LIVERPOOL 1-4 PSV EINDHOVEN: The Premier League champions are in a world of trouble after a miserable evening at Anfield made it nine defeats in their last 12 matches
Arne Slot
The pressure has ramped up on Arne Slot(Image: PA)
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The problems for Liverpool and Arne Slot worsened as they were beaten 4-1 at home by PSV Eindhoven.
Peter Bosz and the Eredivisie giants fought back to haunt the Dutchman once again, following the tussles at Feyenoord and in the Champions League last season. With pressure mounting on the 47-year-old after their dour 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Liverpool failed to heed their slump.
It was a nightmare start at Anfield as Ivan Perisic handed PSV the lead inside just five minutes, after Virgil van Dijk was penalised for a bizarre handball. Dominik Szoboszlai answered back after a spell of Liverpool pressure midway through the first half.
The Reds looked to take the lead in the second half and had their chances, but defensive lapses proved costly as faults from Milos Kerkez and Ibrahima Konate saw Guus Til and Couhaib Driouech capitalise. In stoppage time, Driouech made it four to rub even more salt into the wounds.
Here are all of the talking points from Anfield:
Defensive frailties clear again
It only took PSV Eindhoven five minutes to break the deadlock in the worst possible start for Liverpool. When the Reds needed a response and a strong start most, they failed to deliver. Captain Virgil van Dijk was penalised for a handball from a corner. The in-swinging delivery was met by the raised arm of the central defender, and the referee didn't hesitate to point to the spot.
The Dutchman can have no complaints; his arm was raised, and in Europe, it's rare that penalties aren't given of that nature. Ivan Perisic's penalty was the ninth time in 12 matches that Liverpool have fallen behind first.
There were more hairy moments with Liverpool, who were spared by the offside flag, when Yarek Gasiorowski was denied after Ismael Saibari's initial effort was saved from a delightful free-kick. Meanwhile, Curtis Jones almost gifted PSV the lead shortly after the restart with a loose backpass for Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Ibrahima Konate's struggles continued after a mistake during Liverpool's defeat to PSV.
Ibrahima Konate's struggles continued after a mistake during Liverpool's defeat to PSV.
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But Liverpool were dealt a suckerpunch when Mauro Junior was allowed to burst through the midfield, perfectly finding Guus Til to score. Milos Kerkez was guilty of being too soft to let him get the wrong side. Konate was then at fault for the third after letting a pass through his foot. Liverpool couldn't stop the danger, and Couhaib Driouech was on hand to score on the rebound.
If Slot wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole after the third, he certainly was wishing for that when Driouech got his second to make it 4-1 in added time.
Who was man-of-the-match between Liverpool and PSV? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Salah struggles continue
It was another forgettable night for Mohamed Salah. For his record in the Champions League, it was a surprise to see him struggle against PSV. With Liverpool trailing a second time, he provided a delightful cross for Cody Gakpo, but, after missing a guilt-edged chance moments earlier, he opted to look to provide Alexander Isak with a tap-in.
The Egyptian rarely had a shot on target for the Reds. One of his few chances came after 20 minutes when he miscued his effort high and wide after being afforded space, something that has been a similar tale for Salah in shooting positions since ending his contract saga at Anfield.
Liverpool will lose the 33-year-old to the Africa Cup of Nations next month, and Slot has a decision to make over who will replace him. The Premier League champions have missed goal output this season, and in their iconic forward's absence, they need someone to step up to the plate.
Perhaps Steven Gerrard put it best, though, when asked if now is the time for Salah to be dropped. "Who for, though," he asked. "Anyone, if they were Liverpool manager, would be starting Salah."
Slot pressure ramps up
There were boos at full-time, but that was shortly followed by, 'We love you Liverpool, we do'.
The fans are behind the team, but Slot faces serious questions, there is no getting away from it.
The Dutchman turned to his bench, arms-folded, after they fell two behind with 17 minutes to go. Liverpool dominated the ball and could have found the back of the net through Gakpo at the backpost, but as he did against Manchester United, he squandered the golden opportunity.
Slot has now lost three on the bounce
Slot has now lost three on the bounce
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Mistakes from Kerkez and Konate cannot be legislated for, but the former Feyenoord boss faces immense scrutiny over his future in the Anfield hotseat. The Reds had winnable games on paper coming in off the back of the international break, but their opponents will be chomping at the bit to inflict misery on the wounded animal.
The media frenzy will be whipped up, and the Dutchman could well have a handful of games to save his career at Liverpool. A serious inquest has to be held now.
Szoboszlai decision justified
Slot did get one thing right, at least. Szoboszlai can do no wrong for Liverpool, and he justified the decision from his boss to move him further forward. The Hungary captain was a rare bright spark for the Reds as he pressed from the front, posing as the driver in the attacks and getting a deserved goal for his displays this season.
The 25-year-old put in a promising display with iconic Liverpool midfielder, Gerrard, watching on from the TNT Sports studio. He said: "That's the positions he wants to see himself in because he'll be getting judged on goals at the end of the season and they're the sorts to get you into double figures."
The Liverpool head coach, depending on how long he has left at Anfield, now knows that he will have to move heaven and earth for the tenacious midfielder to return to the middle of the park after spells at right-back.
Ekitike wastes chance
Alexander Isak has been the subject of scrutiny since he was preferred for the clash against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. With the form of Ekitike, the question surrounded the French forward and how he was left out of the starting XI despite being in good form.
He showed flashes of quality in the first half as he was denied by the visitors' shot-stopper. But soon went missing in the contest.
On the hour mark, he ran in behind and tried to beat the defender, but knocked the ball out of place. His second-half display was summed up when he smacked the ground in frustration and had to limp off, seemingly adding to Liverpool's injury woes.
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