Liverpool's Szoboszlai Slams Team's Lack of Fighting Spirit in FA Cup Thrashing
Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has openly criticised his team's performance, accusing them of lacking fighting spirit after a devastating 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals. The match, held at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday 4 April 2026, saw Erling Haaland score a hat-trick and Antoine Semenyo add another goal, sealing City's place in an eighth consecutive FA Cup semi-final.
Post-Match Reactions and Managerial Disappointment
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot described the loss as an unbelievable disappointment, particularly highlighting defensive failures during an 18-minute spell either side of half-time. Szoboszlai warned that Liverpool's season could end poorly if they fail to show more hunger, especially with a crucial Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain looming on Wednesday. Speaking to TNT Sports, he stated, 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.
Slot echoed these concerns, emphasising the need for improved defending. We have to defend so, so, so much better than we were doing today, he told TNT Sports. This defeat marks Liverpool's heaviest loss under Slot since he took over in summer 2024, with the team now having suffered 15 defeats this season, including three against Manchester City.
Key Moments and Player Performances
Erling Haaland's hat-trick was a standout performance, capping what he called an amazing game at home. Despite acknowledging a struggle in the first half, Haaland praised his team's persistence. Mohamed Salah's missed penalty summed up a miserable day for Liverpool, with former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart noting Salah looked low on confidence and devastated at half-time.
Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler expressed shock at the team's lack of confidence, saying, I've never seen a Liverpool team so devoid of confidence after starting the game so well. The match ended with City fans celebrating another trip to Wembley, while Liverpool players, including Virgil van Dijk, appeared seething as they trudged off the pitch.
Implications for Both Teams
For Manchester City, the victory sets up a potential cup double this season, with focus now shifting to a Premier League title race game against Chelsea. Haaland mentioned the importance of maintaining form, admitting his season has been too much up and down. Meanwhile, Liverpool face a critical Champions League clash against PSG, which could define their season. Szoboszlai urged his teammates to stick together, warning, On Wednesday there is another chance but we have to get in our head this is not the season we would like to end.
The result underscores ongoing challenges for Liverpool under Slot, with Opta statistics revealing this season's defeat tally is their highest since 2014/15. As both teams prepare for upcoming fixtures, the fallout from this FA Cup thrashing highlights issues of mentality and performance that Liverpool must address swiftly to salvage their campaign.
