Arne Slot has disagreed with Dominik Szoboszlai‘s claim that Liverpool lacked a fighting spirit in their 4-0 defeat at Man City.
The Reds were sent packing from the FA Cup on Saturday, on another damaging afternoon in a terrible season.
Szoboszlai tried his best to prevent Liverpool from losing, as has been the case throughout the campaign, but was powerless.
Speaking to the media after the match, Slot didn’t agree with the midfielder’s comments that Liverpool’s “mentality wasn’t there enough,” but did admit that there were spells in the game that weren’t good enough from the Reds.
“I should ask him what he means – what he means and what period of time,” Slot said.
“If he felt that was the whole game, I did not feel this until the moment they scored the 1-0.
“And I think after they scored the 1-0, we were still in the game. But then we had a throw-in, twice we conceded when we had a throw-in. And they go so fast.
“In those moments, you have to defend sharper. The second goal was a similar one we conceded earlier on this season over here.
“And the second time that we concede just before half-time, playing Man City.
“I miss the fighting spirit definitely in the first 10 minutes after half-time and then afterwards it was just a game where both teams accepted it was 4-0.
“But in that 10, 15 minutes of time, I missed fighting spirit but just the willingness to win your duel, to be there first, to make it difficult for either a pass or a cross or a finish.
“Yeah, that is something that we definitely have to do better on Wednesday.”
What did Dominik Szoboszlai say?
Szoboszlai was clearly a frustrated figure after the game, bemoaning the mentality on show and gesturing to the fans after the game.
“The fighting spirit wasn’t there enough, the mentality wasn’t there enough,” Szoboszlai said.
“None of us were there, to be honest, as much as we could.”
“It’s a hard time, but we have to stick together.
“On Wednesday there is another chance, but we have to get in our head this is not the season we would like to end.”
Can Liverpool realistically get past PSG?
The loss to City was among Liverpool’s most galling of the season, with the Reds once again capitulating as soon as adversity hit them.
It has been a hallmark of the campaign, and for Slot, his job feels precarious after a huge dropoff in 2025/26.
Next up for Liverpool is a trip to reigning Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night, which threatens to be a humbling experience.
Huge improvements are needed, both in terms of quality and mentality, or Slot’s men could effectively be out of Europe before the second leg at Anfield on April 14.
At times, Slot almost feels blind to Liverpool’s issues, with Szoboszlai’s comments more realistic, and patience is now wearing thin.
Barring a miraculous Champions League triumph in May, it is hard to see the Dutchman still being in charge come the start of next season.
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