Arne Slot makes complaint and gives Mohamed Salah verdict after Man City hammer Liverpool in FA Cup

Jack Otway
Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:17:02 +0000

Arne Slot has reacted to Liverpool's disastrous 4-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Reds had entered the showdown hoping to continue their charge towards the trophy but, ultimately, were put to the sword by their rivals.

City were outstanding, with Erling Haaland netting a hat-trick and Antoine Semenyo also scoring as they cruised through to the last four.

The defeat has piled more pressure on Slot who, less than a year after guiding his team to Premier League title glory, is now fighting to keep his job.

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And the Dutchman complained above individual errors costing his team, admitting their lack of ruthlessness up top - and defensive frailties - came back to bite them.

"Very disappointing not only to be out but also the manner and the result," he told TNT Sports. "Another big disappointment for us."

When quizzed on what was missing from his team, he added: Things that have been missing for large parts of the season. Converting our chances into goals. That was missing in the first half.

"I think it was an equal game up to the moment they scored the penalty. The last time we played here, we conceded just before half-time and today again, that was mentally not easy.

"We tried to pick things up at half time but 10 minutes later they'd scored twice again. What happened afterwards, we got a penalty and had chances but that doesn't tell me anything.

"The first 35 minutes I saw a team I would like to see, but the 20 minutes afterwards we have to defend so much better."

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Slot even confessed that he was glad the result stayed 4-0 and didn't get any worse.

"The first half was quite equal and going in 2-0 down is not helpful for the mood, especially after the season we've had," he stated. "Going out hoping to come back in the game but then immediately to get punished with the three and four-nil, that's really hard to take. The only good thing was that we didn't concede more.

"Four-nil down at the Etihad, the way we played in that moment, we're fighting the worst although it was already worse. But it stayed four."

A big low point for Liverpool was Mohamed Salah's abject display.

The Egypt international, who has already announced his departure at the end of the season, missed an early chance and a penalty as his side's hopes of FA Cup glory went up in smoke.

Slot, however, refused to single him out for criticism.

"I wouldn't focus on one player, I'd focus on the team," he said.

"That probably sums up us today but maybe also a large part of our season.

"I think that's the second [penalty] he's missed and Dominik Szoboszlai also missed. It's not only that we miss big chances, this season we have also missed a few penalties.

"In the first half, there was also a very good chance for Mo when we played a fast counter-attack. Unfortunately that ball doesn't go in and that's what football is about, you have to score goals if you want the chance to win."