Liverpool’s difficult season took another damaging turn as they suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals, with Mohamed Salah’s missed penalty compounding an already disappointing performance.
The Egyptian forward had a chance to reduce the deficit and revive his side’s hopes midway through the second half, but his effort from the spot was saved by goalkeeper James Trafford in the 64th minute. At the time, Liverpool were already trailing and searching for a route back into the contest.
Manchester City dominated proceedings, with Erling Haaland delivering a clinical display. The Norwegian striker scored a hat-trick, finding the net in the 39th, 45th and 57th minutes, while Antoine Simeone added a fourth goal shortly after the break to seal a comprehensive victory.
Slot Deflects Focus Away from Salah
After the match, Liverpool manager Arne Slot declined to single out Salah for criticism, instead pointing to wider issues affecting the team’s performances this season.
“I will not focus on one player. Today’s match is a reflection of what has been happening to us throughout the season. We are not only missing chances, but we are also missing penalties. This is the second penalty that Salah has missed, and Szoboszlai missed one. Salah also had a scoring opportunity in the first half and failed to score.”
Slot’s comments underline a broader concern within the squad, as missed opportunities have become a recurring theme throughout the campaign.
Rare Penalty Struggles for Salah
Salah’s miss marked a notable dip in reliability from the penalty spot. It is the first time since joining Liverpool in 2017 that he has failed to convert two consecutive penalties, following another miss against Galatasaray in the Champions League the previous month.
Despite maintaining a strong overall record, the forward has now missed 10 penalties for the club, having scored 46. This means he has failed to convert nearly one in every five attempts.
Trophy Hopes Hanging by a Thread
The FA Cup exit leaves Liverpool’s season in a precarious position. The club has now fallen out of contention in all domestic competitions, with only the Champions League offering a potential route to silverware.
They are set to face Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals, travelling to the Parc des Princes in Paris for the first leg before hosting the return fixture at Anfield the following week.
A Difficult Season for Salah
Salah’s individual form has also come under scrutiny. The 33-year-old is enduring the least productive scoring campaign of his Liverpool career, with just 10 goals in 35 appearances across all competitions.
His breakdown shows five goals in the Premier League, three in the Champions League, and two in the FA Cup, figures that fall short of the high standards he has set in previous seasons.
Pressure Mounts Ahead of European Test
With their domestic ambitions effectively over, Liverpool’s focus now turns entirely to Europe. However, unless performances improve quickly, both collectively and individually, their Champions League campaign may also come under threat.
