The heartbreak of losing finals is quite synonymous with Liverpool these days. And the feeling is more damning if you happen to be a Reds' supporter.
Having said that, Liverpool have suffered the ignominy of losing two finals, namely the League Cup and the Europa League, this season. The latter defeat against Sevilla, especially the dreadful second half, is testament to the fact that Liverpool remains a work in progress despite the appointment of Jürgen Klopp.
The loss against the Europa holders means that Liverpool will not be involved in any European competition next season. This fact remains a bitter pill to digest.
But in hindsight, after a mind-boggling, marathon 63-match season that involved runs to two cup finals, a reduction in the fixture congestion in 2016-17 season may just be what the doctor ordered for Klopp.
To put that into perspective, Liverpool's best top-flight finish in the last seven years came in 2013-14 when, without European competition, they almost won the Premier League.
This season, Liverpool finished a dismal 8th in the league accumulating 60 points. The points tally of the No. 4 team, where two Manchester clubs ended jointly, was 66. City pipped United for the Champions League spot due to their superior goal difference of +30.
The margin of error in Premier League is so less that the fourth and eighth spots is separated by a mere 6 points.
Liverpool's league matches against Southampton and Sunderland, where they gave up a two-goal lead and ended up on the losing side, were by far the pivotal moments of losing out in the battle for top four.
Klopp's squad lacks leaders both on and off the field. It was quite evident in the disastrous second half against Sevilla where the 35-year-old Kolo Toure, a man less than a fortnight away from the end of his contract, was the only player to stand up and be counted.
Leaders like Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, who drove the Reds' to infinite victories, are a thing of the past. Klopp will hope to address this issue via the transfer market.
Klopp inherited a squad left by previous manager Brendan Rodgers and judging him for his debut season of seven months could be harsh.
Focussing on the league free from the distraction of Europa League football next season will give Liverpool a real chance of breaking back into that top four or may be an unlikely title challenge, and from there on anything is possible.
A few good signings by Klopp and the Reds will be up and running again.
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