After losing at Brighton two weeks ago, Liverpool and Slot would have hoped that the international break would have provided the reset required before one final push until the end of the season.

The announcement that Mohamed Salah will leave in the summer, while significant, was not a surprise and had the potential to galvanise fans and players alike to give a club legend a memorable send off.

On top of that, the return of club-record signing Alexander Isak to team training after more than three months out provided another boost.

But 92 minutes in Manchester quickly did for any such optimism, with the number of potential trophies that might garnish Salah's farewell swiftly halved.

Even a consolation goal was beyond them as Salah saw his second-half penalty saved - a moment Slot admitted "probably sums us up today and probably large parts of our season".

"To get embarrassed like they did today is going to stick with them," ex-Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin added on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Difficult as it is, though, Slot must find a way to rally his players before kick-off in Paris on Wednesday evening.

Continue Reading: Arne Slot: Liverpool manager under increasing pressure after FA Cup capitulation