Former Liverpool star rips into 'embarrassing' performance and calls for 'big decisions'

Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant described the Reds' performance against Man City in the FA Cup as "embarrassing" as Erling Haaland ran riot at the Etihad Stadium

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot on the touchline against Man City.(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Ex-Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant conceded there aren't any signs to suggest the Reds are heading in the right direction under Arne Slot after the latest dismal defeat, this time at Manchester City.

Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as Pep Guardiola's men won 4-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals, putting an end to any realistic hopes of Liverpool collecting some silverware this season. The Reds have PSG next in the Champions League.

Before that game — and a crucial one against Fulham at Anfield — Liverpool will somehow need to regroup. Dominik Szoboszlai admitted, though, that the players' mentality wasn't right this weekend, as they suffered another collapse.

"4-0 down before 60 mins is embarrassing, doesn’t matter who Liverpool are playing," Pennant wrote on social media.

"When is enough enough? At what point does big decisions need to be had? How can you watch that, and go next season, yeah, we are going to be better, when at no point this season have we seen it."

Liverpool has now lost 15 times in all competitions and has been shipping goals while never really looking that convincing in attack. As Arne Slot has put it several times in the last couple of months, it is a "bad cocktail".

Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot looks on during the English FA Cup quarter final football match between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on April 4, 2026. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /

"It’s also very crucial that we qualify for the Champions League of course for next season," Slot said after this defeat.

"There are only three or four days to go, so there are a few things you can do and one of the things we need to do if we play against Paris Saint-Germain or against Man City — teams of this level — you need to defend better than we did in the 20 minutes when we conceded the four goals.

"I think no one will probably remember it but [in] the first 35 minutes there was a lot to like from my team.

"And it would be nice if we then can score a goal once in a while as well from the chances we create. And, again, we faced a team that was outperforming their xG by a mile, and that’s what happens constantly.

"And we every time are under that. But if you want to have a chance of beating Paris Saint-Germain, you have to do both parts better.

"If you generate chances, you have to score. And you cannot be so easily beaten with the four goals; three, because the penalty was between the other goals we conceded."

Liverpool.com says: There is no doubt that the opening 30-35 minutes were very positive, but that doesn't matter when you collapse so spectacularly. Szoboszlai couldn't explain the latest heavy defeat, but it was worrying that the mentality was the issue.

Next up, Liverpool faces PSG. It could easily be set to collect another hammering if the defensive mistakes continue to be as frequent as they are, with the Ligue 1 side more than capable of taking any encouragement that it gets.