And so begins a second relegation inquest before it’s known if the first was ever concluded.

Given it’s the second time in three years that Leicester City are heading down to the Championship, it would suggest that the supposed internal review never happened. If it did, lessons haven’t been learned.

New solutions are required but to produce them it must first be determined where this season went quite so wrong.

In Ruud van Nistelrooy’s press conference after the official confirmation of City’s demise on Sunday, it was the first true chance to ask the manager to reflect on the problems that had led the club back to the second tier.

“Over 33 games, the gap between the three promoted sides has been too big compared to the other 17 teams,” van Nistelrooy said. “It’s clear that the difference in quality is there.

“Two teams have been relegated already and the other one is 15 points behind with five games to go.

“The gap is big between the promoted sides and the rest. That’s the first conclusion and the most important one.”

When pushed on whether there were any issues specific to City besides the struggles of all three promoted clubs, van Nistelrooy didn’t budge. He said: “It’s the same answer I just gave you.”

Maybe he was not ready, an hour after the full-time whistle, to be introspective on where he’d perhaps misjudged matters through the past five months.

Perhaps he needs more time to formulate a considered answer on the club’s faults, and where the hierarchy and/or players made mistakes.

But that initial answer must not be “the most important conclusion”. It’s a convenient excuse to hide behind because Ipswich and Southampton have had miserable seasons too.

Prior to last term, there had been no trend to suggest the gap in quality between the divisions was getting wider. If it is now a trend, it’s at the very start of it.

If Leeds, Burnley and Sheffield United get promoted and then go straight back down, the evidence would be beginning to show and maybe it would be an issue the Premier League need to assess.

But for now, it cannot be something City pin the blame on. For a start, they are only in this position as one of the promoted clubs because they messed it up so badly to get relegated in the first place, managing to do so after nine straight seasons in the top flight.

They need to get their own house in order before they start attributing blame to uncontrollable factors. If the growing gap between England's top two divisions is an obstacle they need to overcome, they have not come close to hurdling it.

They need to buck up their ideas. They need to be smarter. And so everything must be under review. Recruitment, managerial appointments, boardroom organisation, communication lines – it all needs looking at to determine where the issues lie and how they can improve.

When a season has been this poor, they need to look inward before throwing the blame around.

Liverpool loss way down on list of significant games

But, ironically, they were relegated after a defeat in which the difference in quality between the top and bottom of the Premier League was a deciding factor.

It’s a rarity given how some of the more recent losses have panned out, but this felt like a reasonable display, one where they defended pretty well against an excellent side and showed they had ideas about how to threaten them.

Maybe that is generous. Maybe the expectations are so low now that flashes of diligence and heart and intent make for a good showing.

Because Liverpool were dominant. They had 28 shots and could have won by three. City perhaps didn’t capitulate like they have in recent months because the early goal they usually concede was this time kept out by the two posts.

But maybe they were also due a slice of luck. They made a decent fist of the game thereafter and were perhaps unlucky not to break their home duck, Conor Coady’s header ruled out seemingly because Patson Daka looked at Alisson. Never mind physical contact, it seems eye contact is punishable too nowadays.

Although this was the match in which City’s relegation was finalised, it is way down the list of the fixtures that led to it.

Manager decision first up with no time to waste

The most optimistic view of City’s early relegation is that it gives them a bonus month and bonus five games in which to prepare for the Championship. As van Nistelrooy said, there’s no time to waste.

First, the manager. Do the hierarchy want van Nistelrooy in charge next season? If not, they need to part ways with him now. There’s little point in him sticking around otherwise.

If they do see him in charge next term, then he needs to be informed. Take away the uncertainty from his future and let him start to assess and shape the squad.

If van Nistelrooy’s future is dependent on how these next five games go, then that message likely needs conveying too. How he and the squad respond may give City their answer.

Then they need to think about the players. Who’s staying and who’s going? As much as it’s fun to watch Facundo Buonanotte at times, he probably shouldn’t play again as he’s one of the very few who definitely won’t be around next term.

If City are serious about sorting their problems, they need to act immediately.

The change that two punchy statements should trigger

There’s a level of apathy around City’s relegation, hence the empty seats at the King Power Stadium over the past couple of matches.

But there is still anger there too. Two banners expressed that discontent. The first, flown overhead, read: “King Power clueless. Sack the board.”

The second, held aloft in the Kop at full-time, read: “3 years, £200m lost, 2 relegations.”

Both are punchy and unforgiving. But will they force change? Based on previous evidence, most likely not.

Previous shows of discontent have not led to any changes within the hierarchy, nor really in how it operates.

Frustratingly, communication between chairman Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha and the fans is limited to club statements and programme notes. Director of football Jon Rudkin never comments.

If they’re not willing to answer questions to let themselves be held accountable by supporters or the media, it only leads to doubts over whether they’re holding each other to account behind the scenes too.

That must change. There at least needs to be transparency and engagement with supporters.

But if protests are not forcing change, what will? Maybe it will be the apathy. If fans simply stop turning up, then they’ll know there are serious problems.

City step into unknown – but more difficult season probable

There is plenty that City can control as they head into the Championship, but there are unknowns too.

Can the EFL punish them over profit and sustainability rules and, if so, what might that punishment look like?

How many players will fetch interest in the summer and be willing to depart? How much revenue can be generated from player sales? There’s not quite so many obvious money-spinners this time.

It’s something to cling to that the last time City were in this position, they got enough right to get promoted and give fans plenty of memorable afternoons and evenings.

But having failed to get enough right to even put up a fight in the Premier League, they're heading back down and it feels like it’s going to be a lot tougher in the Championship this time around.

What do you think was the biggest factor in City's relegation?