“I felt the lack of fighting spirit” – Slot reacts to criticism of Szoboszlai
It’s rare to hear players openly question the team’s mentality immediately after a defeat, but Dominik Szoboszlai did just that following Liverpool’s heavy loss to Manchester City—and Arne Slot has now given his response.
Speaking in his post-match press conference via Liverpoolfc.com, the Dutch coach addressed the midfielder’s remarks and shared his own view on where things went wrong.
Slot reacts to Szoboszlai’s ‘fighting spirit’ comments
Slot admitted he didn’t entirely agree with Szoboszlai’s assessment of the whole match, though he did recognise a specific period where standards slipped.
He explained that he didn’t feel a lack of fight throughout the game, only noticing a change after conceding the opening goal. He suggested that for much of the first half, Liverpool were competitive and created chances, which Szoboszlai himself acknowledged after the match.
However, Slot pointed out how quickly things fell apart once City scored, especially during transition moments. He highlighted situations where Liverpool conceded from their own throw-ins, stressing the need for sharper defending in those phases.
A decisive spell after half-time
While rejecting the idea that the issue lasted all game, Slot agreed there was a crucial period where the team fell short. He singled out the first 10 to 15 minutes after half-time as lacking the necessary fighting spirit and intensity in duels.
That spell ultimately proved decisive, turning a tough situation into a full collapse. It echoed Szoboszlai’s own admission that both the mentality and fighting spirit were not at the required level.
There’s a growing sense within the squad that improvements are needed, with Virgil van Dijk also taking responsibility and describing the result as a very difficult one to accept.
With a major clash against Paris Saint-Germain coming up, Slot’s message is clear: Liverpool must quickly raise their mentality, intensity, and willingness to compete if they want to keep their season on track.
