Liverpool’s season went from bad to worse on Saturday lunchtime as they were humiliated by rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals in a 4-0 thrashing at the Etihad Stadium.

Arne Slot’s side started the game well, but allowed the home side to grow into the clash and eventually crashed out of the competition thanks to an Erling Haaland hat-trick plus an Antoine Semenyo strike, with Pep Guardiola’s side scoring two in each half.

But the result and performance just summed up where the Reds are at currently under this manager, and it perfectly exemplified why change is needed if they want to get back to the glories of just 12 months ago.

Liverpool Must Sack Slot ASAP

Despite winning the Premier League last season, Slot’s time at Anfield is surely now coming to an end after the way the team has dropped off this year.

The team have lost ten games in the Premier League, were eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Crystal Palace in the fourth-round in embarrassing fashion, and now after being thrashed by Man City in the FA Cup, they face a two-legged tie with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

The season could ultimately be over by the end of next week after the trip to Paris if this showing is anything to go by, and even finishing inside the top five looks questionable at this stage.

It now makes a lot of sense for Liverpool to part ways with the manager and find a different path forward. But while all eyes seem to be on Xabi Alonso as the immediate successor, FSG are apparently not convinced that he is the right fit for the club tactically, and that has opened the door for someone else to come in and become the next Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool Must Appoint Nagelsmann



The success that Slot had was built on the system and squad that Jurgen Klopp left behind, and the perfect replacement for Slot would be someone who could take them back to that style of play.

Julian Nagelsmann, who has been described as a ‘genius’, is the current head coach of the Germany national team, and is under contract until 2028. But there is every chance that he could be on the move following this summer’s World Cup,

iverpool were thrashed 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City won yet another FA Cup quarterfinal in the early kickoff on Saturday. An Erling Haaland hattrick and a deft Antoine Semenyo finish saw City get the result their dominant performance probably deserved.

The opener came after Nico O’Reilly cleverly turned away from a lunge from Virgil Van Dijk to win a penalty in the 38th minute. Haaland duly converted, sending Giorgi Mamardashvili the wrong way. With almost the last touch of the second half, Haaland then made it two with a thumping header off a whipped Semenyo cross.

It was to become worse for Liverpool in the second half when Semenyo made it three with a deft little chip over Mamardashvili after being sent through by Cherki in the 50th minute. Seven minutes later, Haaland thumped one in off the crossbar to finish a glorious team move to complete his hat trick. In the process, he became the first Manchester City player to score a hat trick vs Liverpool in 89 years since Eric Brook’s hat trick at Anfield in March 1937.

Liverpool had their moments – most notably through Mohamed Salah – but failed to capitalise on any of their chances. The most glaring miss came when Salah saw his penalty saved by James Trafford after Matheus Nunes had brought down Hugo Ekitike in the City box with a rash challenge. Salah also missed two chances on counters – the kind he was all too often buried in his time at Liverpool – to mark a horror outing on his last FA Cup appearance with the side.

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Chelsea vs. Port Vale LIVE: Chelsea dominate as goals continue to mount in the FA Cup

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Chelsea welcome League One strugglers Port Vale in the FA Cup quarterfinal at Stamford Bridge, and you can follow it live on ESPN.

Liam Rosenior’s side are in dismal form, with a 3-0 defeat to Everton last time out capping a miserable run of four consecutive defeats.

Chelsea’s last win came in this competition, when they were forced to dig deep for a 4-2 victory against Wrexham in the fifth round, and the Blues will be looking to rediscover their winning ways today.

Port Vale have also endured a challenging run, with three straight league defeats, leaving them bottom of the table and in danger of relegation, but they will be charged by the golden opportunity to cause another FA Cup upset.

Jon Brady’s men can dream big in the capital, having knocked out Sunderland 1-0 in the previous round. Victory today will continue their fairytale cup run to Wembley.

Liverpool head to the Etihad Stadium to take on Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Saturday lunchtime

Liverpool are at Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup

Ian Doyle Chief Liverpool FC Writer, Paul Gorst Liverpool FC correspondent and Mark Jones Liverpool Content Editor – Sport

Liverpool’s season has not gone to plan, but at the beginning of the campaign this week is the week they would have been dreaming of.

Playing in an FA Cup quarter-final followed by a Champions League quarter-final is exactly what the Reds want to be doing every April, and the first of those matches comes at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

City, who won the Carabao Cup before the international break, will of course be formidable opponents, as will Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, but Liverpool have often thrived against the better opposition this season.

After a busy break that involved Mohamed Salah’s announcement of his impending exit, a row of ticket prices and Alexander Isak’s return to first-team training, Arne Slot will be happy to get his side back on the pitch.

Ian Doyle and Paul Gorst are both in Manchester to see how the Reds get on in the 12.45pm GMT, and you can follow their updates live here.

GOAL! Manchester City 4-0 Liverpool (Haaland)

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GOAL! Manchester City 3-0 Liverpool (Semenyo)

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GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 Liverpool (Haaland)

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GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Liverpool (Haaland pen)

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Liverpool team vs Man City confirmed

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Today14:34 BST

Full time

Full time: Man City 4-0 Liverpool.

Arne Slot suffers the worst defeat of his Liverpool tenure as the Reds bow out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final.

Giorgi Mamardashvili 7

Safe handling in the air, solid with his feet and held on to a couple of strong shots.

Joe Gomez 7

Had the beating of Doku in the physical battle first half and didn’t allow himself to be exposed for pace.

Ibrahima Konate 6

Careless in possession on occasion and bounced away by Haaland at one point and beaten by striker for second.

Virgil van Dijk 6

One good clearance before break and looked to orchestrate Liverpool’s play out of the back but needless foul for penalty.

Milos Kerkez 7

Good challenge on Cherki in opening quarter and offered himself going forward regularly.

Ryan Gravenberch 6

Particularly impressive in opening quarter when moving the ball forward but could have protected back four better at times, although unlucky in build-up to penalty.

Curtis Jones 6

Ability to hold on to ball useful at times but should have cleared down the line ahead of the second.

Mohamed Salah 6

Denied by good Khusanov touch when found by long Mamarashvili punt but wasn’t involved enough down right.

Dominik Szoboszlai 6

Not as influential as of late and didn’t really have much of an impact from the number 10 position.

Florian Wirtz 7

Looked dangerous whenever in possession and found good positions when drifting across the front line.

Hugo Ekitike 7

Led the line well with good physical presence but could have done better with first-half shot over.