Slot points out 'reoccurring themes' after Liverpool's FA Cup exit

Arne Slot believes "there are many reoccurring themes" in Liverpool's season after they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester City on Saturday.

The Reds were thrashed 4-0 in the quarter-finals, with Erling Haaland scoring a hat-trick and Antoine Semenyo also getting on the scoresheet, while Mohamed Salah missed a penalty at the Etihad Stadium.

Haaland is the first player to score five goals against Liverpool in all competitions in a single season since Matt Le Tissier in 1993-94.

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

Despite a promising start to their last-eight tie, which was goalless until the 39th minute, Slot felt Liverpool's defensive struggles proved costly once again.

"I liked a lot I saw today [in the opening 35 minutes]," Slot told BBC Sport.

"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 that 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."

Before Liverpool turn their attention back to the top-four race in the Premier League, they face Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday.

Dominik Szoboszlai sees their trip to the Parc des Princes as the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways.

"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 be," said the midfielder.

"It's a hard time but we have to stick together. On Wednesday there is another chance, but we have to get in our heads this is not how we would like the season to end."