Klopp’s lack of quality will hamper title hopes ANDY

THIS is why the champions are a dot on Liverpool’s horizon, this is why chatter about a realistic title challenge next season is probably optimistic.

If there was anything of significance to be taken from a match of numbing mediocrity, it was a demonstration of why Liverpool remain slightly unrealistic rivals to Manchester City, the team they vanquished twice – and in style.

Quite simply, the quality shown in those matches, and in the destruction of Roma, does not run deep enough, not deep enough to deal with the inevitable strain of immense Champions League efforts.

One or two notable omissions and absentees are felt too keenly. Those who stepped in from the sidelines mostly had games to forget.

Some joker once nicknamed Earl Barrett the Fireman, because everything he touched went out. That was poor Joe Gomez here.

Georginio Wijnaldum has had some wonderful moments this season, but struggles to make a serious impact too often while Danny Ings is a fraction short of Big Six class.

Blend in unusually bad days for the likes of Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk (right), and you come up with a recipe for this dismal dish.

When Erik Pieters is a viable contender for the man of the match award, you know it has not been a thrill a minute.

No wonder Jurgen Klopp cut a frustrated post-match figure.

It is still highly unlikely Liverpool will slip out of the top