Liverpool’s FA Cup capitulation ramps up pressure on Slot

This video can not be played. FA Cup highlights: Manchester City 4-0 Liverpool. How did it come to this? A year ago today, Liverpool fans were still basking in the glow of a Merseyside derby win that took them to the brink of the Premier League title. Defeat at Fulham a couple of days later was merely a blip, and before the month was through, they celebrated at Anfield with a 5-1 victory over Tottenham. The revelry on the pitch and in the stands was long and loud, while outside the stadium and across the city, the celebration stretched even further. Slot’s name was shouted with enthusiasm by supporters, having taken on the daunting task of replacing Jurgen Klopp and then guiding the team to glory in his debut season.

Now, just months later, the same fanbase that once embraced Slot with fervor shows signs of detachment. Saturday’s 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final loss to Manchester City marked another dismal chapter in a season many are eager to end. It was Liverpool’s 15th defeat across all competitions this term, their highest tally since the 2014-15 campaign under Brendan Rodgers. As City’s fans chanted, “You’re getting sacked in the morning,” during the match, their team scored four goals in 20 minutes, either side of halftime, leaving the Reds reeling.

“You’re getting sacked in the morning,” was the chant directed at Slot by City supporters as their side extended the lead. While many in the away crowd may have echoed the sentiment, there’s no clear signal that the club plans to act on it, either now or at the end of the season.

Haaland’s hat-trick played a pivotal role in Man City’s dominance, as the Norwegian striker delivered a clinical performance. Liverpool, meanwhile, appeared disjointed, unable to match the intensity of their opponents. “The fighting spirit wasn’t there enough, the mentality wasn’t there enough,” said midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, reflecting on the match’s disarray. Slot, addressing BBC Sport, noted the season’s “many recurring themes,” emphasizing the team’s struggle to bounce back from setbacks. This contrasts sharply with the “mentality monsters” Klopp once praised during his tenure.

“Arne Slot has to get the players to be better versions of what they are,” said Robbie Fowler on TNT Sports. “You need leaders to drag people through tough times. That’s what you need, but we’re not seeing that from the manager.”

Klopp, too, had once inspired fans to shift from doubt to belief, but the swift collapse against City has left skepticism lingering. Despite hopes for a fresh start after the international break, the Reds’ loss to Brighton two weeks prior and the impending departure of Mohamed Salah in the summer had already raised questions. The return of Alexander Isak to training offered a glimmer of optimism, yet Manchester’s 92-minute onslaught derailed any such hope. Slot now faces the challenge of proving his team’s resilience, with one year remaining on his three-year contract signed in 2024.