Amid the Brighton celebrations, a shellshocked Jurgen Klopp turned to his bench in disbelief, pulling his snood over his eyes as he did so in the technical area.
Having seen his team survive a difficult first half through a mix of luck and blind perseverance, whatever the key messages were between the minutes of 45 and 46 had evidently had no effect. The Liverpool manager clearly wanted to see no more of what was unfolding in front of him at the Amex Stadium but, unlike the snood, the wool could not be pulled over the eyes of the away fans watching on.
The opening goal from Solly March was the cause for Klopp to avert his gaze but it would get much worse for the Reds boss on what will go down as one of the most chastening afternoons of his time in charge. "I can't remember a worse game," Klopp admitted. "Not just at Liverpool, but ever."
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Rarely can Klopp's Liverpool have been as thoroughly outclassed as they were here. For a side who have played - and beaten - the good and the great of European football over the last few years, that they were undone so comprehensively as they were at a club as modest as the likable Brighton sums up how deep this malaise now goes.
That is not meant to be taken as disrespect in the Seagulls' direction, though. The hosts are emerging as one of the finest ball-playing sides in English football and deserve all the praise they have received in the last couple of years or so, but Liverpool were not in the heartlands of a true giant here, it simply should not have been so enjoyable for those in the home stands.
Whatever Liverpool worked on out in Dubai during the World Cup has not worked. The Reds are not executing the basics or the non-negotiables that have held this team together over the years. The famous pressing machine that has spluttered and stalled at regular intervals since August has now broken down completely. It could yet take the mother of all reboots to get it motoring once more.
The most concerning aspect of this miserable 3-0 defeat was how it was no real shock. Not really, anyway. Even for an upwardly mobile and well-coached side like the high-flying Brighton, that Liverpool trudged down south on Saturday morning with such trepidation - and dare it even be said, fear - highlighted just how stagnant and stale it has all become.
Klopp had clearly instructed Thiago Alcantara to get tight to the excellent Moises Caicedo as often as possible in an effort to restore some zest and zeal to what used to be Liverpool's midfield press but the Spaniard was way off the pace during a frustrating first half that saw Roberto de Zerbi's side routinely play around the Reds with ease. He wasn't alone on that score at least.
Brighton thought they had been given a penalty towards the end of the first period when March was brought down by Alisson Becker after going around the Brazil international. However, a VAR check showed the winger to have been offside when he was played in. It would only be a brief reprieve for the visitors.
The lack of confidence and belief was as obvious as their inability to get about the pitch effectively and Klopp's frank - and perhaps belated - admission on Friday that last season's 63-game marathon season has actually had an adverse impact on fortunes this term was a stark one.
This team just doesn't look like the same one that went so close to winning it all just a few months ago and while that is something many have said for some time now, that the manager himself is publicly accepting it is a worrying development. The contrast is startling.
It didn't take long for Brighton to find their lead after the restart. March poked home after more good work from the outstanding Kaoru Mitoma. It all came from Joel Matip's poor distribution, which was thoroughly in-keeping with the rest of his performance.
It was the 21st time in the last 35 games that Liverpool have conceded first, dating back to the final weeks of last season. Of all the problems that have engulfed Klopp and his players this term, it is that one that is the major issue undercutting them at every turn. Perhaps that is merely a symptom of the wider decline.
Brighton doubled their lead when March flashed a superb effort past Alisson on 53 minutes. It was the catalyst for Klopp to attempt to inject something - anything - into a listless performance. The manager sent on Ben Doak, Harvey Elliott, Joe Gomez and Naby Keita for the final 25 minutes but the absence of Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, Roberto Firmino and Luis Diaz was obvious. Not that injuries should be used as any kind of excuse for this, however.
Klopp bemoaned the lack of options in the final third on Friday and any squad in world football would miss the array of firepower currently on the treatment tables of the AXA Centre but the more glaring issue is in the centre of the park and it goes beyond the mere inability to field certain players at various junctures.
Substitute Danny Welbeck made it 3-0 when he flicked over the woeful Gomez's head before volleying past Alisson. It was nothing less than their domination deserved. Three-nil. Game over.
The away fans singing You'll Never Walk Alone at full time deserved much, much better and Klopp knew as much when he made a beeline for them. His praying gesture towards their direction was an acknowledgement that their support warranted more than what had been served up. If it was an attempt, of sorts, to say sorry then the real apology must now come with a sharp upturn in form and fortunes for Liverpool.
Now tough, examining questions now need to be asked inside the corridors of power at Anfield. How much do they really want to be in the Champions League next season? That same question goes for owners Fenway Sports Group too who continue to stick, unshakably, to their particular financial model. Help is needed this month in the transfer market.
Plenty of soul-searching is needed and something patently has to change before the Promised Land of the top four disappears out of sight. Where Klopp starts with it all, though, is truly anyone's guess.
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