Slot Under Fire After 'Embarrassing' City Demolition as Pennant Demands Answers

Liverpool's hopes of silverware have been brutally extinguished at the Etihad, where Manchester City delivered a masterclass in clinical finishing to advance from the FA Cup quarter-final with a devastating 4-0 victory.

Erling Haaland claimed the match ball with a hat-trick, whilst Antoine Semenyo added the fourth as Pep Guardiola's side ran riot. The scoreline was so comprehensive that Arne Slot could only muster the observation that "the only good thing was that we didn't concede more" in his post-match reflection.

The performance has sparked genuine concern at Anfield. Former Red Jermaine Pennant, who earned 81 appearances in a Liverpool shirt, has openly questioned the sustainability of Slot's tenure, asking pointedly: "When is enough, enough?"

Pennant minced no words about what unfolded on the pitch. "Four goals down before the hour mark is embarrassing, irrespective of the opposition," he said. "At what juncture do the big calls need making? How can anyone watch that display and genuinely believe next season will be different when we've seen nothing this campaign to suggest improvement?"

The verdict from the former winger was damning. He believes both manager and players bear responsibility for the capitulation, though he acknowledged Slot's predicament: the manager doesn't defend or cover ground himself. Yet selection decisions and tactical approach remain his domain.

"The players must run harder than their opponents, win their duels, and take accountability," Pennant explained. "The manager must do likewise with his choices and philosophy. When neither happens, you get exactly what we're witnessing with Liverpool's current plight."

Slot's squad now sits fifth in the Premier League, just a point clear of Chelsea, with their sole realistic path to silverware running through Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final showdown with Paris Saint-Germain. Pennant has previously suggested that failure to secure Champions League qualification via the league could spell the end for the Dutch boss at Anfield.

The pressure continues to mount. Whilst Liverpool supporters rarely voice their displeasure after matches, Pennant noted the boos are becoming increasingly audible. As defending Premier League champions, the current campaign represents a "miserable" defence of their title—a reality neither players, manager, nor supporters can reasonably dispute.