Carragher has already chosen his favourite to win the Champions League and angered Liverpool fans

Knocked out of everything and with fourth place in the Premier League as their only possible target for the season, Liverpool have been condemned to their most miserable season and their fourth year since the arrival of Jürgen Klopp without a single new title to add to their trophy cabinet. Real Madrid's 6-2 aggregate win in the last 16 confirmed that Liverpool have regressed from previous seasons and that Klopp's project is at an impasse. The 7-0 win over Manchester United a fortnight ago raised hopes of revival, but subsequent results against Bournemouth (1-0 defeat) and Real Madrid (1-0 defeat) have Liverpool back to square one and wondering what they need to do next.

With the club dismissing a possible sale and looking for new investment to allow them to compete not only with the 'Big Six' but also with the nouveau riche such as Newcastle United, Klopp is between a rock and a hard place: continue at a club in need of rebuilding and renewal or leave, as he once did with Borussia Dortmund, where after winning the Bundesliga and reaching a Champions League final he had no further route to go. At Liverpool his legacy is fantastic and he will be remembered for that first Premiership in thirty years and the sixth 'Orejona', but it could have been much better. Liverpool have been one of the great dominators of Europe in recent years, with three Champions League finals in five years, and of England, but their collection of titles has been meagre.

Two major trophies, plus an FA Cup, a League Cup, a European Super Cup and a Club World Cup. And four blank seasons. Leagues of more than 90 points that Liverpool only lost because they were up against Guardiola's Manchester City; Champions League finals that they only lost because they had Loris Karius in goal and Thibaut Courtois in goal for Real Madrid. The Reds have suffered this season from the mental ravages of having been at the top of their game for many years with a poor haul for the level they have given. Mohamed Salah, Fabinho and Virgil Van Dijk have hit a slump that can be explained by the mind. When the animal that sees the carrot in front of its nose never reaches for it, or only reaches for a piece of it, it gets tired.

Carragher has his favourite

Following Liverpool's elimination on Tuesday, former Reds player Jamie Carragher has already picked his favourite to win the current edition of the Champions League. He posted a message on social media saying he expects Napoli to win the trophy. They will face Milan in the quarter-finals and if they progress they will face the winner of Inter and Benfica.