On 4/4 at Etihad Stadium, Liverpool started well but then lost control, conceding four goals from an Erling Haaland hat-trick and one from Antoine Semenyo. After the match, captain Van Dijk suggested Liverpool lost their spirit when trailing 0-3 from the 50th minute. "A comeback here is very difficult, but we should not give up, and perhaps that happened at some point", the Dutch defender admitted.

This issue was discussed at a press conference on 7/4, prior to Liverpool's Champions League quarterfinal first leg against PSG. Midfielder Florian Wirtz stated: "I don't know if Van Dijk said that, but I don't entirely agree. We still tried to create opportunities to turn the game around."

According to the German midfielder, psychological factors affected him and his teammates when falling far behind, but he emphasized that the heavy defeat did not accurately reflect the team's capability. "When the match nears its end and you are 0-3 down, mentally, it is very difficult. But we still tried our best, even when the score was 0-3 or 0-4", he affirmed. "However, losing 0-4 is not our standard. The team wants to progress and must do better next season."

Manager Arne Slot (left) and Virgil van Dijk after Liverpool's 0-4 loss to Man City in the FA Cup quarterfinals at Etihad Stadium, Manchester, United Kingdom on 4/4/2026. *Sky Sports*

Manager Arne Slot also disagreed with Van Dijk's view. The Dutch coach believed that conceding goals at critical moments – the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half – caused Liverpool to lose control of the game. He also suggested that Man City reduced their tempo after taking a four-goal lead, which prevented Liverpool from creating breakthroughs despite having more possession.

"Immediately after halftime, we conceded the third goal. For about 5 minutes afterward, the team played too openly and struggled", Slot analyzed. "But I did not see the players give up. Nevertheless, captain Van Dijk's strong reaction after the match is a positive sign."

Before the away match at Parc des Princes, Slot also warned that the team could suffer another heavy defeat if they repeat their performance against Man City. PSG is in strong form, having scored 15 goals in their last 4 matches. "If we have 20 minutes like we did against Man City, we could concede many goals again. The players here know how to punish mistakes", the 47-year-old coach stated. "We must maintain our level for the entire 90 minutes, otherwise it will be a very difficult match."

Liverpool previously defeated PSG one-nil at Parc des Princes in the Champions League round of 16 first leg, but Slot admitted it was a somewhat fortunate victory. "Football always has moments like that", he said.

The loss to Man City has almost ended Liverpool's chances of winning a domestic title. They were eliminated early from the League Cup, recently exited the FA Cup, and are currently fifth in the Premier League, 21 points behind league leaders Arsenal.

Nevertheless, Wirtz believes the team still has grounds for confidence in the Champions League, emphasizing that cohesion is the key factor against PSG. "We need 90 minutes with maximum energy and commitment, otherwise there will be no chance. Even if we concede, the team must maintain unity and belief", the 22-year-old midfielder stressed.

Hong Duy (via Sky Sports)