Image Credits: Imago Images
It was not the return to club football that Liverpool had been hoping for this afternoon.
After the conclusion of the international break, the Reds had a crucial week ahead consisting of two major fixtures.
First up, an FA Cup quarter-final tie against Manchester City and then a trip to Paris to kickstart Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final tie with PSG.
Alexander Isak returned to full team training following the break and Jeremie Frimpong also emerged unharmed despite being withdrawn just 13 minutes after coming on in his most recent outing for the Netherlands.
Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike also enjoyed successful trips away with their national teams and morale was high that Liverpool could put up a fight against Manchester City.
The team did just that… for the opening thirty-five minutes.
After that, they had no answer as Manchester City ran riot.
4-0 down with half an hour remaining, Liverpool fans slowly began to trickle out of the stadium, and it did not go unnoticed.
Questioned on it post-match, Arne Slot replied via Liverpoolfc.com: “We don’t want them to leave early – we have to perform better. 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.”
The fans of Liverpool Football Club are regarded as some of the most passionate and faithful in the world and so seeing them leave the stadium early sends a real message that Liverpool are in a dire situation at the minute.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Virgil van Dijk added his thoughts, explaining how he can understand their actions.
“I can understand that. Obviously, they have been going through ups and downs lately as well. And obviously we would love for them to stay until the end but if we are 4-0 down and the way they played in the second half, then I can understand the anger. Obviously at my time at Liverpool, we have been going through tough times and at the moment it’s a tricky one as well.”
There will be immense pressure on Arne Slot and the players to turn this season around.
It is not over until that final whistle blows in May and there is still everything to play for in the race for top four next season and in the Champions League.
Hopefully by the end of the season, fans will be staying to the very end after being given something to cheer about.
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