Liverpool supporters will not need to be reminded of the gut-wrenching FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United on the eve of the international break.
The Reds' dreams of booking another trip to Wembley were shattered, and with it went the opportunity to scoop a quadruple. Having already wrapped up the Carabao Cup in February, thanks to a captain's contribution by Virgil van Dijk, Jurgen Klopp's side had their sights on a feat that has never been achieved by an English club before.
After succeeding Brendan Rodgers in 2015, Klopp has led Liverpool to more finals in the last nine years than any other manager in the last 20 years (10). Scriptwriters were plotting a fairy tale departure for the former Mainz and Borussia Dortmund manager following his shock announcement at the end of January.
A clean sweep of every accolade that Liverpool are battling for this season was prophesied - four trophies to bring the curtain down on a successful nine-year stint. However, it wasn't to be.
In light of his surprise decision that he would step down as manager at the end of the season, debate was sparked over the credibility of his 'legend' status at Anfield and further afield in the Premier League's history.
On one prominent news radio show, claims that Klopp is one of the best-ever top-flight managers were questioned due to a lack of accolades under his belt on Merseyside.
"He's won one Premier League in nine years," it was remarked by former England international Danny Mills, before arguing against the ongoing battle with Manchester City. "But he came second. Claudio Ranieri won the league. Managers have come into Chelsea and won it in their first season.
"They've been there like two seasons and won a Premier League. If you're going to go down and go what's better... They've got lots of big players on big money, they've spent money.
"Klopp has been very very good but he's not in the realms of Guardiola. He's won one Premier League."
With seven honours to his record as Liverpool manager, only the greats of Bob Paisley, Bill Shankly and Sir Kenny Dalglish rank higher. Success in two competitions this season would see Klopp leapfrog Dalglish into the position of third-most successful Reds manager ever.
It would've been more if not for one team and one manager. During the course of Klopp's nine years at Anfield, Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City side have been a thorn in the side of the German.
City have enjoyed large-scale dominance at the top of English football, and had failed to crack European and world dominance, until recently. The points totals amassed during the heat of Liverpool-City battles have been record-breaking, making the margin for error minimal.
With that, mitigating circumstances often take hold in precious situations and luck plays a huge factor. This campaign has been no different as a mere two weeks ago, the quest for the quadruple was well and truly on for Liverpool - until last Sunday.
Lady Luck has been on Liverpool's side at various stages this season, but a multitude of injuries have spelled torrid misfortune for the Reds recently. A host of their first-team members have been sidelined for an extended period - including the likes of Ibrahima Konate, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota - who were in red-hot form, as well as talisman Darwin Nunez, after recurring issues hampered his involvement.
A four-trophy return in a single season has never been managed, even by the standards of Sir Alex Ferguson and Guardiola. While the treble was won by both illustrious coaches, the quadruple evaded their grasp.
"No chance of a quadruple," Ferguson has previously said of the fear. "You need a lot of luck. When we won the treble in 1999, we had only one player missing from the European Cup final with injury and that was Henning Berg. Everyone else remained fit in that run-in.
"Any changes we made were because we wanted to make the change. You need a hell of a good squad. You need them all, but particularly your main players.
"The treble is more feasible but still very difficult to think it could be done again."
United's noisy neighbours, Manchester City, did emulate the achievement that they earned in 1999 last year. Although the excessive spending and sheer quantity of world-class talents at the disposal of Guardiola, in comparison to Liverpool, will taint that achievement for some.
And the Spaniard noted how difficult the quadruple really is, reiterating what Ferguson claimed, saying: "Why should you [talk about] the quadruple when in this country - a legendary country - it has never happened before? Legendary teams like Liverpool, the period with Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Chelsea, Arsene Wenger with Arsenal - no-one did it. So why should we do it?"
The 2023/24 season has provided moments that would defy every expectation had it been mentioned in August. Liverpool came excruciatingly close to the quadruple in 2022.
This year, the gruelling schedule has had a bearing on not only Klopp but the Liverpool squad too, as one of the most gripping battles between two of the most successful managers enters its final phase.
Even the most successful teams have struggled to break the glass to end the quadruple duck. Ferguson and Guardiola have proven it isn't as easy as it looks - the Reds falling short isn't to be knocked, as they can still give Klopp the send-off that he deserves.
