Liverpool endured another frustrating afternoon under Arne Slot, suffering a crushing 3–0 defeat to Manchester City in what turned out to be a landmark occasion for Pep Guardiola — his 1000th game as a manager.
The match, which was billed as a test of Liverpool’s progress under their new boss, instead exposed the same vulnerabilities that have plagued them in recent weeks. Frustration grew among supporters as the Reds once again faltered under pressure, and many were left seething at both VAR decisions and defensive lapses.
City’s relentless striker, Erling Haaland, broke the deadlock in the 29th minute after initially being denied from the penalty spot by Liverpool’s stand-in goalkeeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili. Filling in for the injured Alisson, the Georgian international produced a brilliant early save to keep his side in contention — but Haaland’s persistence ultimately prevailed when he found the net moments later.
Liverpool briefly thought they had levelled the score through Virgil van Dijk, whose powerful header rippled the net and sent the away fans into celebration. However, their joy was short-lived. VAR intervened to review the buildup, ruling Andy Robertson offside. After a long delay, the goal was overturned, deflating Liverpool’s momentum entirely.
The Premier League later confirmed the decision in a statement:
“The referee’s call of offside and no goal to Liverpool was checked and confirmed by VAR – with Robertson in an offside position and deemed to be making an obvious action directly in front of the goalkeeper.”
From that moment, Liverpool seemed to lose belief. City took control of the game, adding a second goal before halftime through Nico Gonzalez, who finished off a slick passing move that carved open the Reds’ defence.
In the second half, Jeremy Doku sealed the victory with a spectacular strike that left Mamardashvili with no chance — a goal that not only underlined City’s dominance but also intensified the anger among Liverpool fans.
Much of that anger was directed at Ibrahima Konaté, who was widely criticised on social media for a lacklustre defensive display. Some supporters accused him of losing focus amid ongoing rumours linking him with a move to Real Madrid.
“Sell Konaté in January, his mind’s already in Madrid,” one frustrated fan wrote online.
Another added, “He can’t pass, makes awful decisions, and gets bullied too easily.”
A third quipped, “Can someone start a fundraiser for Konaté’s ticket to Madrid? Gomez can manage till summer.”
Others went as far as labelling the defender a “liability,” suggesting that if Real Madrid were serious about signing him, Liverpool should cash in immediately.
For Arne Slot, it was a humbling afternoon that highlighted just how far his side still has to go to compete with England’s elite. Between the controversial VAR call, defensive fragility, and mounting fan discontent, Liverpool’s journey under their new manager looks increasingly turbulent.
The defeat not only deepens the Reds’ woes but also raises fresh questions about whether Slot can restore the consistency and steel that once made Liverpool title contenders.
