Liverpool

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport senior journalist

Image source, Getty Images

As April swings in and Grand National charges descend on Merseyside for the world's most famous steeplechase, scrutiny of Liverpool's demise from Premier League champions at a canter to comparative also-rans is seemingly intensifying.

Their Champions League meeting with Paris St-Germain on Wednesday appears crucial in stemming a run of form which reads: draw at home with Tottenham, defeat at Brighton, hammering at Manchester City.

Social media is in frenzy. Some of the things being questioned include the coffee bar at the training ground, the cars players drive, watches, Arne Slot's comments, ticket-price changes, Virgil van Dijk's comments, Dominik Szobozslai's body language... the list goes on.

Ultimately, the discourse, theories and hot takes seem to be multiplying. What seems far more scarce is solutions, ways forward, routes to progress, with no obvious sense of who may stop the rot and whether it can be stopped at all.

One step forward may be to run more. Some insist Liverpool's players can't anymore, with a perceived lack of conditioning apparent to those scrutinising the players. Online chat points to more days off for the Reds' players than any time in recent memory.

Data circulated by statisticians Opta on Tuesday appears illuminating. Liverpool - for so long built on Jurgen Klopp's press and intensity - rank 19th for high-intensity pressures applied in the opponent's half in the Premier League this season.

To go further, Slot's side are 20th for high-intensity pressures applied in the middle third of the pitch - 289 fewer than any other side.

Energy conservation seems the name of the game. It is perhaps surprising then that the Reds have seemingly slumped late on in fixtures, leaking 18 goals in the final 20 minutes of league games - that is two more than any other side.

The results are what they are - since matchday six, Liverpool have lost 10 times, winning nine, with as many as 11 sides earning more points than their 34 in that time. It is mid-table form on offer for a fanbase that, one year ago, had just watched the late Diogo Jota win the Merseyside derby to all but end any title doubts.

Saturday will see Liverpool play host to brave horses and jockeys slogging their way over Aintree's turf in pursuit of glory. There will be thrills, winners and dashed dreams. Sweat will be spent.

Slot's side host Fulham a few gallops away shortly after the showpiece race. Questions and disharmony hang in the air.

The sight of sweat being spent on the Anfield turf seems a good place to start if solutions are to be found.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on the comments made by Virgil van Dijk about Liverpool "giving up" against Manchester City. Lower down this page you can watch a video on what the team on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club have had to say.

Here are some of your comments:

Kixy: Virgil just said what every Liverpool fan already knew. We played well first 40 minutes and then just capitulated. The manager's comments beforehand about us needing to not concede first surely played a part in the capitulation.

Ben: I've no problem with what Van Dijk has said. The problem is that he hasn't always been much of a leader on the pitch which begs the question of whether he should still be captain or step aside for someone else.

Paul: Don't want to hear it really, do your talking on the pitch.

Fraser: It is definitely alarming for any captain to say that. For Virgil, it is shocking, he should know better. No matter how bad you're playing or how bad the result is going, you should never give up. Unfortunately, this attitude comes from the top and I do think Slot has allowed standards to slip. We are Liverpool, we should never throw in the towel that easily, even if we don't win. We miss leaders like Henderson or Milner, they would always urge us to fight on and take responsibility. Jurgen Klopp would certainly never tolerate that attitude.

Sean: Van Dijk admitting that the side gave up against Man City sums up his lack of leadership. Can you imagine James Milner or Jordan Henderson in this team? They would not have stood back and watched a Liverpool team "give up".

Michael: I have been a Liverpool fan for 73 years and I was disgusted by the way we capitulated against City. Slot is useless and the sooner he leaves the better for the club.

Neil: In my opinion it suggests that the players have no confidence in the manager.

Heather: VVD was spot on. Once that penalty was scored they gave up. Up to that point they were playing OK. Something needs to change.

Virgil van Dijk's comments on Liverpool giving up in defeat at Manchester City were a cause for "alarm bells" according to the team on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

Former Everton defender Phil Jagielka said: "You can't as that person who represents the club, you can't protect your players at that moment in time. Everyone has seen the game. You can't trick people.

"How he has said it may not be the best way but he is letting the fans know that they all know they've underperformed and let them down."

The Observer's Rory Smith said: "I find it strange it's happened so often in such similar ways and they seem unable to work out how to solve it."

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton said: "As soon as you go down the attitude - we gave up route - I think that is alarm bells ringing."

Jagielka replied: "It's the worst thing he could have said, I do think that."

Do you have a problem with what Van Dijk said? Tell us here

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Liverpool are on red alert with Real Madrid now open to selling France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, 23, who is a long-term target for the Reds. (L'Equipe - in French, external)

Arsenal have the edge over Liverpool in the pursuit for RB Leipzig and Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande, 19. (Caught Offside, external)

Meanwhile Liverpool and Manchester United have stepped up their interest in Monaco and France winger Maghnes Akliouche, 24. (Teamtalk, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool's Spirit of Shankly Supporters Union has warned the club's owners of upcoming protests over increases in ticket prices.

The Reds have confirmed ticket-price hikes, external linked to inflation for each of the next three seasons. In sharing this information with fans, the club pointed to operating costs for matches rising 85% since 2016-17 and "continued rises in the cost of football operations in general".

Spirit of Shankly have called on fans not to spend money inside Anfield on matchdays and to withhold renewing season tickets until near the 25 May deadline.

"This is no longer about consultation," a statement from the group said., external "That opportunity has been and gone. This is about action.

"Supporter groups are already organising a coordinated response. We are doing so at speed because time is against us. But the direction is clear: protests will take place.

"If the club does not value supporter voices, we will make ourselves difficult to ignore.

"The Supporters' Board has formally informed the club that action is coming. Now it is on all of us to back it.

"Protests inside and outside Anfield have been discussed. It is agreed they need to happen.

"This will not be limited to one game. Action will take place across home and away fixtures, starting with Fulham at Anfield and escalating from there.

"Details to follow. But the key point is simple: this will grow and escalate.

"This isn't just about price. It's about direction.

"It's about what kind of football club Liverpool chooses to be. One rooted in its people, or one that sees them as a revenue stream to be pushed year after year.

"Future supporters will live with the consequences of what happens now."

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's FA Cup game between Manchester City and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Manchester City fans

Gene: Overall fine performance against a team that looks like a shell of its former self, especially defensively. Haaland needed a game like this to help get back in a groove. Statistically, this was an even match, but the individual battles were weighted towards City, which was evident during the game.

Terry: Super after the first 20 minutes. Happy for Haaland, shut the moaners up about how good he is for City.

Heather: Never doubt this team. They have had their ups and downs this season. Yet when it comes to this time in the football calendar, they know how to get the job done. Great result.

Stephen: One word sums it up - superb!

Liverpool fans

Omedo: For how long should we endure the pain? With all due respect, Slot's time to leave Liverpool is long overdue. The owners should have mercy and save ardent Liverpool supporters from further agony.

Zahid: Poor, not good enough. At this point, what are we doing? Van Dijk barely knows how to defend and we still don't invest in a January signing for this season. Don't see us going anywhere this season.

Seth: Awful performance. Missed our chances and gifted them several soft goals. Salah is a Liverpool legend but his best days are behind him, it really was a day to forget for him. Defensively, we are all over the place. VVD and Konate far below the levels they have set in past seasons. We are very vulnerable. Sadly, this season will be a huge disappointment. We won't win the Champions League, nor will we finish in the top five. Slot's time is rapidly running out, just like his ideas. He needs to go. Slot out.

Russell: Absolutely shocking. The PSG game could be embarrassing. Slot needs to go.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Liverpool goalkeeper David James analysed boss Arne Slot's position and the Reds' performance since he took over in 2024 on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast:

"You don't buy bad players. What happens is what you do with them. You can buy a prize-winning rose bush but if you put it in the wrong place it's not going to flourish.

"When Arne Slot was brought in, there was no way that they said if you don't win the Premier League in your first two seasons, we're sacking you. They would have given him a timeframe and within that two or three years, there would have been an expectation of success.

"I know for the first season he wasn't expected to win anything so there's a part of me, with regards to blaming Arne, is he achieving what he was asked to achieve in his first two seasons? I'd argue yes, irrespective of what they do this season.

"But then the question has to be, what we've seen this season, is this an indication of what's going to happen next season, or is it going to be worse?

"And then on recruitment, is it bad recruitment if your senior players are letting you down? Because you're recruiting players normally to enhance the senior players, not have it the opposite way round. So the question is what's happening with the players already there? It can be retrieved this season with a Champions League victory, of course.

"If you're looking at a two-year to three-year period of time, is Slot on course for the outcome everyone desired? Yes he is. But the question is how far off is he this season?

"I think the data would argue that when Liverpool go behind, they struggle, especially in the first half. They've struggled to turn games around when conceding first. That's been a trend this season. As a manager, coach, psychologist, you have to look at why the team is doing this. Is it the group of players? Is it everything from the beginning of the season, has that sown the seeds for this?

"The season hasn't ended yet. They have these Champions League games to rectify it."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Liverpool may look to trade Mo Salah for Al Hilal's Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo, 22. (Give Me Sport), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Sam Drury
BBC Sport journalist

How did it come to this?

A year ago today, Liverpool fans were still basking in the glow of a Merseyside derby win that took them to the brink of the Premier League title.

Nobody that day would have believed that less than 12 months on, a fanbase so united behind its team and its manager would be, at best, apathetic as to whether Arne Slot remains in the job.

Saturday's harrowing 4-0 defeat at Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals was just the latest in an ever-growing list of dismal days for Liverpool and their supporters in a season most cannot wait to see the back of.

It was the 15th loss in all competitions for the Reds this term, their most in a single season since losing 18 times under Brendan Rodgers in 2014-15.

"You're getting sacked in the morning," was the chant directed at Slot by the gleeful City supporters as their side scored four goals in 20 minutes either side of half-time.

While many of those who had stuck it out in the away end to hear it may have agreed with the sentiment, there remains no indication that the club are planning to get rid of Slot, either now or at the end of the season.

Slot may retain the support of his superiors at Liverpool for now but their capitulation at the Etihad means the pressure has been ramped up further before a huge Champions League quarter-final first leg at Paris St-Germain on Wednesday.

The manner of the loss at City does little to inspire confidence they can avoid a similar outcome against the European champions, who so ruthlessly tore Chelsea apart in the last round.

Jurgen Klopp spoke about turning fans from "doubters to believers" when he first took charge but given the mass exodus from the away end as City quickly turned 2-0 to 4-0 in the second half, there is little belief remaining for Slot's side at present.

Read more on the mounting pressure on Slot

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Arne Slot's side had won only one of their previous four games coming into this FA Cup tie and, after a bright first half hour, they were swept aside by Manchester City in a manner that will lead to more questions about the Dutchman's future.

Many of the 8,000-strong travelling support exited the stadium to head back along the M62 long before the final whistle and now Liverpool only have the Champions League as a possible trophy this season.

Mohamed Salah is one of Liverpool and the Premier League's greatest players, but this was a day to forget for the Egypt forward.

He dwelled too long on a good opportunity after a clearance by Giorgi Mamardashvili to allow Abdukodir Khusanov to get back and block his strike and was then thwarted by James Trafford with a weak shot from an angle.

His dismal day was complete when the new England goalkeeper dived to his left to keep out a spot-kick that was well-struck but at a good height for Trafford.

Virgil van Dijk has been one of Liverpool's best players in a season of very few good performers for the reigning league champions but the Netherlands centre-back has had a handful of poor games - and this was another.

He crudely chopped down Nico O'Reilly for City's opener and was caught out when Antoine Semenyo darted in behind him for his goal.

This has been a thoroughly wretched campaign for the Reds and before they resume their battle to qualify for next season's Champions League, Slot's out-of-form side face a daunting trip to holders Paris St-Germain in the quarter-finals of Europe's elite competition on Wednesday.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot speaking to BBC Sport: "Disappointment about the result, disappointment about going out and very disappointed about the 20 minutes where we conceded four goals.

"The way we defended in that period, you will never be able to win a game of football."

On what he thought when the game was goalless on 38 minutes: "I liked a lot I saw today. We did a lot very well on and off the ball, generated some good chances. We kept them away from any danger. Until that penalty moment there was a lot to like.

"The 20 minutes after, for what you can expect of a Liverpool team were far from good enough defensively.

"There are many reoccurring themes. One is we miss our chances, one is in general we don't concede much but the few chances we concede go in. That is maybe due to how much we put in. We have to improve the box defending and that was also shown today."

On conceding just before half-time: "The 2-0 is a killer but you are still in the game if you can score a goal in the second half but that was our poorest of the game, the first 10 minutes of the second half when we conceded two goals. Those are things we need to improve.

"We were having the 10 worst minutes of the game. There is a worry they can score more, but that's not what happened. We got chances including a penalty but we couldn't convert one."

On his players needing to show character against PSG: "That's what Liverpool players have to do, we have to react to this defeat and this disappointing season. There is a chance for us on Wednesday.

"We have shown today for only 35 minutes that we can compete. We can take positives from those 35 minutes but if we defend like the 20 minutes afterwards we will gave a big problem. That is what we have to address."

Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai speaking to TNT Sports: "I don't know. When you do something and there is no result for it it makes no sense. We had chances and missed them, we conceded an easy penalty. We lose 4-0. We cannot concede as much as we concede. Nothing else to say.

"It's hard to win here. After 1-0 down you still believe. At 2-0 down, it's our own fault to come in at half-time conceding in the last minute another goal. At 2-0 the chances are lower and lower.

"You come out and want to show we are able to come back and you concede a third one, from then on, there is no more chance to come back."

On what was missing: "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."

On why the mentality wasn't there: "That's a good question. I don't know. 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."

On trying to bounce back in the Champions League in the last bid for a trophy this season: "We have to forget as much as we can and as soon as we can and just keep on fighting all the time.

"I always say when we do it and 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."

You can listen to Arne Slot above or on BBC Sounds here.

Did you know?

• Liverpool have now lost 15 matches across all competitions this season, their most defeats in a single season since 2014/15, when the Reds lost 18 matches under Brendan Rodgers.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Manchester City's performance

What did you make of Liverpool's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola makes just one change to their triumphant Carabao Cup final side that beat Arsenal at Wembley last time out.

England centre-back Marc Guehi, who could well have been lining up for the opposition this lunchtime, was cup-tied for that game and comes back in for Nathan Ake.

Neither Ruben Dias nor John Stones are involved, but there is a place on the bench for Mateo Kovacic who has missed most of the season with an ankle injury.

Man City XI: Trafford, Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O'Reilly, Rodri, Silva, Semenyo, Doku, Cherki, Haaland.

Subs: Donnarumma, Ake, Foden, Ait-Nouri, Gonzalez, Kovacic, Marmoush, Savinho, Reijnders

Liverpool boss Arne Slot makes three changes to the side beaten by Brighton before the international break.

Mohamed Salah returns to the starting line-up for the first time since announcing he will be leaving the Reds at the end of the season, with Joe Gomez and Curtis Jones also coming in.

Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister and Jeremie Frimpong make way. British record signing Alexander Isak is not involved as he makes his way back to fitness following a broken leg.

Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Jones, Salah, Ekitike.

Subs: Woodman, Chiesa, Frimpong, Gakpo, Mac Allister, Morrison, Ngumoha, Nyoni, Robertson

There are three FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, including an all-Premier League clash, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Manchester City v Liverpool (12:45)

• Chelsea v Port Vale (17:15)

• Southampton v Arsenal (20:00)

Kick-off times BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers.

Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds

It seems a section of Liverpool fans are not convinced by Arne Slot and the Reds' poor Premier League form before the international break has put him under more pressure.

Liverpool have taken one point from their past three games and their last performance, in an away defeat at Brighton, was really insipid.

I still think it would be extremely harsh if they end up parting ways after the guy won them the title in his first year in the job but this feels like a huge week or two for Slot, and for Liverpool's whole campaign, with the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Paris St-Germain to come in France on Wednesday.

Right now, Liverpool are miles off the team they were last season and beating City probably feels more achievable than getting past PSG.

I'm not convinced they will do it though, and if they end up going out of both competitions in the space of 10 days then the Liverpool fans are going to be even more disgruntled.

City are already out of Europe, and it will be hard, but not impossible, for them to win the Premier League from here, but Pep Guardiola has already landed the Carabao Cup and he always takes the FA Cup seriously anyway.

They are looking to extend their own record by reaching the semi-final for the eighth successive season and, if they get to the final, they will be the first team to make it to four in a row.

City could really do with getting Erling Haaland firing again, while this is Liverpool's first game since Mohamed Salah announced he will be leaving at the end of the season.

There are so many different ways to look at this tie, and who might step up to win it for either team, but City are at home and they have also beaten Liverpool twice already this season in the league. I just have a feeling they will take this one as well.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Read the full predictions and have your say

The Late Challenge Podcast's Mo Stewart spoke on BBC Radio Merseyside about Liverpool's next game in the FA Cup against Manchester City on Saturday.

Stewart said: "The FA Cup is, as we sit here today, the trophy Liverpool are most likely to win when you look at who is in the Champions League and where they are in the Premier League.

"So this is a massive game for Liverpool to be able to go out there and put down a real marker.

"If Liverpool were to win this game, then obviously that can be a real springboard of positivity, which may well be able to hopefully take into the Paris St-Germain game.

"Then maybe and I say maybe, because we haven't seen a lot of it recently, where one good result breeds two and three and four."

Listen to the BBC Radio Merseyside FA Cup special

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Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium (12:45 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Slot confirmed Mohamed Salah is fit and available to start in what would be his first appearance since announcing he will leave the club at the end of the season.

• Goalkeeper Alisson is set to miss the tie against Paris St-Germain in the Champions League and be out until "towards the end of the season", while Jeremie Frimpong "trained with us and seems to be OK".

• Alexander Isak returned to training this week and could play "maybe a few minutes" on Saturday but the game comes "too soon" for him to start: "It will take a bit of time to give him a lot of minutes but we will make sure we do the right thing to build him up. It is a good thing to have him on the training ground, even better to get him on the pitch."

• More on record signing Isak's return: "Rehab did a great job, I see a player much stronger, in a better place but 100 days off to the intensity of the Premier League and Champions League, what is realistic to expect is difficult. I am happy I have a nine available again behind Hugo [Ekitike] or together with him, that's already a positive. I said many times, when he's had a proper pre-season, we can expect more for him but what we have now is already a big step forward."

• On Salah: "Mo has always given everything he's got for this club. I would hope he could give even more but that's not realistic because he's always done that and he will try to do that until the end of the season."

• On facing City after losing twice against them in the league: "I think we have felt this season multiple times how important it is to get a lead, we have struggled with that. It's much easier than being 1 or 2-0 up. Scoring goals is vital, so I am happy Alex is back. We have more fans than normal because it is FA Cup and I wouldn't be surprised if we're louder than them!"

• More on the Reds' inconsistency: "We've shown we have quality players but the amount of games is the biggest issue, so it is interesting to see where we are. We played much better at home and didn't deserve to lose against City. A big referee decision in that one as well - the [Marc] Guehi tackle on Salah that wasn't a red card, didn't go our way."

Follow all of Friday's FA Cup news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Got a question about Liverpool? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter

This next week could be quite a defining period, I think, for Arne Slot because the Liverpool supporters, a number of them are not happy with him.

Therefore, if he was to go out of the FA Cup and then suffer a heavy defeat in the Champions League, that could be quite damaging for him.

We saw what Paris St-Germain are capable of against Chelsea. They knocked out Liverpool last season in this competition when it went to penalties after being 1-0 to the away side in each of the two legs.

Liverpool will certainly need to keep that second leg alive for the return at Anfield. They should have been well beaten in Paris yet won it with Harvey Elliott's goal, Elliott scored the goal and Alisson said it was the best night of his professional career - I think it was something like 14 saves that he made in the Parc des Princes.

That was a brilliant match. I hope this next instalment was good as that one was because that was a real edge-of-the-seat job.

Listen to Ian debate Slot and more on The Commentators' View podcast

Gareth Roberts from the The Late Challenge podcast has been speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside about Mohamed Salah's Liverpool legacy.

There has been debate this week on where Salah ranks in Liverpool's list of all-time great players. Ex-Red Jamie Carragher put the Egyptian sixth on a list topped by Steven Gerrard., external

Watch the video above or listen to the Liverpool special from BBC Radio Merseyside here