Verdict: Arne Slot has reacted to Liverpool fans leaving early at the Etihad Stadium
Arne Slot admits his Liverpool team must perform better after supporters stormed out of the Etihad Stadium during the FA Cup loss to Manchester City.
Liverpool started the quarter-final tie on Saturday afternoon well but trailed by two at the break following a quick-fire double from Erling Haaland.
The Man City striker completed his hat-trick shortly before the hour mark after Antoine Semenyo had put the tie out of reach early in the second half.
Mohamed Salah had the opportunity, on his last-ever visit to the Etihad as a Liverpool player - to reduce the deficit but his penalty was well saved by James Trafford.
However, by that stage a number of Liverpool supporters had already made their way for the exit and footage has since emerged online of some chanting for Xabi Alonso.
The former Real Madrid head coach has been strongly tipped to make a return to Anfield this summer as a replacement for Slot, who is now facing even louder calls to be sacked less than a year on from winning the Premier League title.
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For the fans that did stay until the end, they were applauded by captain Virgil van Dijk, while Dominik Szoboszlai stood in front of them struggling his shoulders after hearing he and his team-mates being booed.
“We don’t want them to leave early – we have to perform better,” Slot said in the post-match press conference. “That’s the first thing.
“And we have to show now that we react after a loss like this and after so many disappointments we already had this season.
“The good thing is the fans have always been supportive, even today; during large spells of the first half they were very loud, before the game they were very loud.
“So, it’s up to us not only to react for them but also to ourselves. And that’s what we need to do Wednesday, when we again face a very good team, where we again need to play as we did in the first 35 minutes.
“But in moments of defending, we need to be much more ruthless than we’ve been today.”
Liverpool take on Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday night and the competition is now their last chance to claim silverware this season.