Liverpool are firmly in the Premier League title fight; make no mistake about it. Just two points separate the Reds in third and leaders Manchester City.

However, Klopp's side sat at the summit and were favourites to reach a perfect finale in the Europa League final in Dublin when they entered the FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United on March 17.

They arrived at Old Trafford knowing that inflicting another painful defeat on their bitter foes would've likely ended Erik ten Hag's era before Klopp's.

Ten Hag hasn't quite recovered since watching his side fall to a 7-0 thrashing at Anfield in March 2023. That dark day squashed momentum that helped him end United's six-year trophy drought by lifting the Carabao Cup weeks earlier.

It would've been an ironic slap in the face of the under-fire Dutchman after his famous quote alluding to Klopp and Pep Guardiola at his United unveiling.

Instead, Liverpool left M16 with their FA Cup dreams in tatters following an instant classic. The visitors surrendered a 2-1 lead late in normal time and a 3-2 advantage at the death in extra time to suffer a 4-3 defeat.

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They haven't really recovered since. Almost two months to the day, they crashed out of another competition, the Europa League, with a 3-1 loss against Atalanta in the quarter-finals.

A shock 3-0 defeat in the first leg at Anfield effectively ended Liverpool's hopes of a night for the ages in the Irish capital on May 22. They scored early in Bergamo on Thursday but then fell flat, mirroring their season.

So, what's left? The Premier League. All would be forgotten if Klopp guides the club to their 20th title, matching the record they lost to United in 2013.

But are Liverpool capable of pipping Manchester City and Arsenal to the post? Failing to better the former on multiple occasions has almost defined Klopp's nine-year rule on Merseyside.

Not only did United dump Liverpool out of the FA Cup, they also took four points from them in what could be the club's worst-ever Premier League season.

The Red Devils escaped Anfield with a 0-0 draw earlier in the campaign before Klopp's men required a late Mohamed Salah penalty to salvage a 2-2 stalemate at Old Trafford on April 4.

Liverpool squandered an array of chances in both, chances that if they had taken, they would be leading the title race by two points with six games remaining.

But if they miss out and only have a Carabao Cup to show for Klopp's farewell open-top bus parade this summer, it would not be easy to budge the feeling that United will wave goodbye with the last laugh.