Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp could not remember a worse performance than in his side's 3-0 thumping by Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday.
Solly March scored twice early in the second half before Danny Welbeck added a fine third as the Seagulls beat Liverpool at home for the first time since 1961.
The Reds, who could be 10 points adrift of the top four after Sunday's games, were second-best throughout and have now started a calendar year with two league defeats in a row for the first time since 1993.
They have also lost as many as five away league matches in a single season for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign.
But this might have been the worst of the lot, with Liverpool leaky at the back and profligate in attack, giving up 16 shots and failing to net with any of their six. Brighton controlled the ball with a huge 61.9 per cent of the possession.
"Bad, really bad," Klopp told BBC Sport afterwards. "I can't remember a worse game. It's not difficult maybe. Brighton were the better team, it was well deserved. They played really well.
"It was a very organised team against a not very organised team. We gave the ball away, the spaces were too big, and we couldn't push up. That is obviously not good, especially against a super well drilled side like Brighton.
"They got more confident, and we did the opposite. I can imagine they are very happy because it was a great performance, and we made it too easy in too many moments.
"I had an idea to change the formation, which was to try to help the team. That was the idea, but we never did it properly. We were always a bit in between, and that's the worst thing you can do.
"We could have done better, but we didn't and that's why I looked the way it did.
"We need to be creative with the options we have. What I saw today from my team was that they were not really convinced by it. That's it."
Asked if he was concerned by his side's display, Klopp said: "Yes, how can you not be after a game like this? I cannot stand here and say it didn't happen.
"Of course, we have to be very concerned about it."
In a separate interview, he added: "Doing better should be easy, because this is a really low point. I can't remember a worse game.
"To improve that will be not too difficult. From this game, we can pick up absolutely nothing apart from things that do not work."
Arne should Slot right in at Liverpool, says Meulensteen
Rene Meulensteen believes Arne Slot is the right fit for the Liverpool job, with the Dutchman poised to take over next season.
It was reported last month that Feyenoord and Liverpool reached an agreement in principle for Slot to replace Jurgen Klopp, who announced in January he would be leaving the club after nearly nine years.
Slot led Feyenoord to their second Eredivisie title last season after taking over the club in 2021 and lifted the KNVB Cup in April after beating NEC Nijmegen.
Slot’s attacking style of play has been likened to Klopp’s, with Meulensteen also recognising the similarities between the two coaches.
Meulensteen, speaking on behalf of William Hill Vegas, told Stats Perform: "There was a lot of speculation about different names, with [Xabi] Alonso and the guy from Sporting [Ruben Amorim].
"But then when Arne Slot's name came up, I didn't necessarily think that it was a bad choice and a bad decision.
"I like him. I rate him as a coach and as a person. I think he's got a likeability about him.
"He's a good communicator, he plays a brand of football that is very much in line with what Klopp has done over the last few years.
"You won't see many differences there, he might tweak one or two things, but it will still be high press, high energy, dynamic football.
"The proof is always in the pudding, but in my opinion it is not a bad choice at all for Liverpool."
However, the former Manchester United coach has warned that Slot needs to be prepared for the pressure that comes with being in charge of a club like Liverpool.
He added: "Liverpool is a global brand, it's a big club, it brings different expectations, and winning the Premier League is the hardest thing to do, but the ambitions will be there for Liverpool.
"You need to be able to handle that. With clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, you want to be successful, but at the same time play in an attractive style of football.
"So in my opinion, if he's clever, he has to bring somebody in his staff along who knows the Premier League and understands the Premier League.
"Arne has never managed players that have the big egos and the big highly paid players that make £250,000 pounds per week, so that is another aspect.
"I'm confident that he'll be able to deal with that and come to terms with that. We'll see how he fares, but I think it's a good appointment."
Rene Meulensteen was speaking on behalf of William Hill Vegas: https://vegas.williamhill.com
Casemiro left out of Brazil Copa America squad
Brazil coach Dorival Junior announced his 23-man squad for the upcoming Copa America, with Casemiro one of the big names missing out on a place.
The Manchester United midfielder, who has 75 caps for Brazil, has struggled in a difficult season and was omitted from the squad along with Tottenham forward Richarlison, Selecao’s top-scorer at the 2022 World Cup.
17-year-old Endrick, who is due to join Real Madrid in July, is in the squad after scoring two goals in four appearances since his debut for Brazil last year.
He became the youngest male player to score an international goal at Wembley when he netted the winner against England in March.
While announcing the squad, Dorival Junior explained the reason for Casemiro’s exclusion.
He said: "He deserves every respect from us all. I had a chat with him in Manchester about three months ago. I explained what I thought about his moment, his team, and what I needed.
"It doesn't mean that because he's not coming this time, that he is or will be ruled out, in the future in any sense.
"He knows very well what I think about him, and that's the main thing. Tomorrow, I'll make contact with Casemiro calmly, naturally putting forward what I believe could happen in the future, not least because he's a player who deserves consideration, affection, respect and that we continue to believe in a player of this calibre."
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus, United winger Antony and Matheus Cunha, who plays for Wolves, are other notable absentees.
Top-scorer Neymar is also not included as he continues his recovery from a knee ligament injury he sustained playing for Brazil last October.
Asked how Brazil would cope without their star striker, Dorival Junior was quick to praise Endrick but insisted that he did not want to put pressure on any one player.
"Endrick played a starring role in a great achievement for his club a few months ago, he played very well in the national team's friendlies, he's maintained his level, and he can still improve a lot. I hope that happens with him here. That he feels more and more comfortable," said Dorival Junior.
"In general, I think we need multiple protagonists and not just a single protagonist. I believe that the division of responsibilities will make our team grow and improve even more.
"It's important to have players of this calibre together. In the near future, God willing, we'll also have the presence of Neymar.
"But until then, we have to make sure, within the squad itself, that everyone's responsibilities are recognised and, above all, that everyone is integrated and doing their best so that the division of responsibilities reduces this obligation to always have a single protagonist at the national team."
The Copa America will take place in the United States from June 20 to July 14, with Brazil starting against Costa Rica at the SoFi Stadium on June 24.
Brazil squad
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Atletico PR), Ederson (Manchester City)
Defenders: Beraldo (PSG), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Gabriel (Arsenal), Marquinhos (PSG), Danilo (Juventus), Yan Couto (Girona), Guilherme Arana (Atletico MG), Wendell (Porto)
Midfielders: Andreas Pereira (Fulham), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Joao Gomes (Wolves), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham)
Forwards: Endrick (Palmeiras), Evanilson (Porto), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Savinho (Girona), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
Pioli wants Milan to finish season on a high
Head coach Stefano Pioli wants Milan to end the season on a high note even though the Serie A title race is lost and their place in the Champions League is already secured.
Milan are winless in their last six matches in all competitions, a dismal run that included a 2-1 loss to Inter which sealed a 20th Serie A title for their city rivals.
Second-placed Milan have 71 points, five ahead of third-placed Juventus with three matches to go.
"We want to get back to winning ways for us, for the club, for the fans," Pioli told reporters ahead of Saturday's match against 15th-placed Cagliari.
"Second place is an important goal and we are motivated to play this game.
"The squad is doing well, at the end of the season it is normal for some players to be more or less in form than one another and this will factor into my lineup.
"It would bother me if the squad weren't to bring all their energy to finish this season in the best way possible.
"No one has said they want to take it slow before the end of the season, the whole squad is ready and available."
Pioli said losing at Roma last month, which ended their Europa League campaign in the quarter finals, was his biggest regret of a trophyless season.
"We could have gone further," he said. "Losing the derbies also weighed heavily on us. We hoped to do better, in general, but I don't think the group ever lacked in their reaction."
A section of Milan fans have been holding protests at matches, demanding clarity from the management regarding the club's future plans after two seasons without silverware.
"My position and position of others will be spoken about after the games. We will see," said Pioli, who has been at the club since 2019 and won the Serie A title in 2022.
"In these years, the club has shown they know how to work and be ambitious.
"I believe that the highs and lows of a season are always shared between club, coach, and players."
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