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Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai stated that the Reds lacked the fighting spirit and proper mentality needed to compete following Saturday's crushing 4–0 FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester City.
Manager Arne Slot echoed those sentiments, focusing particularly on the period following Liverpool's first conceded goal, while also acknowledging that the team was repeatedly punished for brief defensive lapses. All four City goals came in bursts either side of halftime—including a hat-trick from Erling Haaland.
"The fighting spirit just wasn't there. The mentality wasn't there either. To be honest, none of us showed up the way we should have," Szoboszlai said after the final whistle.
"I don't know why it happens. It's difficult to put into words, honestly. We really wanted this one. Losing 4–0 at City is far from ideal. I always say that when we do fight, we win—when we don't, we lose. You have to battle, work hard, and be there for your teammates.
"That's what we sometimes lack."
Slot Bemoans Mentality During Specific Spell
When Szoboszlai's remarks were relayed to Slot, the Dutch manager expressed concern primarily about the lack of intensity at the start of the second half—City had carried a two-goal advantage into the break before adding their third and fourth within 12 minutes of the restart.
"I'd need to ask Dom what he means and during which period," Slot said. "I didn't feel that way until they scored to make it 1–0. At 1–0 we were still in it, but we conceded twice from our own throw-ins. They're quick, but those are moments where you need to defend more sharply.
"The second goal was similar to one we gave away here earlier this season, and again we conceded just before the break. I definitely felt the lack of fighting spirit in the first 10 minutes after halftime. After that, it became a game where both sides accepted the 4–0 scoreline.
"I missed that fighting spirit during that spell—the desire to win duels, to get there first, and to make things difficult whether it was a pass, a cross, or a shot."
In Slot's view, the display wasn't a complete failure across the full 90 minutes: "If you just look at the goals, you see runners not tracked, crosses not blocked, and duels not won. That's a fair point, but it doesn't tell the whole story of the match. Every single time we failed to block a cross or track a run, it ended up in the net."
Only Champions League Left for Liverpool
With their FA Cup campaign over, Liverpool's sole remaining shot at silverware this season now hinges on the Champions League. The Reds are set for quarterfinal action on Wednesday against Paris Saint-Germain, the defending champions who eliminated them in the same round last season.
"It's a tough moment, but we need to stay united," Szoboszlai said. "Wednesday gives us another opportunity, but we have to accept that this isn't the season we had in mind."
Liverpool are also fighting simply to secure a spot in next season's Champions League, making a deep run in the competition even more meaningful—winning the tournament would guarantee automatic entry into the 2026–27 league phase, regardless of their final Premier League standing.
Even though a top-five Premier League finish would likely be sufficient for qualification, Liverpool's position is anything but secure. They currently occupy fifth place, with Manchester United and Aston Villa sitting six and five points ahead respectively. The Reds hold just a one-point advantage over Chelsea in sixth, while Brentford and Everton are also in contention—both just three points behind Liverpool.