Dominik Szoboszlai: Liverpool showed insufficient ‘fighting spirit’ in defeat to Man City

Dominik Szoboszlai expressed that Liverpool demonstrated a lack of “fighting spirit” during their 4-0 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup, noting that it is “hard to find the words” to describe his team’s disappointing display.

Arne Slot’s squad began positively at the Etihad but allowed four goals within a 20-minute span around half-time. This is not the first instance this season where the Reds have struggled under pressure, having secured only two victories out of 19 matches in which they have trailed.

“When you put in effort and see no results, it feels pointless,” Szoboszlai remarked to TNT Sports.

“We created opportunities but failed to capitalize, and we conceded a straightforward penalty. We ended up losing 4-0. We cannot afford to concede as frequently as we do. There is nothing more to add.

“Winning here is challenging. After going down 1-0, you still have hope. At 2-0 down, it is our own mistake to go into half-time having conceded another goal in the final minute. At 2-0, the chances of a comeback diminish significantly. You come out wanting to demonstrate our ability to recover, and then you concede a third goal, leaving no opportunity to turn things around.

“The fighting spirit was insufficient, and the mentality was lacking. To be honest, none of us were at our best. It’s a tough period, but we must remain united. On Wednesday, we have another opportunity, but we need to understand that this is not the conclusion to the season we desire.”

When asked why Liverpool seemed to lack the necessary determination to compete with City, Szoboszlai responded: “That’s a valid question. I’m not sure. It’s difficult to articulate, to be honest. We wanted this match so much. Losing 4-0 at City is far from ideal.

“We need to move on as quickly as possible and continue to fight relentlessly. I always say that when we put in the effort and win, we succeed; when we don’t, we lose. You must fight, work hard, and support one another, and that’s what we sometimes lack.”

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