Arne Slot’s tenure at Liverpool reached a new nadir on Wednesday night as PSV Eindhoven inflicted a humiliating 4-1 defeat on the Reds, leaving the Anfield club to reflect on their worst run of form since 1953.
A season that is rapidly unravelling saw Liverpool succumb to their ninth defeat in 12 matches across all competitions. While the Champions League had previously offered sanctuary from their domestic struggles—highlighted by a recent victory over Real Madrid—this performance exposed the deep-seated fragilities currently plaguing the six-time European champions.
Substitute Couhaib Driouech scored twice late on to turn a difficult night into a rout, sending thousands of home supporters to the exits long before the final whistle, which was met with a chorus of boos from those who remained.
A calamitous start and false dawn
The tension inside Anfield was palpable from the outset, and it took just six minutes for the hosts to self-destruct. Captain Virgil van Dijk, in an inexplicable lapse of judgment, raised his arm to claim a foul but was penalised for handball. Veteran winger Ivan Perisic stepped up to calmly convert the resulting penalty.
Liverpool briefly rallied, restoring parity ten minutes later. After PSV goalkeeper Matej Kovár parried a stinging effort from Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai was on hand to tap home the rebound, sparking hopes of a revival.
For a brief period, the hosts looked capable of turning the tide. Gakpo threatened with a powerful header, and Van Dijk struck the crossbar, but the defensive vulnerabilities that have defined Slot’s recent tenure soon resurfaced.
PSV expose defensive frailties
The Dutch league leaders retook the lead against the run of play. Mauro Junior’s defense-splitting pass caught Liverpool left-back Milos Kerkez out of position, allowing Guus Til to slot past the goalkeeper.
As Liverpool chased the game, their structure disintegrated. The visitors extended their lead when substitute Ricardo Pepi’s shot was saved, only for Driouech to react quickest and poke in the rebound, with defender Ibrahima Konate failing to clear.
Driouech compounded the misery in stoppage time, finishing a swift counter-attack with a low drive into the bottom corner. The goal secured PSV’s first victory over English opposition since 2008 and moved them up to 15th in the league phase standings.
Injury woes and misfiring forwards
To add injury to insult, Liverpool lost forward Hugo Ekitike to injury after an hour. His replacement, Alexander Isak, struggled to make an impact, continuing a disappointing start to his life on Merseyside.
Star forward Mohamed Salah also endured a frustrating evening, epitomised by a moment in the second half when, finding himself in prime shooting range, he uncharacteristically blazed his effort over the bar.
Analysis: Slot on the brink?
The defeat leaves Liverpool languishing in 13th place in the Champions League table, placing their automatic qualification for the last 16 in jeopardy. However, the wider concern is the trajectory of the team under Slot.
Having invested heavily in the squad, the lack of cohesion, the fragility at the back, and the wavering confidence of key players have led to increased scrutiny on the manager’s future. With a crucial Premier League fixture against West Ham United looming, the pressure on the Dutchman is now intense.
Match Stats
|
Metric |
Liverpool |
PSV Eindhoven |
|
Score |
1 |
4 |
|
Scorers |
Szoboszlai (16′) |
Perisic (pen 6′), Til, Driouech (x2) |
|
Key Stat |
9 losses in last 12 games |
First win vs English side since 2008 |
|
Table Position |
13th |
15th |
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