Liverpool’s horrendous form continued with a ninth defeat in 12 games against PSV Eindhoven, resulting in boos at Anfield at full time.
Questions over Arne Slot’s future will only increase in volume as his side looked clueless on how to fix things after a summer of almost £450million spent.
The 4-1 defeat meant the Reds have conceded three or more goals in three consecutive games for the first time in 33 years.
And for arguably their greatest ever player, Steven Gerrard, his answer was stark when asked if such form was acceptable.
“No it’s not [acceptable],” he said.
“They’re conceding too many goals, they’re so vulnerable in transition.
“Anfield tells the story, the stands were starting to empty as the third went in.
“Liverpool’s problems have become deeper and they need to do a lot of soul searching for sure.”
Gerrard went on to specify that it’s not just the lack of coverage in defence, but the personnel too.
Ibrahima Konate committed a horror-error in a season full of them for the third goal, and was taken off three minutes later.
“The substitution of Konate was huge,” Gerrard said.
“You look at that back four, that’s not a Liverpool back four and it never will be.
“[Milos] Kerkez for me is out of position all game, it’s criminal to be on that side of the attacker.”
Taking a step back, he was asked if the club are in crisis amid their worst run of form since the 1953/54 season.
“Crisis is a very strong word and disrespectful to the players and manager who have served this football club,” he said.
“I wouldn’t use that word but this team is on a terrible run, they just keep bleeding.
“They’re wide open and unless the manager can find a solution it’s going to continue.”
His former Liverpool teammate Steve McManaman added: “The buck stops with him [Slot].
Facing up to the brunt of the criticism in the media has been Slot, and also his countryman and captain Virgil van Dijk.
And it was the latter who had plenty more explaining to do after one of the most inexplicable pieces of defending he’s ever produced to start the scoring for PSV.
Being held during a corner curled into the box, Van Dijk strangely threw his arm up in complaint and almost punched the ball away.
“I can’t explain it, it’s bizarre,” talkSPORT’s Darren Bent said.
“For someone as talented as he is I don’t know what his arm is doing in that position, it’s like he’s taking a basketball shot, it’s really bizarre.”
Liverpool have conceded three-plus goals in three consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since September 1992.
Next up are three Premier League opponents a Slot side would have drooled over last season, and now they look terrifying.
West Ham, Sunderland and Leeds make up the road ahead, and one of Liverpool’s Champions League-winning greats, Didi Hamann, thinks things could be problematic for Slot as soon as the Hammers game.
Speaking before the PSV defeat, he told talkSPORT: “I don’t think anybody wants to see him leave because of what he’s done last season.
“Obviously, the run of form is very bad at the moment. I think what you want to see as a club is progress. The next two games will be telling.
“They’ve got to win both games, we don’t need to talk about the title now.
“If you don’t see progress in the Premier League, I think his time will come to an end, as it will be with everybody else.”