly wrong? Liverpool's former goalkeeper David James has come up with an interesting theory.
It's the frustration after coming so close to beating Madrid in the Champions League final last season, James argues.
"The absentees that Liverpool had at the start of the season has been crucial. Not starting with a fully fit squad to utilise had an impact. Confidence has played a massive role too," he told Lord Ping.
"If you look at the nature of how Liverpool finished second in the Premier League and beaten finalists in the Champions League, they were arguably the better team in that final. Had it not been for the heroics of Thibaut Courtois, Liverpool would have won.
"Liverpool know that they did everything right to win the Champions League, so when you’ve put in such a huge effort to be successful, to end up losing the last game - the biggest club game in world football - the players would have been thinking about that all summer.
"Liverpool drew the opening game away at Fulham. They drew the next one at home to Palace, so it's only natural for players’ confidence to start to be affected by poor results and form.
"They went to United and lost and had two points after three games. They demolished Bournemouth 9-0 and followed that with a win at home to Newcastle where they needed two very late goals.
"They went to Napoli and took a bruising defeat. At this stage, you’re a month into the season and the players are reminded that they are still not at a level where they need to be if they want to challenge for everything again."
