PSV Humiliate Liverpool at Anfield as Reds’ Crisis Deepens
Liverpool’s nightmare run continued as they slumped to a dismal Champions League defeat at home to PSV.
The Reds, looking disjointed and drained of confidence, are now enduring their worst spell since 1953. They have lost nine of their last 12 games in all competitions, and this latest collapse at Anfield was another reminder of how far the team has fallen.
Arne Slot’s domestic struggles have been well documented, coming into the match on the back of consecutive three-goal defeats in the Premier League. Yet the Champions League had offered him rare relief, with three wins in four – including an impressive triumph over Real Madrid – lifting Liverpool to a promising position in the league phase.
But this defeat not only punctured that momentum, it also thrust Slot under even greater scrutiny, raising urgent questions about the direction of his project and his ability to steady the ship.
PSV struck early, taking the lead inside six minutes. Virgil van Dijk, rather than playing to the whistle, raised his arm in appeal, only to be penalised for handball. Ivan Perisic made no mistake from the spot.
Liverpool responded quickly: Dominic Szoboszlai levelled 10 minutes later, reacting sharply when Cody Gakpo’s shot was pushed into his path by Matej Kovár. For a brief period, the home side looked alive again. Gakpo went close with a dangerous effort, and van Dijk rattled the crossbar with a powerful header.
But PSV regained control. Mauro Junior sliced through Liverpool’s defence with a brilliant pass, and Milos Kerkez failed to stop Guus Til from restoring the visitors’ lead.
The Dutch leaders then tightened their grip. Substitute Couhaib Driouech reacted quickest to sweep in the rebound from Ricardo Pepi’s attempt, sparking wild celebrations from the travelling fans.
Driouech added another in stoppage time, finishing a quick counterattack with calm precision. The victory was PSV’s first over an English opponent since beating Tottenham in the 2008 Europa League, lifting them to 15th in the standings.
Liverpool dropped to 13th and desperately need a resurgence as the battle for a top-eight finish intensifies.
Liverpool Analysis: What’s Next for a Side in Crisis?
Liverpool’s morale-boosting win over Real Madrid – which followed a league victory against Aston Villa – briefly hinted at a revival and appeared to stop a run of six losses in seven games.
But optimism evaporated quickly. Consecutive league defeats reopened old wounds and even sparked muted discussions about Slot’s long-term future at the club.
This latest humbling defeat will only fuel those concerns.
After Szoboszlai’s equaliser, Liverpool showed flashes of urgency. Gakpo went close with a strong header before setting up Mohamed Salah, who narrowly missed out on converting the chance.
But once PSV scored their second, Liverpool lost their spark. Anfield grew tense, and the players seemed devoid of ideas.
It was another frustrating display from Salah, highlighted by a moment when he found space on the edge of the box but fired well over – a snapshot of his current struggles.
Alexander Isak also failed to make an impact after replacing Hugo Ekitike, who limped off, adding another layer of worry for Slot’s attacking options.
Defensively, Liverpool were fragile. PSV repeatedly exploited gaps, and the hosts simply crumbled.
Kerkez was caught out of position for Til’s goal, while Ibrahima Konaté misjudged the ball in the lead-up to Driouech’s first.
That strike triggered a mass exodus from Anfield, with supporters visibly alarmed by their team’s ongoing decline.
Questions now swirl around almost every aspect of this Liverpool side: team selection, tactics, mentality, leadership, and whether Slot can re-ignite the spirit of a team once regarded as one of Europe’s most feared.
Time is no longer on his side – and he must find solutions quickly.