Liverpool’s season on the edge: Slot faces a crucial test after FA Cup humiliation

Liverpool’s 4–0 loss to Manchester City at the Etihad was more than just an exit from football’s FA Cup. Their foundering reflected deep problems within the club. During the first 40 minutes, the Reds looked competitive, with Mohamed Salah active and Hugo Ekitike stretching City’s back line. The progressive dynamic shifted abruptly following the penalty after Virgil van Dijk clipped Nico O’Reilly. This allowed Erling Haaland to open the floodgates, as City scored four times in about 20 minutes.

Liverpool ‘missing the fighting spirit’

Arne Slot did not soften his words after the match. “I missed the fighting spirit definitely in the first 10 minutes after half-time,” he said, pointing to a lack of aggression and a poor response to adversity. His bluntness, unusual for a manager who often shields his players, underlined how serious the collapse felt.

Captain Virgil van Dijk was equally direct. He affirmed that some players “gave up” after the third goal, a striking indictment from a leader who has long embodied Liverpool’s resilience. Inside the squad and the press, frustration is growing. Journalists have called the team “brittle” and criticised a lack of senior leadership (The Athletic/The Times). Liverpool have already lost 15 matches this season — their worst total since 2014–15.

Pressure building off the pitch

Supporters’ patience is wearing thin. Bookmakers quickly shortened Slot’s odds of being sacked, and media reports suggest the club could seek changes this summer regardless of the outcome on the remaining fixtures. Reports also say players held an internal meeting after the defeat, further demonstrating an unresting vibe within their entity.

The focus now shifts to Paris. Liverpool standing to face PSG becomes a tangible depiction of their last clear chance at silverware and perhaps Slot’s last major audition. A strong result is desirable to keep the season alive whilst another defeat would turn talk of “transition” into talk of certain failure.

Slot’s expands his assertion of the gain through explanations that the team began well and that the collapse occupied only a short spell. his stance is not convincing and he is called out by fans and pundits.

Not looking good

His attempt of oversimplification perhaps is intended to distract from problems bigger than tactics, where the confidence, leadership and identity of the club feel broken. As one local outlet put it, “the excuses are wearing thin,” and Slot’s position could become untenable if the team “unravels again”.

At this moment it is about more than one result. Liverpool must rediscover leadership and collectively improve the performance. As the next three matches are fast approaching, with a particular focus on the trip to Paris, these will not only shape their season but hold the ability to decide whether Arne Slot remains the manager next year

Featured image via the Canary