Slot: 'Liverpool need to pull together after their thrashing by Manchester City'.
Slot's team missed a series of clear chances at the beginning of the match at the Etihad Stadium, before completely crumbling when Erling Haaland scored the opening goal for Man City at the end of the first half.
Haaland scored just before half-time and completed his hat-trick after the break thanks to a goal from Antoine Semenyo.
Liverpool's poor performance, including Mohamed Salah's missed penalty when the score was 4-0, increased the pressure on Slot after a disappointing season.
'It's disappointing to be eliminated, not only because of how it happened, but also because of the result and the score. This is another major disappointment for us," said Slot, whose team has won only two of their last seven matches.
‘The first 35 minutes were the kind of football I want to see, but for the next 20 minutes we have to defend much better than we did today.’
'It's not good to be 2-0 down at half-time, it's not good for our mood, especially after a season like this. It's hard to accept that."
In a candid admission of Liverpool's issues, Slot expressed concern about avoiding a heavier defeat ahead of the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
'The only good thing is that we didn't concede more goals. If we want to play well on Wednesday, then losing 4-0 is not ideal, but a heavier defeat would be a bigger problem for us when we get there," he said.
'I tried to get the team back in the game, to make it 4-1 or 4-2, but I had to make sure the score stayed at 4-2; that was the most important thing for me.'
Liverpool are currently struggling in fifth place in the Premier League, with their hopes of retaining their title almost shattered and their chances of securing a Champions League spot for next season looking uncertain.
"Many obstacles"
Slot has been mocked by Man City fans, who chanted "you'll be sacked in the morning", and although that may be a bit premature, the Dutch coach is under increasing scrutiny.
Liverpool fans are increasingly frustrated with their team's poor performances. The Champions League is Liverpool's last chance to win a trophy this season, but they face a tough challenge against the current champions PSG.
Calling on the whole team to withstand the pressure against PSG, who knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League last season, Slot said: "We're really looking forward to facing a very strong team again."
'We have faced many difficulties and disappointments, but that's part of being a footballer and a human being. You have to stand firm when things are not going well, and that is the most important thing right now."
"The players have shown great qualities in the past and now have a great opportunity to prove that against PSG."
As Man City's head coach, Pep Guardiola, is banned from the dugout, his assistant, Pep Lijnders, has taken on the post-match media duties.
"Pep is really happy, which is the most important thing. It's not easy to please him," Lijnders said.
'In the first 25 minutes, we played too loosely. After that, we started to control the game and create more chances. Erling's header was fantastic. I love it when a striker jumps high and goes for the ball. It was a great goal."
Man City's eighth consecutive FA Cup semi-final appearance keeps them in the running for their first title since 2023. They have already won once at Wembley this season, beating Arsenal 2-0 in the League Cup final just before the international break.
"Pep is really happy because getting to Wembley eight times is a special achievement," said Lijnders. 'This is a crucial stage of the season, when everything must be completed. The players can feel it."
