There is a lot to say about Liverpool’s 4-0 loss to Manchester City, and not very much of it is positive. The 4-0 defeat is the worst loss under Arne Slot, and after the first half an hour, the defense looked lost. Here is the unhappy postmortem from the Etihad.
Have Liverpool Given Up?
The American commentary team said Liverpool gave up after City’s third goal of the match, and it looked like it. Virgil van Dijk was snapping at teammates to cover his own poor play, and other defenders left massive gaps for City to exploit. Mohamed Salah is a shell of himself, as seen by the PK miss and other chances. All around, it’s not a good look for the club that has now lost to City three times in the same season for the first time since 1935.
Stats Don’t Tell The Story
If you only looked at the stats, you would never be able to tell that City won 4-0. The Reds actually led possession 51-49 while shots were tied 11-11. City held a slight 7-5 lead in shots on goal, but it’s not that much of a discrepancy. The difference is that Liverpool overcomplicated their chances in the first half. If they just take shots on in the first 30 minutes, they are likely up 2-0. Instead, they played the ball across the box with nobody on the other end. If they knock just one of those home, it’s a different ballgame.
Is Slot To Blame?
I have supported Slot through the highs and lows this season, but after this performance, he needs to leave at season’s end. I said in my preview that he needed to play Andy Robertson at left back and Dominik Szoboszlai on the right to cut off the supply lines to Haaland. He didn’t, and look what happened. Haaland had a hat trick.
I mention this not to brag on myself but to say if I can see it as a simple writer with no coaching experience, surely Slot can also, and if he can’t, then it’s time to move on. Liverpool fans at the match certainly let their voices be heard as they were chanting Steven Gerrard’s name as a potential replacement for Slot.
Have Your Say?
Are you like me, and this was the last straw for Slot, or are you waiting to see how the Champions League turns out? Let us know below.