Budapest or bust it is, then, for Liverpool’s hopes of silverware this season and quite possibly Arne Slot’s prospects of remaining in his job, although thoughts of this team reaching a Champions League final appear ludicrous in light of their gutless exit from the FA Cup.

A pity whistle on 90.04 from referee Michael Oliver sounded an appropriate death knell for a pitiful performance by the fading Premier League champions. So much for a shot at redemption for Liverpool and Slot as a defining period of five matches in 16 days commenced in humiliating fashion.

No fight, no character and, unforgivably, precious little effort for the 20 minutes in which Manchester City ran riot either side of the interval resulted in the heaviest defeat of Slot’s Liverpool reign. The pressure on the head coach rises again.

A visit to the reigning European champions, Paris Saint-Germain, in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday threatens to turn the screw tighter. Liverpool will do well to keep the contest alive for the return at Anfield on this evidence. Inevitably the spotlight intensifies on Slot, but what of a group of players – recipients of the highest wage bill...