Slot rues Liverpool’s ‘missing fighting spirit’ after embarrassing FA Cup exit

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Arne Slot slammed Liverpool’s “missing fighting spirit” after the 4-0 humiliation by Manchester City that propelled Pep Guardiola’s team into the FA Cup semi-finals.The manner of the reverse on Saturday will heighten scrutiny of the manager’s future, with Liverpool next at Paris Saint-Germain for Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg. Antoine Semenyo scored City’s other goalto reach an eight consecutive cup semi-final.A shell-shocked Slot said: “I missed the fighting spirit in the first 10 minutes after half-time.

We have to show now that we react after a loss like this and after so many disappointments we already had this season.”Mohamed Salah reacts after his penalty was saved by Manchester City keeper James Trafford. “There are only three or four days, so there are a few things you can do, and one of the things we need to do if we play against PSG or Man City, teams of this level, you need to defend better than we did in the 20 minutes when we conceded the four goals,” he said.“No one will probably remember it, but the first 35 minutes there was a lot to like from my team.

It would be nice if we then can score a goal once in a while as well from the chances we create.”Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike missed two early chances and Mohamed Salah, in his first game since announcing his departure at the end of the season missed four, including a penalty when City were 4-0 ahead.Of Salah, Slot said: “I wouldn’t like to point to individuals after the disappointing season we are having. Unfortunately if you look not only today but the whole season the amount of goals we score is far too low for the chances we created and definitely for the Liverpool standard.”Pep Ljinders, City’s assistant manager, said: “Erling scored the 12th hat-trick for Man City and the second was insane.