For a team that has grown accustomed to being put on the back foot this season, it remains curious there can be few Premier League teams so chronically unable to cope with setbacks as this Liverpool team.

And this dismal FA Cup surrender at Manchester City was the latest example of why when the going gets touch, this Reds vintage too often appear to get going – as far away as possible.

That might seem a little flippant or even harsh had this not been seen all before from Arne Slot’s side this campaign, with this very fixture a glaring case in point.

Back in November, Liverpool more than held their own in the Premier League meeting at the Etihad before conceding first, leaking another avoidable strike on the stroke of half-time and then capitulating completely in the second half.

FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page

The only difference this time is that Erling Haaland,...