Liverpool’s miserable season hit another low on Wednesday when they slumped to a 4-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, their first loss in their last 14 games at Anfield in the group stage of Europe’s elite competition.
Couhaib Driouech bagged a double, while Ivan Perisic — from the penalty spot — and Guus Til also scored to leave PSV 15th in the Champions League table with eight points. Liverpool, who have lost nine of their last 12 games across all competitions, dropped to 13th on nine points.
The Reds got off to the worst possible start when a bizarre handball from captain Virgil van Dijk led to a PSV penalty in the sixth minute, with Perisic sending Giorgi Mamardashvili the wrong way and slotting home.
The goal seemed to spark Liverpool into life and Dominik Szoboszlai tapped in a leveller in the 16th minute after keeper Matej Kovar saved Cody Gakpo’s shot but palmed the ball into the path of the Hungarian.
Til restored PSV’s lead in the 56th minute with a perfectly timed run on to Mauro Junior’s through ball and just ahead of Milos Kerkez to poke it into the net past Mamardashvili.
Substitute Driouech gave PSV a two-goal cushion in the 73rd after Ricardo Pepi launched a shot off the post and Driouech stroked in the rebound. Driouech completed his double in injury time when he easily tapped home a cross from Sergino Dest.
“We went one-nil down but until halftime I thought we played a very good game,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot told TNT Sports. “At halftime, I don’t think anyone expected us to lose this game 4-1.”
Liverpool had been hoping the European match could provide relief from their miserable domestic campaign as they had won three of their first four Champions League games to put themselves in position for a top-eight finish and a berth in the knockout rounds.
They had 26 attempts to nine for the visitors on Wednesday, including a Van Dijk header that hit the underside of the crossbar. Gakpo also missed a sitter from the back post and Hugo Ekitike was denied by a fine save from Kovar.
But the Reds looked nothing like the team who roared to the Premier League title last season and countless disgruntled fans left before the final whistle sounded on another loss, with Liverpool having already lost more games at Anfield this season than they did during the entire 2024-2025 campaign.
“The only way is to go through it. We have to face where we are and fight really hard,” a despondent Slot said. “It would help if we don’t always get the same blow of conceding (an early) goal, because it’s not just the goal, it’s also the feeling.
“After 45 minutes, I think everyone felt we should be ahead. And then instead, five minutes after halftime, we concede again.”
It was the third successive game the Reds had lost by three goals amid their worst record over a 12-game stretch since a similarly dreadful period during the 1953-54 season.
They had expected a tough challenge from PSV, who are six points clear atop the Eredivisie with 11 wins in 13 games.
(Reuters)
