Jurgen Klopp had already been asked the question. And when it came around again a few minutes later, the Liverpool boss had given it even greater thought.
"I can't remember a worse game, I honestly can't," he said, repeating his earlier assertion. Then came the kicker. "I mean all, not only Liverpool, and that's my responsibility. So that makes it a really low point."
Certainly, the were few arguments from the Reds supporters who made the long journey to the South Coast on Saturday only to watch their side produce a truly dreadful performance in losing 3-0 at Brighton and Hove Albion. Those seeking positives faced a futile task.
READ MORE: Jordan Henderson sparks Liverpool fume as Harvey Elliott makes gesture
READ MORE: Liverpool dressing room admits 'things wrong fundamentally' after 'completely unacceptable' display
Having been in charge for 409 games - only Bob Paisley, Bill Shankly and, before the war, Tom Watson have been Liverpool boss for more matches - Klopp has seen his fair share of dismal displays from his team.
But was Saturday's genuinely the worst of his Anfield reign?
As ever, much depends on the context. In terms of pure scoreline, the 7-2 reverse at Aston Villa in October 2020 was the heaviest loss and Liverpool's worst result in more than 57 years, although that came during the pandemic season when strange scorelines were becoming the norm. Indeed, earlier the same day, Manchester United lost 6-1 at home to Tottenham Hotspur.
Another five-goal loss came at Manchester City in September 2017, owing much to Sadio Mane being sent off at 1-0. There was also a 5-0 defeat to Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup in December 2019, but that was an under-23 side helmed by then Academy coach Neil Critchley.
In terms of disappointments, the Europa League final defeat to Sevilla and the Champions League home loss to Atletico Madrid are perhaps unparalleled, along with, obviously, the Champions League final losses to Real Madrid for albeit different reasons.
But none of these could be considered the worst defeats of Klopp's reign, the seismic setbacks that prompted a shift in either philosophy, tactics or personnel.
The first of these was the 3-0 reverse at Watford less than three months after the German assumed the Liverpool hotseat in October 2015, a first real indication of the true strength of the squad he had inherited. A 2-0 defeat at rock-bottom Hull City - when the Reds had seen their title challenge start to falter - came the following season just a week after more squad issues were exposed by a 2-1 FA Cup defeat at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers, while the nadir the next campaign was the infamous 4-1 Premier League loss at Wembley against Tottenham Hotspur in October 2017.
The 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons saw few worrying defeats, although the 2-0 Champions League group stage blow at Red Star Belgrade was a concern. The pandemic campaign witnessed several lows, but few as demoralising as the 3-1 loss at Leicester City and, the following month, a 1-0 home defeat to Fulham.
How Liverpool reacted to each, though, is instructive. The early Watford loss helped Klopp shape his squad, with only two of the starters beginning the Champions League final less than two-and-a-half years later. The same applied to the quickfire reverses in 2016/17, after which the Reds lost only twice more to clinch a top-four place.
The defeat to Tottenham underlined the need for Virgil van Dijk to arrive the following January, with Liverpool responding by embarking on an 18-game unbeaten run. During the loss at Red Star Belgrade., Divock Origi made his first appearance in 15 months and would become a major part of the side that won the Champions League seven months later. And in 2020/21, the damaging defeats were the Reds' last in the Premier League away and home respectively as they went on to secure an unlikely third-placed finish.
The worry this season isn't just that Liverpool have suffered so many damaging results, it's that they have been unable to respond. The one exception was the 4-1 opening Champions League reverse at Napoli, with the Reds then winning the remainder of their group games.
But in the Premier League, the 1-0 defeat at lowly Nottingham Forest was followed the next week by a 2-1 home setback to Leeds United, the first time Liverpool had lost in the league at Anfield in front of supporters since April 2017. And after the New Year misery at Brentford came Saturday's new low at Brighton.
That Klopp regards it as the worst is probably correct. Not just because of the lack of response from his team, but also that they were just eight months ago on the brink of an unprecedented quadruple. The chasm between the expected basic standard and what ultimately transpired at Brighton has never been more pronounced.
Liverpool are now 10 points adrift of the Champions League qualification berths but Klopp and his players simply have to forget about that now. It is irrelevant. Their only concern is reacting to what has been happening this season - and that starts at Molineux on Tuesday night.
READ NEXT:
Everton land late blow to hand Liverpool dramatic derby setback
Liverpool dealt Manchester United blow as youngsters lose ground after defeat
Jordan Henderson sparks Liverpool fume as Harvey Elliott makes gesture
Bewildering Jurgen Klopp decisions leave Liverpool needing major change after Brighton embarrassment
'I can’t remember a worse game' - Jurgen KIopp's full answer as Liverpool boss admits he's hit new low
