A nightmarish Champions League evening at Anfield saw the Reds endure a crushing 4-1 loss against PSV Eindhoven, marking their worst run of results in nearly 75 years.
Disastrous Start Despite Brief Recovery
The match began in nightmare fashion for the home side, falling behind within just five minutes. A corner kick situation saw Van Dijk penalized for handball inside the box, with Perišić coolly converting the resulting penalty past goalkeeper Mamardashvili to silence the Anfield crowd.
However, Liverpool responded positively ten minutes later. Szoboszlai, who has been the standout performer this season, capitalized on Kovář’s parried save from Gakpo’s powerful shot to slot home into an empty net and restore parity.
Following the equalizer, the Reds dominated proceedings and created several promising opportunities. Van Dijk came agonizingly close to redemption with a header that crashed against the crossbar, while Ekitiké tested Kovář’s reflexes with a stinging drive. Despite their territorial advantage and 66% possession, the hosts couldn’t find a crucial second goal before halftime.
Second-Half Collapse Exposes Deep-Rooted Problems
The real disaster unfolded after the interval. On the hour mark, Til—formerly coached by Slot in the Netherlands—restored PSV’s lead with a clinical finish following Salah-Eddine’s precise cross. Liverpool’s defensive vulnerabilities were brutally exposed as the Dutch champions carved through with minimal resistance.
Things deteriorated further in the 73rd minute when Konaté’s catastrophic error gifted PSV their third. Substitute Driouech pounced on the rebound after Pepi’s attempt ricocheted off the woodwork, leaving the home fans in despair.
Despite desperate attempts to salvage something from the match, including penalty appeals and efforts from Chiesa and substitute Isak, Liverpool’s fate was sealed. Driouech added insult to injury with a fourth goal in stoppage time, triggering boos from the frustrated home supporters.
Statistical Dominance Proves Meaningless
The numbers tell a story of dominance without end product. Liverpool controlled 63% possession and registered 27 shots compared to PSV’s nine. They created an expected goals (xG) value of 2.66 against PSV’s 2.21 and completed passes at 90% accuracy.
However, these statistics proved hollow as defensive frailties and clinical finishing from the visitors exposed the gulf in performance levels. PSV converted five of their limited chances, demonstrating ruthless efficiency that Liverpool sorely lacked.
Individual Performances: Szoboszlai Shines Amid Chaos
Standout Performer: Dominik Szoboszlai (8.8/10) continued his excellent form, scoring the equalizer and providing tireless energy throughout. He remains the lone bright spot in an otherwise dismal campaign.
Defensive Concerns: Van Dijk (6.7/10) endured another difficult evening, conceding the penalty and receiving a booking for a reckless challenge. Konaté (5.5/10) produced a horrendous error for PSV’s third goal, while Jones (5.7/10) looked uncomfortable in an unfamiliar right-back role.
Attacking Frustration: Despite flashes of promise, Gakpo (7.4/10) faded after the break and squandered a golden opportunity. Salah (6.8/10) produced an uncharacteristically poor display, repeatedly losing possession. Ekitiké (6.8/10) showed promise before being forced off injured.
Historical Low Point Raises Serious Questions
This defeat represents Liverpool’s ninth loss in 12 matches across all competitions—their worst streak since the early 1950s. The Reds have now conceded the opening goal in nine of their last 12 fixtures, highlighting persistent defensive issues.
Coming on the heels of a humiliating loss to Nottingham Forest at the weekend, this result intensifies the pressure on manager Slot, who faces increasingly difficult questions about tactics, team selection, and his ability to reverse this alarming decline.
The atmosphere at Anfield reflected the growing frustration, with supporters voicing their discontent at the final whistle. With confidence at rock bottom and the fixture list offering no respite, Liverpool face a defining period that will determine whether this season can be salvaged or whether wholesale changes are inevitable.
Match Summary:
- Liverpool 1-4 PSV Eindhoven
- Goals: Szoboszlai (15′) | Perišić pen (5′), Til (60′), Driouech (73′, 90+2′)
- Venue: Anfield
- Competition: UEFA Champions League
The pressure on Slot has now reached critical levels, with fans and pundits alike demanding immediate improvements before this crisis spirals further out of control.
