In fairness to him, Dominik Szoboszlai faced up to the scrutiny after Liverpool were handed a 4-0 hammering, but his response was weak.
The Hungarian didn’t have a great game — most of Liverpool’s players were woeful against Man City — and he struggled to find the words to address the issues that led to this demolition.
It’s the same line we have heard all season. Sprinkled in between the excuses and apparent bad luck, is the truly concerning answer. Arne Slot and the players simply don’t know why it’s been so bad.
Who was Liverpool’s worst player during the abysmal defeat against Man City?
Some PATHETIC displays 😡
Manchester City v Liverpool - Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
Dominik Szoboszlai’s response to Liverpool criticism is questionable
Szoboszlai has been Liverpool’s most reliable player this season and has credit in the bank with fans for his individual performances. It doesn’t make his excuses for not showing up any more palatable, though.
He was asked about the mentality by TNT Sports after the game, responding: “That’s a good question. I don’t know. It’s hard to find words to be honest. We wanted this one so much. You lose 4-0 at City and it’s not the best.”
We have heard the ‘I don’t know’ far too much this season, from Slot, from Virgil van Dijk, from everyone who steps in front of the mic. But we’re into April now — there shouldn’t be any doubt left about where the problems lie.
Szoboszlai went on to say: “The fighting spirit wasn’t there enough, the mentality wasn’t there enough. None of us were there to be honest as much as we could.
Dominik Szoboszlai reacts in front of the Liverpool fans after the FA Cup defeat against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
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“It’s a hard time but we have to stick together. On Wednesday there is another chance but we have to get in our head this is not the season we would like to end.”
It’s true that there wasn’t enough fight and aggression from the visitors, but how can that be? This was one of the two competitions Liverpool had any chance of winning. The start was super promising, but then City ran away with it.
Surely, the fight had to be there. It wasn’t. That other chance he is talking about — PSG in a Champions League quarter-final — won’t be a chance for long if Liverpool show up in a similar headspace.
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