Another crushing loss for…

After Liverpool fans exited the Etihad Stadium following a disheartening 4-0 loss to Manchester City on Saturday, some took the chance to chant for a club legend. Sadly for head coach Arne Slot, the name echoing in the air was not his or any of his players. Instead, the supporters rallied for former midfielder Xabi Alonso, who has emerged as a fan-favorite candidate to take over Slot’s position amid a troubling season for the team.

Adding to the embarrassment for Slot, the exodus of fans occurred with over 20 minutes still on the clock in the FA Cup quarterfinal. With City comfortably leading 4-0 and heading towards the semifinals, even the most hopeful Liverpool fans had given up on a comeback.

This defeat marked Liverpool’s 15th loss this season across all competitions, the highest number in a single campaign since the 2014-15 season when they suffered 18 losses under a struggling Brendan Rodgers. Furthermore, it represented Slot’s starkest defeat as Liverpool’s head coach and the worst margin since their 7-2 defeat to Aston Villa in October 2020.

Having made a mark last season by winning the Premier League title in his first attempt, Slot now finds himself navigating through one of the most turbulent periods in the club’s recent history. The UEFA Champions League quarterfinal match on Wednesday against Paris Saint-Germain now carries significant weight; it seems increasingly pivotal in determining Slot’s future at Liverpool.

Liverpool’s “Fighting Spirit” Lacking

Perhaps most troubling about Liverpool’s collapse at the Etihad was its resemblance to their previous league visit to the stadium last November, where they lost 3-0 while enduring a torrid run of nine defeats in 12 matches.

This time, they began the match brightly, creating two significant chances that were wasted by Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike. Nonetheless, their inability to capitalize proved costly as City hit back impressively to score four goals in a blistering 20-minute span straddling halftime.

As seen previously in the league meeting, Liverpool continuously undermined their efforts. Captain Virgil van Dijk conceded a dubious penalty for City’s opening goal, and Ibrahima Konaté allowed Erling Haaland to bypass him too easily for City’s second goal just before the break.

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– Reaction: Haaland’s hat-trick pressures Slot at Liverpool
– Marcotti’s Musings: Barca beats Atletico, Liverpool collapses in FA Cup
– O’Hanlon: Premier League standings without set pieces.

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Once more, City struck first, and Liverpool failed to recover. Their susceptibility led to a monumental collapse, marking the fifth time this season they had lost by three or more goals, something they did not experience at all in the previous season and only once in 2023-24.

“We simply lacked fighting spirit and mentality,” midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai reflected to TNT Sports post-match. “Honestly, none of us were really there as much as we could have been.”

This concerning statement aligns with Liverpool’s ongoing struggle to showcase character under pressure. The Reds have only managed to win two of the 19 matches where they have fallen behind this season—a stark contrast to their former image as “mentality monsters” under previous manager Jürgen Klopp.

Ongoing comparisons to Slot’s charismatic predecessor have clouded the Dutchman’s tenure, and while his straightforward nature was praised last season, it now raises questions regarding his capacity to motivate a team that desperately needs encouragement.

The sense of disconnection between the coach, the players, and the supporters has dramatically increased this season, as illustrated by Szoboszlai’s visible frustration with the reduced number of fans remaining in the stadium at the final whistle on Saturday.

Champions League Defeat Could Test FSG’s Confidence

Slot shouldn’t shoulder all the blame for Liverpool’s current struggles. Injuries to critical players, subpar squad management, and the untimely loss of striker Diogo Jota prior to the preseason have created a challenging environment this season.

The players must also acknowledge their failure to meet the expectations set after winning the Premier League; both in mindset and performance. Notably, two of City’s goals came shortly after Liverpool squandered possession from their own throw-in, highlighting a failure to adhere to basic principles.

“If you claim that we lost track of 15 runs City made, then I disagree,” Slot stated in his post-match address. “But if you look strictly at the goals, you can see our failure to track runs, block crosses, and win duels. It seems like every time we neglect basic blocking or following runs, it leads to a goal.”

This sentiment was echoed by Van Dijk, who publicly apologized to the supporters for the lackluster display and admitted that Liverpool seemed to “give up” after City’s third goal scored five minutes into the second half.

Ultimately, however, the responsibility lies with Slot. Liverpool fans are generally quite patient, yet witnessing supporters leaving early at the Etihad is concerning for the club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG).

After securing only their second league title in 35 years last season, Slot deserves recognition for his achievements, irrespective of his long-term fate. While FSG and sporting director Richard Hughes have staunchly supported him throughout this challenging season, a disgraceful defeat against PSG—or further league losses to rivals such as Everton, Manchester United, and Chelsea in the upcoming weeks—could jeopardize his position.

Even if Slot manages to secure Champions League qualification this season, continuing with him as manager into next season risks igniting further dissatisfaction at the first sign of struggle.

Currently, the only feasible path to regain the full support of disheartened fans seems to lie in winning the Champions League. This prospect feels far-fetched given PSG’s recent demolition of Chelsea (8-2 on aggregate) in the previous round, and a potential semifinal clash against either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid looms ahead. However, Liverpool’s historical prowess in European competition has at times masked otherwise underwhelming seasons, and one cannot entirely discount the possibility of this occurring again.

Indeed, PSG, managed by Luis Enrique and boasting a talented roster, will approach their quest for the semifinals with caution, especially considering they eliminated Liverpool via penalties last year. Many view last year’s round-of-16 exit at the hands of the French champions as the beginning of Liverpool’s decline under Slot.

Should Liverpool fail to deliver a remarkable performance against PSG this time around, it might very well seal Slot’s fate.