Liverpool have lost character and not only Arne Slot could now pay the price
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Fast forward to Saturday, however, and Virgil van Dijk, sifting through the wreckage of a dismal 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final reverse at Manchester City, admitted the Reds were guilty of throwing in the towel at the Etihad.With a plethora of appearances and honours under his belt, and as the only player to feature in both matches, Van Dijk's comments should carry greater resonance than most.A campaign of unprecedented hurdles and regular setbacks has undoubtedly sapped the energy, enthusiasm and self-belief of a Liverpool side that too often have been their own worst enemy.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageAnd while there will quite rightly be much alarm at Van Dijk's assertion the fight left Liverpool at the weekend and how poorly that reflects on Arne Slot's squad, arguably of greater immediate importance is how the Reds found themselves in such a position in the first place.That Barcelona win wasn't the only notable comeback during Jurgen Klopp's reign, continuing a trend that has been long established in Liverpool's history of unlikely revivals.This season, though, that appetite for reconstruction has been lost, Liverpool behind in 18 games and only avoiding defeats with draws at home to Sunderland and away at Fulham in the Premier League along with their sole victory when coming from behind to win at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.In fairness, they did overturn a first-leg deficit to eliminate Galatasaray in the same competition last month.
And while Europe has offered a balm from the domestic pain, Wednesday's quarter-final trip to holders Paris Saint-Germain appears not to offer much immediate solace from events at the weekend.Character is the bedrock of any successful team and remained very much apparent for Liverpool during the dominant Premier League title triumph under Slot last season.But much of that is demonstrated behind the scenes at the training ground with what happens on the pitch merely the public reflection of the work and ethic that is applied every other day.It isn't always the flashiest who provide that foundation. And even though the Reds can still boast a significant number of national team captains, some, such as Andy Robertson and Wataru Endo, haven't featured prominently this season, while others like Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have seen the onset of age inevitably diminish their contributions.Indeed, of other senior players, Alisson Becker has understandably been preoccupied by fitness concerns while Ibrahima Konate has surely been affected by the uncertainty surround his long-term future.
The leaders have, for various reasons, been lacking in the Liverpool squad.And with so many new signings having their own individual adaptations, it has been difficult for Liverpool to consistently provide the "togetherness" Van Dijk has deemed imperative for the Reds to salvage anything tangible from the campaign.Players can always build character and many will emerge stronger from this season's experiences. The owners want to give Slot every chance to atone for his campaign but their patience is not limitless, and the actions of those who pay their hard-earned to watch the Reds will have some influence.Liverpool may be lacking in character and mentality at present but that can be no excuse for the surrender at City at the weekend, the club's heaviest defeat in a standalone FA Cup game in 128 years.What happens next could determine more than just the future of the beleaguered Slot.