Liverpool’s alarming slide continued on Wednesday night as they were dismantled 4–1 by PSV Eindhoven at Anfield, leaving Arne Slot’s team staring at one of the club’s worst runs in modern history.
The defeat—Liverpool’s ninth in their last 12 matches—once again exposed the squad’s defensive fragility, individual errors, and lack of confidence. PSV punished them ruthlessly, scoring three second-half goals to silence the Anfield crowd and strengthen their position in the Champions League league phase.
Early Blow and Brief Response
The night began badly for Liverpool. A VAR-confirmed handball against Virgil van Dijk gifted PSV a penalty, which Ivan Perisic converted coolly in the sixth minute. Van Dijk protested strongly, but replays showed his arm was clearly extended.
Liverpool responded moments later when Dominik Szoboszlai swept home a rebound after Cody Gakpo’s effort was pushed back into danger. The equaliser gave Liverpool temporary momentum, and Van Dijk even struck the crossbar with a header before halftime.
But that brief resurgence was wiped away once the second half began.
Defensive Errors Fuel PSV’s Rout
The collapse stemmed from Liverpool’s own mistakes.
Guus Til restored PSV’s lead in the 56th minute after Milos Kerkez failed to judge a simple ball into the box.
Minutes later, Ibrahima Konate’s miscontrol allowed PSV to break forward, leading to a third goal.
Substitute Couhaib Driouech then struck twice—once after Ricardo Pepi hit the post, and again in stoppage time—to seal a humiliation.
By the final whistle, streams of Liverpool fans were already leaving their seats, unable to watch the late collapse unfold.
Player Ratings Paint a Stark Picture
Liverpool’s defensive unit came under particular scrutiny, with Van Dijk, Konate, and Kerkez all struggling. Mohamed Salah also faced criticism for offering little defensive support, allowing PSV to repeatedly isolate Liverpool’s makeshift full-backs.
PSV’s Driouech, who changed the game after coming on, was named Player of the Match with a rating of 9/10.
‘I Still Feel the Support,’ Says Slot
Speaking after the match, Arne Slot insisted he continues to feel backing from the club hierarchy despite the spiralling run of results.
“I have been feeling safe. I have a lot of support from above,” he said. “It would be nice if I could turn it around and produce a victory, but this noise is part of coaching when you are not doing well.”
However, he admitted he had not yet spoken to the board following the latest defeat.
Where It’s Going Wrong
Liverpool’s troubles appear to run deeper than form:
Van Dijk’s leadership is being undermined by his own poor displays.
Konate’s errors are becoming routine.
New signing Kerkez has not adapted, leaving the left side exposed.
Salah’s reduced output and minimal tracking back is increasing pressure on the defence.
Alexander Isak still lacks sharpness, while Ekitike—who felt a back issue during the match—remains the only forward consistently executing Slot’s pressing demands.
What’s Next for Liverpool?
Liverpool must now not only repair their European campaign but also attempt to stop a domestic freefall, with the club sitting in the bottom half of the Premier League.
Anfield is growing restless, results are worsening, and Slot’s Liverpool project is under its harshest spotlight yet.
