Liverpool’s chances of winning the FA Cup ended after they suffered an embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad this afternoon.
Arne Slott’s side were outclassed by Josep Guardiola’s side this afternoon, which will no doubt put even more pressure on the Dutchman’s shoulders.
Erling Haaland’s hat-trick and Antoine Semenyo’s one-inch chip secured victory for the hosts, but the Reds were unable to maintain their quality throughout.
Mohamed Salah had a chance to get his team on the scoresheet, but the Egyptian winger had his penalty saved by James Trafford, summing up the disastrous result in Manchester.
It was a memorable afternoon for multiple players who started the matchup, and the starter’s role under the slot was certainly under a lot of pressure each week.
Salah and Van Dijk’s performances against Man City
As mentioned earlier, winger Salah endured yet another memorable afternoon for Liverpool, with his missed penalty kick in the second half being just the tip of the iceberg.
The soon-to-be-departed attacker was able to complete just 50% of the dribbles he attempted, while also losing 50% of the ground battles he took part in.
He also failed to create a single chance for his team-mates and failed to complete any of his 13 passes into the final third, further highlighting his lack of creativity.
Centre-back Virgil van Dijk also endured a tough afternoon at the Etihad, giving away a penalty for a foul on Nico O’Reilly in the first half.
The 34-year-old missed a single tackle, lost 100% of the ground battles he participated in, and was unable to get close to the hosts’ attackers thereafter.
Other statistics, such as committing two fouls and only two headed clearances, showed the struggle he endured against City, an unusually poor performance for the defender.
Liverpool star looking complete under the slot
Following their exit from the FA Cup earlier this afternoon, the Champions League will be Liverpool’s only realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.
However, to claim another European trophy, they must somehow get past current defending champions PSG in the next quarter-final.
The drop-off from last season’s title-winning campaign is notable and will no doubt raise questions about Slott’s long-term future in the role.
He has been handed £400m worth of funding to strengthen the ranks, but given recent results it appears his huge spending is having a negative impact.
Many were also baffled by the manager’s team selection, with the Dutchman giving Joe Gomez a starting spot at right-back against the menacing Jeremy Doku.
The Englishman struggled mightily in this afternoon’s defeat to the Etihad, playing 62 minutes before being replaced by Jeremy Frimpong.
He was constantly battered by City’s wingers, failing to win either of his two tackles and barely getting to the top after just four ground battles.
Gomez was also able to complete just 22 passes during the meeting in Manchester, with only one of those to a teammate within the final third.
Joe Gomez – Stats against Man City | |
|---|---|
statistics | tally |
Play time (minutes) | 62 |
touch | 46 |
pass completed | twenty two |
loss of ownership | 11 |
tackle win | 0 |
advance to final third | 1 |
An opportunity has arisen | 0 |
blocks made | 0 |
He also recorded just 46 touches on the ball, then lost the ball 11 times and gave away the ball once every 4.1 touches.
After a performance like this, it’s clear that Gomez is no longer a player capable of performing at the top level, and the division needs to move him this summer.
Salah’s departure this summer could begin a necessary rebuild at Anfield ahead of the 2026/27 season, with the Englishman having been linked with a potential £45m move to Newcastle United in 2024, needing to be a sacrificial player.
It will no doubt be an emotional sale given his long association with the Reds, but ultimately it is a decision that needs to be made in the club’s best interest.
If the Reds are to continue to compete at the top of the Premier League next season, the board will need to make important decisions, and Gomez’s departure will complete that decision.
