Liverpool's season plunged to new depths on a humiliating night at Anfield as they were thrashed 4-1 by PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, extending their dismal run to nine defeats in twelve matches.
Anfield Humiliation Complete
The struggling Reds, still reeling from a 3-0 Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest just days earlier, conceded seven goals in their last two home games as defensive errors gifted a vibrant PSV side a comprehensive victory. This marks the first time Liverpool have lost three consecutive matches by three or more goals since their relegation season of 1953-54.
Manager Arne Slot, who built his reputation on excellence against Dutch clubs, watched helplessly as PSV manager Peter Bosz became the Dutch master of Anfield. The result leaves Liverpool in a precarious 13th position in the Champions League league phase, with their hopes of progression hanging by a thread.
Slot's Future in the Balance
In the aftermath of the crushing defeat, Slot faced immediate questions about his future as Liverpool boss. The Dutchman admitted the team's catastrophic form, their worst run for over 70 years, has come as a profound shock.
"It is a shock for everyone, for the players, for me, this is very, very unexpected," Slot confessed in his post-match interview. When pressed on his job security, he stated, "I am feeling safe, I am okay though," but acknowledged that "it is normal that questions are asked" when results are so poor.
Slot pointed to a controversial moment involving Virgil van Dijk that set the tone for the evening's collapse. "I think he [Van Dijk] got a little push," Slot argued. "That push unbalanced him, that's why he raised his arm and made the handball." The resulting penalty opened the floodgates for PSV's dominant performance.
Dressing Room Despair
The mood within the Liverpool camp was one of utter despondency. Midfielder Curtis Jones delivered a stark assessment that captured the team's crisis of confidence, admitting he was beyond anger and simply lost for answers.
"I don't have the answers. Honestly, I don't," Jones declared. "I'm saying that to everybody. It's just unacceptable. I don't even have to wait to think about it. I'm past being angry inside. I'm at the point now where I just don't have the words."
Despite the scoreline, Slot attempted to find some positives, praising his team's reaction after conceding early and their performance until halftime. "After we conceded the first one, we saw the reaction I want to see," he said. "Until half-time, we played a very good game... I don't think anyone would have expected us to lose this game 4-1."
Looking ahead to a difficult recovery, Slot emphasised that "the only way to go is to go through it now. And what I mean by that is we just have to face what we are in and fight really hard." With crucial Champions League fixtures against Inter Milan, Marseille, and Qarabag awaiting, the pressure is mounting exponentially at Anfield.
