They can use every excuse under the sun, some of them are valid, some are over the top, but there's absolutely no excuse for how far they have fallen this season. Personally I think they have peaked under Klopp and for those Liverpool fans hoping a couple of injuries will return them to 'normal' they are in for a rude awakening.
Agreed. Even last year when everyone wanked themselves in a coma talking about how good they were, I just didn't see it. Constant sideways passing from CB to CB, long balls, a midfield of 3 workhorses who offer little on the ball and fullbacks putting in crosses after crosses. It was actually vintage Mourinho the way they played. Grinding out results, often late in the game, a very solid defense, clinical attackers.
Klopp never really cared for positional play, considering how long he's been at Liverpool they are still very poor in possession. I think he also recognized that when they signed Thiago from Bayern, realizing they need to control games more and cultivate a style of play that is more worthy of a champion rather than the constant full throttle approach of an underdog.
It seems to me he underestimated how difficult it is to change that. You can't just put Thiago in that midfield and tell him to play like he did at Bayern. Judging by their matches Klopp has no clue how to use Thiago, the whole team seems out a sync. This is definitely on the manager.