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Man City vs Liverpool LIVE: Szoboszlai slams lack of ‘fighting spirit’ in FA Cup thrashing
Manchester City 4-0 Liverpool: Erling Haaland’s hat-trick capped an outstanding display from Pep Guardiola’s side as Mohamed Salah’s missed penalty summed up a miserable day for the Reds
Dominik Szoboszlai accused Liverpool of lacking fighting spirit as they crashed out of the FA Cup in a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City.
Manager Arne Slot said it was an “unbelievable disappointment” and was critical of Liverpool’s defending in an 18-minute spell either side of half-time at the Etihad Stadium when they conceded four times, with Erling Haaland scoring a hat-trick and Antoine Semenyo getting City’s other goal as they reached an eighth consecutive FA Cup semi-final.
And Szoboszlai warned Liverpool’s season could end badly if they don’t show enough hunger again when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The midfielder told TNT Sports: “The fighting spirit wasn't there enough. The mentality wasn't there enough. None of us were there to be honest as much as we could.
"It's a hard time but we have to stick together. On Wednesday there is another chance but we have to get in our head this is not the season we would like to end.”
Follow all the reaction from Manchester City’s win over Liverpool, below
Liverpool suffer heaviest defeat under Arne Slot
Liverpool have now lost 15 matches in all competitions this season - including three against Manchester City. Today’s 4-0 defeat is Arne Slot’s heaviest loss since becoming Liverpool head coach in the summer of 2024.
According to Opta, Liverpool have now suffered their most defeats in a single season since 2014/15, when the Reds lost 18 matches under Brendan Rodgers.
Jamie Braidwood5 April 2026 06:33
Arne Slot's message to Liverpool fans who left early
"We don’t want them to leave early. We have to perform better. We have to show now that we react after a loss like this. After all the disappointments we've had this season the fans have always been supportive and they were even today.
“They were very loud in the first half. It is up to us to react for them and for ourselves. We need to play like we did for the first 35 minutes but in moments of defending we need to be much more ruthless."
Jamie Braidwood5 April 2026 04:33
'It's special': Pep Lijnders on Pep Guardiola's FA Cup record
Pep Guardiola has never lost an FA Cup home tie and the Catalan, serving a touchline ban, will have enjoyed the view from the stand as City booked yet another trip to Wembley two weeks after lifting the Carabao Cup.
“It’s special,” Guardiola’s assistant Pep Lijnders said. “It’s a sign of consistency and quality that the team reaches every year.
“The FA Cup is so, so special, we all know this. But especially for the fans having the chance to travel again and have a nice day with the family, the kids, all the passion around it.
“It’s a special place, Wembley, and you should not take for granted every time a final or semi-final and for sure we don’t do that.”
Jamie Braidwood5 April 2026 02:33
Arne Slot agrees that Liverpool lacked 'fighting spirit' after half-time
Arne Slot called Liverpool’s defeat to Manchester City an “unbelievable disappointment”.
“The 20 minutes where we conceded the four goals were not of our standard. 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.
“Twice we conceded when we had a throw-in. The second goal was a similar one we conceded earlier on this season, over here. And the second time we conceded just before half-time, playing Man City. I missed the fighting spirit definitely in the first 10 minutes after half-time. And then afterwards, it was just a game where both teams accepted it was 4-0.
“But in those 10-15 minutes of time, I missed the fighting spirit, but just the willingness to win your duel, to be there first, to make it difficult for either a pass or a cross or a finish. That is something we definitely have to do better on Wednesday.”
Jamie Braidwood5 April 2026 00:33
Liverpool have no ‘fighting spirit’ and their season is on the brink of collapse
It is less than 14 months since Liverpool came to the Etihad Stadium, Arne Slot outwitted one of his coaching heroes with his use of twin false nines, won 2-0 and took a giant stride towards the Premier League title. Pep Guardiola is not seen off quite that easily, however. Slot’s subsequent visits to Manchester City have been crushing.
Such slim chances as Liverpool had of retaining their Premier League crown ended with a 3-0 defeat in November. Their FA Cup run came to an abrupt halt with a 4-0 demolition here. “An unbelievable disappointment,” said Slot.
Liverpool have no ‘fighting spirit’ and their season is on the brink of collapse
Manchester City 4-0 Liverpool: Dominik Szoboszlai lamented his side’s capitulation as Erling Haaland’s hat-trick led the outstanding hosts back into the FA Cup semi-finals
Richard Jolly, at the Etihad 4 April 2026 23:33
Salah misses penalty as Liverpool's day goes from bad to worse
The City fans were buoyant at 4-0, breaking out into a Poznan celebration and Cherki attempted some flicks in his own box.
The atmosphere was punctured as Nunes felled Ekitike but lifted again as Trafford punched away Salah's spot-kick - a bad day becoming worse for Liverpool.
Jamie Braidwood4 April 2026 22:33
Haaland completes his hat-trick as Liverpool collapse
A fourth goal came before the hour as Haaland completed his treble by crashing in a shot off the crossbar from an O'Reilly cutback.
Jamie Braidwood4 April 2026 21:33
Semenyo adds third as Man City rip Liverpool apart
City upped the tempo further after the break, increasing their lead as Semenyo raced onto another fine pass from Cherki and clipped over Mamardashvili.
Jamie Braidwood4 April 2026 20:33
Haaland doubles City's lead on stroke of half-time
Haaland doubled his tally for the day in first-half stoppage time after Cherki released Semenyo with a cleverly disguised pass and the Norwegian headed the Ghana international's cross past Mamardashvili.
Jamie Braidwood4 April 2026 19:33
Erling Haaland opens the scoring from the spot
City had a penalty appeal rejected after Rayan Cherki went down following a challenge from Milos Kerkez.
Guardiola, watching a replay in the stand as he completed a touchline ban, appeared perplexed but VAR backed the decision.
Michael Oliver did point to the spot, however, when Nico O'Reilly was tripped after turning Virgil van Dijk.
There was little debate and Haaland rammed home from 12 yards for only his second goal in seven outings but his 31st for the campaign.
Jamie Braidwood4 April 2026 18:33
