Arne Slot points finger at Liverpool stars and names 'only good thing' about Man City rout
Arne Slot took aim at his own Liverpool players following a 4-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot slammed his own side's defending and insisted that was to blame for their 4-0 FA Cup defeat at the Etihad Stadium. The Dutchman insisted he was pleased with how the Reds started the match, as they matched Pep Guardiola's side before conceding a penalty that Erling Haaland converted.
From that moment on, Liverpool's match fell apart as they conceded a second before half-time when Haaland beat Ibrahima Konate to a close-range header. Antoine Semenyo chipped Giorgi Mamardashvili after a through ball from Rayan Cherki shortly after the restart, before Haaland grabbed his hat-trick by tapping into an open net.
Slot's side had a chance to reduce the arrears when Hugo Ekitike was brought down inside the penalty area by Matheus Nunes.
But Mohamed Salah stepped up, in the first match of his farewell tour after announcing his impending Liverpool exit, and his effort was saved by James Trafford.
EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
And Slot could not hide his frustration after the final whistle blew.
“I liked our first 35 minutes but afterwards we have to defend so so much better than we did today," Slot told HBO Max. “It’s been very disappointing, not only to be out but also the manner. Another big disappointment from us.”
He later added that the "only good thing" about the match was that they did not concede more than four goals.
"It's very disappointing to be out [of the FA Cup], not only in the manner but also the result and the score," Slot continued. "Another big disappointment for us.
"What has been missing for large parts of the season, converting our chances into goals. I think it was an even game up until they scored the penalty and the last time we played here we conceded just before half-time and again today.
"We get a penalty and we get a chance but that doesn't tell me anything. The first 35 minutes was the sort of team I would like to see but the 20 minutes after that, we have to defend so, so much better than we were doing today.
"Not nice to go in at 2-0 just before half-time, not helpful for your mood especially after the season we have had. That was really hard to take. The only good thing was that we didn't concede more."
On Salah's miss from 12 yards, the head coach said: "I wouldn't focus on one player, I would focus on the team and that probably sums up us today but also maybe large parts of the season.
"I think it is the second one he missed and Dominik Szoboszlai also already missed a penalty so it's not only that we miss big chances, this season we have missed a few penalties. In the first half there was a chance for Mo when we played the fast counter attack.
"Unfortunately that didn't go in and you have to score goals if you want to have a chance to win the game."
