For a significant portion of their clash with Manchester City, Liverpool looked like the team in control. The pressing was sharp, the chances were being created—it was the high-octane, front-foot football the Anfield faithful expect. Yet, once again, that promising start evaporated in a flash, undone by a costly defensive lapse that completely shifted the game's momentum.

This isn't an isolated incident; it's become a painfully familiar script this season. Liverpool dominate early phases, spurn key opportunities, and are then punished by a single moment of switched-off defending. The psychological blow is often as damaging as the goal itself, sapping the team's aggressive intent and allowing opponents to grow into the game.

While manager Arne Slot is correct in pointing to decisive moments, the collective response—or lack thereof—after conceding falls on the squad. At the Etihad, the fight seemed to drain away, a concerning trend for a team with such storied resilience. The individual drop-off in form from key figures has been stark, leaving a squad that began the season as a favourite for major honours now facing a critical final stretch where their mentality will be tested more than their talent.