Arne Slot has hit back at Dominik Szoboszlai’s claim that Liverpool lacked ‘fighting spirit’ during their 4-0 FA Cup battering at the hands of Manchester City.
The Reds were dismal throughout much of Saturday’s game, conceding four times in 20 minutes either side of half-time to exit the cup in humiliating fashion.
Szoboszlai questioned Liverpool’s mentality after the match, but when those comments were put to Slot during his post-match press conference, the Dutchman suggested that he disagrees.
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Manchester City v Liverpool - Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
Slot happy with Liverpool’s start against Man City
There is no question that Szoboszlai was right about Liverpool‘s lack of gumption at the Etihad Stadium. As soon as the first goal went in the Reds simply collapsed, not for the first time this season.
When asked about the Hungarian’s quotes at full-time, though, Slot insisted that though things did end up badly, he was actually happy with the way Liverpool started the game.
“I should ask him what he means – what he means and what period of time,” said the head coach. “If he felt that was the whole game, I did not feel this until the moment they scored the 1-0. And I think after they scored the 1-0, we were still in the game.”
Manchester City v Liverpool - Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
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“But then we had a throw-in, twice we conceded when we had a throw-in. And they go so fast. In those moments you have to defend sharper. The second goal was a similar one we conceded earlier on this season over here. And the second time that we concede just before half-time, playing Man City.
“I miss the fighting spirit definitely in the first 10 minutes after half-time and then afterwards it was just a game where both teams accepted it was 4-0. But in that 10, 15 minutes of time, I missed fighting spirit but just the willingness to win your duel, to be there first, to make it difficult for either a pass or a cross or a finish. Yeah, that is something that we definitely have to do better on Wednesday.”
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It is a miserable fact that Liverpool have only won two from 17 matches where they have conceded the first goal this season.
Once the masters of turning games back in their favour, striking first against the Reds these days means you are virtually guaranteed to win.
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Manchester City v Liverpool - Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
This undoubtedly comes down to mentality, and it was completely visible on Saturday that Erling Haaland’s opening goal sucked all belief out of the Liverpool players.
That is not good enough for the Premier League champions, and while it is a difficult thing to correct, Slot must be doing everything he can to change it.
Arguably the most frustrating thing is that Liverpool genuinely were good before going a goal down. They had City on the ropes at times and could easily have gone ahead themselves.
It was much more like the kind of performance supporters are desperate to see more of, with the energy and quality on show exactly what has been missing. Had they kept that up after Haaland’s penalty, things could still have been different. Instead, they went to pieces, and until Slot and the players find a way to address that, they are going to keep losing matches.
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