At the start of the season, Liverpool missing out on the top four would have been unimaginable. Even after their injury problems, the team were still sitting top of the league as recently as December.
Now, it is looking increasingly likely that they will not be in the Champions League next season. Jurgen Klopp's side have lost a remarkable five home games on the spin, failing to score a goal from open play in the last ten hours of football at Anfield.
Injuries are one thing, but it certainly doesn't excuse a run of form this poor.
Missing out on the top four could have disastrous long-term consequences for the Liverpool. Considering their owners' insistence that they operate within their means, missing out on the windfall that Europe's premiere club competition brings will surely greatly reduce their spending power this summer.
The timing for that couldn't be worse, with their squad in desperate need of some reinforcements. Then you have the fact that some players could look to leave the club.
Most of Liverpool's major stars are in their late 20s or early 30s and may not want to miss out on a season of Champions League football in their primes. We have seen this dynamic at play at other teams in the past.
In fact, speculation has already been mounting about the future of Mohamed Salah after his agent sent a cryptic tweet after the Egyptian was substituted during the loss to Chelsea on Thursday night.
However, Jurgen Klopp is not worried about his stars looking to leave, saying that any player that does look to force his way out will be no loss to the club.
The club is in a different situation and it will not be an issue with new players I can say that.
We said it years back if a player does not want to come to us because we don’t play Champions League next season then I don’t want him.
And if a player wants to leave because we don’t play Champions League then I don’t want him. It is not a personal thing, but it is always like this.
You always need to find the right squad for the challenges you face. Then you go for it. It is nothing I worry about.
With a number of key players to return from injury next season, it will be expected that Liverpool will bounce back quickly if they do miss out on the top four this season.
Despite this, their squad does look as though it has grown stale. Regardless, Klopp would expect a swift return to the Champions League.
This club will not be a regular out of the Champions League – this year is difficult we know that, but the potential and the power of the club is a completely different one.
I do not know the team 10 years ago but we are ready for a battle in this era, and with the team we have together.
Seasons have momentum and we never really got it this year, that is true, but this club is in a really good position.In a difficult time obviously, but in a better position than other clubs I would say.
I obviously did not think about what happened in the past but what I can say nobody has to worry about the future of the club because it is in good hands and has a really good team together, and so that is obviously the basis for a good future.
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