Jurgen Klopp disagrees with the theory that Virgil Van Dijk's horrific injury has been the sole reason for Liverpool's disappointing season.
Liverpool have endured a dreadful defence of their Premier League title, currently sitting 23 points behind newly crowned Champions Manchester City.
Klopp's side still have an outside chance of a top four finish with four league games but have to rely on Champions League finalists Chelsea and West Ham dropping points.
The Anfield club's dramatic downturn in form has led to many pointing to the absence of irreplaceable defender Van Dijk.
Van Dijk has been out of action since suffering anterior cruciate ligament damage after a horror challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford at Goodison Park in October.
The Dutch international was pivotal in leading Liverpool to a historic title win last season and Klopp's defence has looked far more vulnerable in this campaign.
But he has not been the only injury casualty with Joe Gomez sidelined since November after suffering a serious knee problem in on England duty.
Joel Matip has also had injury issues and Klopp has had to cope with a makeshift defence including midfielders Jordan Henderson and Fabinho for large parts of the season.
And the Liverpool boss believes he would have been able to adapt had there only been injury to Van Dijk.
“I describe it like ‘losing all our defenders, we broke our leg, losing the midfielders and then playing them in the last line means we broke our spine," he told the Anfield Wrap.
“Then we couldn’t score anymore and thats a little bit of the story of the season.
“Everyone says ‘when Virgil [Van Dijk] was out’, but I would be completely fine with just Joel [Matip] and Joe [Gomez], no problem.
“From that moment on we’ve had to change every week.
“To qualify in England for the Champions League is a tough task every year and trying that with 0% of your central defenders is an even tougher task.
“Could we have done better? Definitely. We learned a lot but it is not as if I have become a worse manager or the players have become worse players.
“We just have to constantly compete with top class teams and that’s the problem. "
Liverpool meet Manchester United in the rearranged league fixture at Old Trafford on Thursday evening.
The Reds then travel to West Brom and Burnley before hosting Crystal Palace on the final day of the campaign.
