The end of an era: How a wasted summer led to Liverpool’s collapse

Jürgen Klopp’s inability to reinforce their exhausted midfield was once again exposed in defeat at Brighton

TROUBLE: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp before the Premier League match at the American Express Community Stadium, Brighton.

It was at the very end of Jürgen Klopp’s post-match press conference at the Amex Stadium on Saturday that he was then asked the question most people in the room were probably thinking about asking themselves: was his decision to take off Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Joël Matip as part of a quadruple substitution midway through the second half symbolic of this Liverpool team being past it?

“It’s our fault you can ask this question, I understand it, but the changes have nothing to do with that,” Klopp said with characteristic defiance, but ultimately his demeanour gave him away. Head bowed, voice lowered, concern etched across his face; the German, quite clearly, recognised his side’s loss to Brighton being as noteworthy as it was emphatic.