Liverpool have a proficiency for conceding first in one of every three games under Arne Slot, and when they do, they bounce back to win just 21 percent of the time.
The walls will feel as though they are closing in on Slot, considering the growing scrutiny of his team’s attitude, performances and results.
Against Man City, Liverpool conceded the first goal of the game for the 18th time this season, and the 37th game overall across Slot’s tenure at the club.
The Dutchman has overseen 104 games across all competitions, meaning the Reds concede first, on average, once every 2.8 games or in 35.5 percent of his games.
Liverpool Record After Conceding First Under Slot
Season Games Conceded First Won Drawn Lost
2024/25 19 6 7 6
2025/26 18 2 2 14
*Data accounts for all competitions. Liverpool have failed to recover a single point in 77.7% of games where they conceded first this season.
This season, Liverpool have won two, drawn two and lost 14 when they have fallen behind with the first goal, a win percentage of merely 11.1 percent and a loss rate of a staggering 77.7 percent.
Last season, the Reds conceded the game’s first goal 19 times across all competitions and won six, drew seven and lost six, a win rate of 31.6 percent and a loss percentage of 31.6 percent.
Therefore, across Slot’s Liverpool career so far, he has overseen just eight wins when his side have conceded first (win percentage of 21.6%) and 20 defeats (loss percentage of 54%).
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 4, 2026: Manchester City supporters do the Poznan 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)
The rate at which Liverpool concede first is alarming, as it requires both mental and physical effort to turn the scoreboard around on a continual basis.
It was a theme that also occurred during Jurgen Klopp‘s tenure, and with Liverpool readily competing across a number of competitions at once, it does not help when seeking to sustain results.
As was seen against Man City, heads immediately dropped after conceding first and the team unravelled, with both Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai admitting a lack of fight thereafter.
With Slot readily citing the fatigue of the schedule and his players not being capable of sustaining intensity, the inability to stop the opposition from scoring first only feeds into the excuses lined up.
That Liverpool have won only twice after conceding first this season – against Frankfurt and Newcastle – shows a lack of mental resilience and tactical deficiencies.