The Reds’ nightmare season reached a new low as they were battered 3-0 by Brighton at the Amex Stadium to further damage their top-four hopes.

Liverpool’s season from hell reached a new low on Saturday, as Jurgen Klopp’s men suffered a 3-0 defeat to Brighton which leaves their hopes of a top-four finish in tatters.

The Reds have been a shadow of their former selves throughout a nightmare campaign, and they were second best again at the Amex Stadium, as Roberto De Zerbi’s side, slick, organised and everything the visitors are not in terms of energy and confidence, thoroughly deserved their win.

Solly March did the damage for the Seagulls, striking twice in the space of six second-half minutes to give his side a cushion. Substitute Danny Welbeck added a third late on as Brighton move above Liverpool in the Premier League table, and leave Klopp scratching his head at yet another rotten away showing from his side.

Liverpool have now lost their first two league games of a calendar year for the first time since 1993, and look a team bereft of belief, ideas and cohesion. Their midfield, continually criticised throughout this campaign, was non-existent again, their defence was unable to cope under the constant pressure it was placed under, and a makeshift attack featuring new signing Cody Gakpo on his Premier League debut offered nothing by way of a goal threat.

They are in big trouble, clearly. They could find themselves 10 points off the top four by the end of the weekend, and it would take a brave punter to back them to fight back from the position they currently find themselves in.