Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has criticised Liverpool’s lack of leadership, saying he has never seen a Reds side “so devoid of confidence” before.
In a season full of bad results and performances, Saturday’s 4-0 defeat away to Man City in the FA Cup quarter-finals was among the worst.
As soon as Liverpool went behind in the first half, there was almost an acceptance on the pitch, as the pressure mounts further on Arne Slot.
Speaking on TNT Sports after the game, Fowler bemoaned the absence of leadership in the Reds’ team, saying Slot is partly to blame for that.
“I’ve never seen a Liverpool team so devoid of confidence”
Robbie Fowler and Joe Hart discuss a disappointing FA Cup exit for Liverpool ??
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“I’ve never seen a Liverpool team so devoid of confidence after starting a game so well,” Fowler said.
“All of a sudden, the confidence is just gone, case in point Mohamed Salah, who had a few chances, and Hugo Ekitike looked a bit slow and laboured.
“It’s up to the manager to go and try to give these players a little bit of a lift because they’ve got a massive game on Wednesday.
“If they play like they did in the second half here, there’s only going to be one winner.”
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 4, 2026: Liverpool's Milos Kerkez (L) and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili react to conceding the third goal during the FA Cup Quarter Final match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Fowler then added: “The manager has to make the players better versions of what they’re showing, and we know they are better versions.
“When you go out on that pitch, you’ve got to fend for yourself, and if someone is having a bit of a difficult time, you need leaders out there to drag people through the tough times.
“That’s probably what we’re not seeing with this Liverpool team, but you’ve still got to get that from the manager.”
A younger Liverpool squad with fewer leaders?
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 4, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai covers his face as he reacts to conceding the third goal during the FA Cup Quarter Final match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
This is a Liverpool squad not brimming with the leaders it once did, especially with Alisson unavailable so often these days.
New signings Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike are all in their early to mid-20s, while even potential next captain Dominik Szoboszlai is still just 25.
Still, that doesn’t excuse the lack of fight being shown, and there were enough players displaying leadership qualities when Liverpool won the Premier League last season.
Huge mentality shift needed for Liverpool vs. PSG
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 4, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot during the FA Cup Quarter Final match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool have felt like a soft touch all season long, falling to pieces when faced with adversity on the pitch.
The manner in which they collapsed at City was damning, with too many heads dropping, and a big change in mindset is required for the rest of the season.
That needs to start away to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night, in a huge Champions League clash, or it could be another sobering evening.
Liverpool couldn’t look further from the ‘mentality monsters’ that Jurgen Klopp created, and it could ultimately lead to Slot losing his job.