Dominik Szoboszlai was speaking after Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as Manchester City thrashed Liverpool 4-0 in the FA Cup
Dominik Szoboszlai looks dejected during Liverpool’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester City(Image: (Marc Atkins/Getty Images))
Dominik Szoboszlai accused Liverpool of lacking fighting spirit as they crashed out of the FA Cup following a demoralising 4-0 defeat to Manchester City. The midfielder pulled no punches after the quarter-final defeat, warning his team-mates that they risk being knocked out of the Champions League if things don’t change immediately.
Despite a bright start at the Etihad, the Reds fell apart after Erling Haaland opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Virgil van Dijk brought down Nico O’Reilly. But after the Norway international doubled his side’s lead in first-half stoppage time, there was only ever going to be one outcome.
And City put the tie to bed when Antoine Semenyo added a third in the 50th minute and Haaland completed his hat-trick seven minutes later.
FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo’s dedicated LFC Facebook page
Arne Slot questioned his Liverpool players’ effort and fighting spirit after the defeat, and Szoboszlai issued his own damning assessment, saying: “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 it in our head that this is not the season we would like to end.
“I don’t know (why it happens). It’s hard to find words to be honest. We wanted this one so much. You lose 4-0 at City and it’s not the best.
Liverpool’s Dutch manager Arne Slot looks on during the English FA Cup quarter final football match between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on April 4, 2026. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
“I always say when we do it (fight) we are winning, when we don’t do it we are losing. You have to fight, work hard, be there for each other and that’s what we are missing sometimes.”
Asked if the spot-kick was the turning point, Szoboszlai told Spíler TV: “I don’t think the penalty was the turning point, rather it was the second goal conceded that changed the game.
“There is one minute left, and you could go into the half-time at 1-0, and you concede another one before that, it’s not a positive thing to come out afterwards feeling like you still have a chance away against Manchester City. Because I think few teams can come back from 2-0 down against City. So I would say the second goal was the turning point.”
Liverpool were knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester City(Image: 2026 CameraSport)
Liverpool must quickly pick themselves up before Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg away to Paris Saint-Germain, their last chance of silverware in a disappointing campaign.
And Szoboszlai warned: “We have to pull ourselves together, because if we play like this, we can very quickly forget about the Champions League participation and next year’s Champions League participation as well.
“So we have to look into ourselves and start thinking about how we can turn this catastrophic season into a season we can remember.”
Up to 70% off Liverpool kits and merch
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Various Prices
Kitbag
Kitbag has slashed the price of Liverpool kits and merch with up to 70% off select items.