Liverpool’s latest capitulation against Man City puts into perspective just how big a step backwards we have taken this season, and Arne Slot’s excuses aren’t cutting it.
The Citypool rivalry has seen countless classics with trophies at stake, so seeing Slot’s side get run over by a home side not firing on all cylinders, without some of the true legends who made the fixture such a spectacle.
Still, Man City destroyed Liverpool with relative ease to book their ticket to the semi-final. After the game, Slot went in the wrong direction with his assessment. He chose to look at the positives, or what he perceived them to be anyway.
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Manchester City v Liverpool - Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
Arne Slot conjured up a baffling Champions League excuse after Liverpool loss
No one is in the mood for the ‘glass-half-full’ stance after this result. It’s one thing to crash out of the competition, it’s another thing entirely to be picked apart by our rivals.
In the aftermath, Slot spoke in his press conference about the upcoming European outing, and why there’s reason to be positive.
He said: “Very big and very important because it’s not every season you play quarter final of the UCL. We are looking forward to playing a very good side, like today. We want to also qualify for champions league next season. There’s still a lot to play for.
“But we have had a lot of setbacks and disappointments, but this is also part of a football player and human being… that’s what it is about now and players that have shown a lot of quality in the past have big chance to show it against PSG.”
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Slot has ruffled feathers with that Champions League comment. Liverpool have not only reached a quarter-final in five of the last nine seasons, they have played in three finals in that time.
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Luis Enrique arrives at Parc des Princes ahead of Paris Saint Germain's UEFA Champions League match against Brest (Credit: Getty Images/Dan Mullan - UEFA). Jurgen Klopp pictured at Anfield ahead of Liverpool Legends' match against Borussia Dortmund Legends (Credit: Getty Images/PETER POWELL / AFP).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Dan Mullan/UEFA/Peter Powell/AFP
To suggest that fans should keep their heads up because we made it through the round of 16 in the Champions League points to Slot not thinking about, or not understanding the expectations that come with the top job at Anfield.
Szoboszlai’s Man City excuses were equally frustrating, and it really feels like a rift is forming between the fans and the staff and players. A similar outcome on Wednesday could be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
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