As Jamie Carragher dissected Liverpool's horrific display in their 4-1 loss to Napoli on Wednesday night, it was seven words within the middle of his diatribe that stood out: "Is this the end of the cycle?"
Jurgen Klopp's men haven't begun the current season looking remotely close to their best - despite the 9-0 hammering of Bournemouth - with injuries and apparent fatigue (both physical and mental) appearing to catch up with them. Right now, they look a pale imitation of the side who pushed Manchester City to the final day of the Premier League season, reached the Champions League final and won both domestic cups last term.
But while they may well have flattered to deceive in draws with Fulham, Crystal Palace and Everton and while they looked flat in defeat at Manchester United, there Champions League opener looked to be something else entirely.
