Brighton put up an incredible performance against Liverpool to bundle out the Reds from the FA Cup.
A late strike by Kaoru Mitoma ensure that the Premier League giants crashed out of the competition at the Amex Stadium.
With the result, Liverpool have managed only one win in their last six matches, and have now lost back-to-back to the Seagulls.
Jurgen Klopp nearly made history last year when he led Liverpool towards a quadruple – the FA Cup, EFL Cup, Premier League title, and Champions League.
Now, the tides have changed and it is a gnashing of teeth for fans of the Reds. Liverpool are now down to one chance of silverware this season after being knocked out of the FA Cup.
They are ninth in the Premier League – 21 points behind leaders Arsenal and 10 off the Champions League places.
The Reds would have stayed in contention for two possible silverware this season – the Champions League and FA Cup, but a 92nd-minute goal by the Seagulls at Annex Stadium saw them crash out of the competition.
It was the second time in as many weeks they had lost at Brighton, who are three places above them in the league.
Why is Liverpool struggling this season?
Some pundits have pointed out the exhausting schedule in pursuit of the quadruple last season, as a part of Liverpool’s struggle this season. A 63-game season – with every game having so much riding on it is believed to have taken a toll on the players.
There is also the psychological dimension of having to lose out on two trophies last season after going extremely close to winning them.
Another factor is the plague of injury that has ravaged the team this season. Key first-team players in Liverpool have been ruled out and the available members of the squad have not impressed thus far.
Particularly, Mohamed Salah is a shadow of himself this season. The Egyptian forward, who won the Premier League golden boot last season, has managed just 7 Premier League goals with 4 assists in 19 games for the Reds so far.
Also compounding their woes is the aging midfield with the likes of Naby Keita (27 years), Fabinho (29 years), Thiago Alcantara (31 years), Jordan Henderson (32 years), and James Milner (37 years) contributing to Liverpool’s laborious midfield.
The fate of Jurgen Klopp after Brighton loss
Reacting to the FA Cup defeat to Brighton, Jurgen Klopp blamed a shabby and poor defending by his team for conceding two goals from set pieces.
It is evident the former Borussia Dortmund manager is now under intense pressure to overturn the poor run of form at Anfield to secure his job.
While the management of the club reposes absolute confidence in Jurgen Klopp following his achievements with the club since taking over as manager in 2015, Liverpool’s Premier League finish and performance in the Champions League will have a huge bearing on Jurgen Klopp’s Anfield future.
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