Things are falling apart on Merseyside. After yesterday's thrashing at the Etihad Stadium (3-0), Liverpool are unrecognizable. Completely outclassed by Manchester City, the Reds delivered a worryingly passive performance, a far cry from the intensity that was their trademark. Arne Slot, powerless on the bench, readily acknowledged the opponent's superiority: "They were better than us. We struggled to play the ball out from the back and found it difficult to retain possession. We suffered against Doku in the center and O'Reilly on the wings." The Dutch manager could only survey the damage: a team unable to play out from the back cleanly, overwhelmed by the opposition's pressing, and whose individual talents collectively crumbled. In a one-sided match, the defending champions appeared tired, disorganized, and above all, devoid of ideas. Even the usual Anfield energy seems to have died out on the Etihad pitch.
The numbers speak for themselves. This is already their fifth defeat in eleven Premier League matches , more than in the entirety of last season. The situation is clear, and Slot doesn't mince words: "I feel there are too many, and the last thing I should be thinking about now is the title race. We should be focusing on getting results, game by game, before even considering that." Liverpool are slipping dangerously down the table, now eighth, eight points behind leaders Arsenal. The disappointment is all the more brutal given that the Reds had secured two convincing victories against Aston Villa and Real Madrid, raising hopes of a revival. But this Manchester City demolition brutally brought Slot's men back to reality: that of a fallen champion, mentally weakened and unable to meet the challenge posed by a City side that was clinical in every aspect of the game.
The Reds can't do it anymore
Even the few bright spots in the match only led to frustration. Virgil van Dijk's goal, disallowed for an offside by Andy Robertson, was a symbolic turning point for a team adrift. Slot was upset, but didn't dwell on it: "When you score, you look at the linesman. I didn't see the play clearly. We started celebrating, then I saw that it took fourteen seconds for the flag to be raised. For me, a bad decision was made on the pitch, and it was confirmed by VAR. That doesn't mean it would have changed the result, because City were much better." While the Dutch manager pointed to a refereeing error, he admitted that even a 1-1 scoreline would likely have made little difference, given the stark difference in quality. "Sometimes, going into halftime at 1-1 can give the second half a different dynamic. We corrected some problems after the break." Then an incredible goal from Doku put us at 3-0, but I still saw a team that wanted to get back into the game.” Insightful words, but they ring hollow after such a display of collective impotence.
This setback is a wake-up call. In an increasingly ruthless Premier League , Liverpool now seems to have fallen behind, both technically and mentally. Guardiola's shadow still looms over a club that, after having long embodied resistance against City, now gives the impression of playing in a different league. While the giant screens celebrated the Catalan manager's 1000th match, the Reds' supporters, relegated to the role of extras, tried to forget their powerlessness by singing into the void. "The reality is that we're currently eighth... The title race should be our last concern ," summarized Slot, clear-headed but resigned. More than the defeat itself, it's the manner of it that raises questions: a lack of aggression, poor passing, defensive lapses, and key players who were invisible. If nothing changes, Liverpool risks enduring a long and painful season and becoming, more than ever, the laughingstock of England.
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