Pep Lijnders dealt Arne Slot one of his most difficult and humbling moments of the season, as Liverpool endured a crushing defeat against Manchester City in the FA Cup.

With Pep Guardiola absent from the touchline due to a suspension, it was his assistant, Lijnders, who stepped into the spotlight—and he certainly made his presence felt.

The Dutch coach was visibly animated throughout the match, celebrating passionately as City dismantled Liverpool in a dominant performance that ended in a resounding 4-0 victory. The result secured City’s place in the semi-finals and left Liverpool supporters stunned.

There was a particular sting in seeing Lijnders, once a trusted lieutenant under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, now reveling in the downfall of his former club.

His enthusiastic celebrations on the touchline did not go unnoticed, especially as reported by journalist Lewis Steele, who observed the City assistant “giving it large” toward the Liverpool bench. The moment became even more painful for Liverpool fans when Antoine Semenyo’s second-half strike made it 3-0, effectively putting the game beyond doubt.

From Liverpool’s perspective, the performance was nothing short of alarming. After conceding an early penalty in the first half, the team showed little sign of resilience or fight. Instead of mounting a comeback or even stabilizing the game, they appeared disjointed and lacking in intensity.

The fact that it was Guardiola’s deputy—rather than the manager himself—who orchestrated such a comprehensive defeat only added to the embarrassment for Slot and his side.

Scenes inside the stadium reflected the growing frustration among Liverpool supporters, with many fans reportedly leaving before the hour mark. Watching a former assistant coach celebrate so exuberantly while their team crumbled only deepened the sense of disappointment.

This result raises serious questions about Liverpool’s direction under Slot. Unlike previous difficult periods under Klopp—such as the injury-hit 2020/21 campaign—this slump cannot simply be attributed to bad luck or temporary setbacks. Instead, it appears to point toward deeper issues within the squad, particularly concerning mentality, cohesion, and commitment to the high standards that once defined the team.

For many observers, this is not a situation that can be resolved with a few tactical adjustments or new signings in the transfer window. The scale of the collapse suggests something more fundamental is wrong. Liverpool no longer resemble the relentless, high-intensity side that once dominated English football, and that transformation is deeply concerning.

As the season progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to justify blind optimism about a turnaround under Slot. If performances like this continue, calls for significant changes—starting with the managerial position—will only grow louder.