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Liverpool manager Arne Slot has called on his squad to maintain their composure and stick together following a devastating 4-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Speaking after Saturday’s match at the Etihad Stadium, Slot admitted the result was a painful reflection of a turbulent season that has seen his side struggle for consistency.
Despite a strong opening 35 minutes, the Reds collapsed late in the first half as Erling Haaland began a clinical hat-trick, leaving the manager to describe the capitulation as another significant blow to the team’s morale.
The pressure on the Dutch coach has intensified as Liverpool’s domestic campaign falters, with the team currently languishing in fifth place in the Premier League.
The loss was further compounded by Mohamed Salah’s missed penalty, a moment that underscored the clinical gap between the two sides.
Slot confessed that during the second half, his primary concern shifted toward damage control to prevent an even larger scoreline from damaging the players’ confidence further ahead of their upcoming European commitments.
With the Champions League now representing Liverpool’s final hope for silverware this year, Slot emphasised that resilience is a requirement of the sport.
He urged his players to rediscover the quality they have shown in the past as they prepare for a daunting quarter-final first-leg against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
As City celebrates its eighth consecutive semi-final appearance, Slot remains focused on rallying his squad, insisting that they must stand firm and support one another through this period of significant setbacks.
