COMMENT: Well, they do say it comes in threes. And after the week Liverpool just had, all they have to cling onto is superstition.
GONE. Out went a year-long unbeaten record at Anfield with defeat to Swansea City last Saturday. GONE. An EFL Cup final dream shattered at home to Southampton on Wednesday. GONE. Humiliation, again at home, to Wolves and another FA Cup campaign is over.
It was the week to set up the season. Three winnable games at home ahead of a decisive title clash with Chelsea. But as Klopp conceded in the Wolves aftermath, after these seven days - and with a flying Chelsea now on their way - Liverpool have hit rock bottom.
Oh, and it gets worse. Because as much as Sadio Mane's early return from the Africa Cup of Nations will be welcomed, Klopp may have another confidence crisis on his hands after the manner of Senegal's elimination. Mane was in tears after he fluffed the crucial fifth penalty in the shootout against Cameroon. He'll need more than a Klopp bear hug to lift him in time face Conte's lot.
After blowing his country's chances at AFCON, what state of mind will Klopp find his striker in?
In the post-match, Klopp, like any decent manager, declared the buck stopped with him. He wasn't going to dig out his players. He'd be mad to given the battering their confidence has taken since the turn of the year. But it's become clear that when you get beyond his first choice XI, the quality available falls away dramatically.
The German is getting it in the neck for his team selection. And there is an argument to be made that after back-to-back defeats, he just needed to get a win under his belt on Saturday. But there was enough experience in the line-up to do a job on Wolves. Ragnar Klavan, Alberto Moreno, Lucas and Roberto Firmino all started. Philippe Coutinho was brought on at halftime and Gini Wijnaldum given a full 90. There was enough in that Liverpool team to beat Wolves. On paper, you give Liverpool the win every time. But just as we've seen all week, an early goal, a good narrow defence and a bit of pace off the break, and they are predictably vulnerable.
Is Klopp being found out? The claims of having 'no Plan B' will now only grow louder. However, the spotlight really should be shone on his squad building.
In his programme notes, Klopp appealed to fans to believe "in the journey".
"We are still in the early stages of our journey and development. I know that all these experiences, good and not so good, are valuable if we use them properly and take the information from them that helps us. This team and these players have the capability and character to achieve special things for our club," the manager wrote.
But since the New Year, something has slipped.
The team, for the past week at least, has been a patchwork. Kids thrown in at the deep end. Senior players well short of match fitness. And others, like Lucas, with an eye on the exit door. Indeed, within hours of the final whistle, it emerged Connor Randall and Barnsley were finalising a loan deal. Okay, such a move makes sense in the circumstances, but perception matters and after Saturday's humiliation, to think he'll actually do his recovery not at Melwood, but with the Tykes, is just a poor 'look'.
But the Randall move is indicative of what we're now seeing at Anfield. It's all a bit hit and miss. A bit manic. They'll cobble their way through January without cover for Mane. They'll work their way through the season with James Milner, despite zero experience, at left-back. They'll persist with the goalkeepers Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet, despite the predictably regular - and costly - howler.
What we've witnessed in the past week. Indeed, over the past month, has been the result of Klopp's failure to act in the transfer market. It's not about Plan B's. It's not about Klopp being found out - but his squad. The holes critics were highlighting when his team were flying are now becoming chasms.
At the final whistle, Klopp was right about taking responsibility. But not regarding his tactics or substitutions. It's his failure to act decisively in the transfer market which is now catching up on Liverpool and why, within a week, three title chances have just been blown away.
INJURY TIME
He's some prospect, that Ovie Ejaria.
How could Arsenal let him slip the net? The midfielder has conceded he turned down terms from Arsenal to move north. But Tribalfootball.com has been told the Gunners weren't exactly fighting to keep hold of him.
And after watching Ejaria against Wolves on Saturday, Arsenal's academy staff must be regretting his departure now.
Liverpool have some player on their hands. Ejaria is a little bit of a throwback. A real midfield general. Box-to-box. Clever, incisive with his passing. Terrific on the ball. He has so much in his locker. If he can add a few kilos to his frame and maintains his development, this Gooner reject has everything to become a Kop favourite.
