Jurgen Klopp confessed it is "so unlikely" Liverpool will win the quadruple this season after his side dropped two points in the Premier League title race by drawing with Tottenham.
The Reds could only manage a 1-1 stalemate with Spurs on Saturday night as Luis Diaz hit back following Son Heung-min's opener in the second half. The result sent Liverpool top of the table on goal difference but rivals Manchester City will reclaim pole position with a win or a draw against Newcastle on Sunday.
Klopp suspects his side struggled to keep the likes of Son and Harry Kane quiet as the Tottenham duo had almost a full week to prepare for the trip to Anfield. In contrast, the Reds were in European action on Tuesday and booked their spot in the Champions League final with an entertaining but taxing victory over Villarreal.
"I'm not happy, but not as sad as the players are right now and it is my job to explain why something happens like this," Klopp told BBC Sport. "Harry Kane and Heung-min Son were completely rested, that is why it is so hard. That is why the quadruple is so unlikely, there is a reason nobody has done it in this country. We will keep going."
Liverpool won the first major honour on offer this season by defeating Chelsea on penalties in the Carabao Cup final in February. They will lock horns with the Blues again next Saturday, this time with the FA Cup on the line, while Real Madrid were confirmed as their opponents in the Champions League final after they stunned City on Wednesday.
The Reds appear to have a realistic chance of winning all the three cup competitions this season but the league - and an unprecedented quadruple - may prove to be one challenge too many.
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Klopp certainly believes this is the case as he admits he cannot see City failing to win any of their four remaining top-flight games against Newcastle, Wolves, West Ham and Aston Villa. The German added: "I would love to sit here and say City will drop points but I can't see it. I wish I would think differently about it but I can't see it. But we will see what happens."
Liverpool travel to Villa - who are managed by Anfield legend Steven Gerrard - on Tuesday night for their third-last league encounter of the season. Their penultimate top-flight game is against Southampton and they will host Wolves on the final day, completing what seems to be a favourable run-in.
