Pressure mounts on Slot as Liverpool manager concedes basics cost Reds in 4-0 FA Cup thrashing | OneFootball

Arne Slot has said Liverpool were ruthlessly punished for not doing the basics often enough at Manchester City.

Liverpool crashed out of theFA Cup after a 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in the quarter-finals. The Reds were punished for a poor performance at the Etihad, as an Erling Haaland hat-trick and fine goal from Antoine Semenyo condemned Slot's side to defeat.

The result means Liverpool have now lost 15 games in all competitions this season, their most defeats in a single season since 2014/15, when losing 18 matches under Brendan Rodgers.

Liverpool's latest loss has increased the pressure on Slot, whose position as manager has come under intense scrutiny. Following last season'sPremier League title success, Liverpool have struggled for results in a challenging campaign.

At hispost-match press conference, Slot was asked why his players are not doing the 'very basics' of football that are seen even at 'park level'.

He disagreed with that statement as an entire narrative, but admitted Liverpool were ruthlessly punished by City for their defensive lapses at the Etihad.

"That I don't agree with what you are saying. But, in moments, you are completely right," Slot said in reply to the questioning.

"So, if you tell me from the 15 runs that Manchester City are making, my players don't run, I disagree with you. But if you simply look at the goals, there I see runs that are not being followed, I see crosses that are not being blocked, I see duels in front of goal that are not being won. Then you are completely right, but that's not the story of the whole game.

"But every single time we forget to block a cross, we forget to defend in front of goal, we forget to follow our runners - every single time it's a goal."