Liverpool’s nightmare at Anfield grows darker — a result that has left fans speechless and critics circling. What was once unthinkable for the Premier League champions now seems to be their reality: a devastating collapse under Arne Slot that shows no signs of stopping. Nine defeats in twelve matches. Seventy-five percent of their games ending in loss since Eddie Nketiah’s stoppage-time winner for Crystal Palace on September 27. It was a turning point no one in football could have predicted — yet here they are, slipping further back with every game.
PSV Eindhoven became the latest beneficiaries of Liverpool’s chaotic defending and toothless attacking. The Dutch side delivered a ruthless blow, comfortably dismantling the Reds in a Champions League clash that turned Anfield’s famed atmosphere into one of disbelief and frustration. Three consecutive defeats, each by a three-goal margin, now hang around Slot’s neck like a warning sign — and the murmurs of discontent are growing louder. Boos greeted the final whistle, a painful reminder of just how far the team has fallen since their title-winning swagger.
For Slot, avoiding an early concession must have been top of his list. Yet barely had the game begun when Virgil van Dijk handed PSV an unexpected gift. From a corner taken by Joey Veerman, the Liverpool captain raised his arm high above his head, conceding a needless penalty. His protests — claiming a shove from fellow Dutchman Jerdy Schouten — were ignored by referee Alejandro Hernández and the VAR team. Veteran Ivan Perisic made no mistake, sending goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili (standing in for the ill Alisson) the wrong way. It was a disastrous start for a side already drowning in pressure and confidence issues.
And here’s where things get especially troubling: Liverpool have now conceded first in ten of their last twelve games. That’s not just bad luck — that’s structural failure. Still, to their credit, the Reds initially fought back. Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo injected some fire, combining for an equalizer just ten minutes later. Gakpo’s driving run and shot forced a low save from Matej Kovar, and Dominik Szoboszlai was quickest to react, steering the rebound into an empty net. The roar of relief from Anfield was charged with both joy and desperation.
But the reprieve was short-lived. Almost instantly, PSV had the ball in the net again through Yarek Gasiorowski — only for the flag to deny them, Saibari being fractionally offside. Even so, Liverpool’s defensive jitters weren’t going anywhere. Van Dijk picked up a needless booking, frustration etched across his face. For a brief spell, Liverpool looked sharper, with Hugo Ekitiké testing Kovar and appealing for a denied penalty. Van Dijk then came agonizingly close with a looping header that kissed the crossbar, prompting a collective groan from the Kop.
After halftime, things unraveled further. PSV began to dominate possession, stringing passes that exposed Liverpool’s lack of control and confidence. The crowd grew restless, sensing what was coming. Curtis Jones, out of position at right-back due to injuries to Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong, made a fatal error — an ill-judged chip across his own box that landed at Saibari’s feet. The PSV forward fluffed his chance, but it was a clear sign Liverpool were skating on thin ice.
That thin ice cracked wide open soon after. Mauro Júnior bypassed Mohamed Salah with ease before threading a perfect ball between Van Dijk and Konaté. Guus Til pounced, striking first-time past Mamardashvili to restore PSV’s lead. The beauty of the pass and the composure of the finish stood in brutal contrast to Liverpool’s disorganization.
Things went from bad to worse when Ekitiké limped off injured and Alexander Isak came on. Szoboszlai nearly drew level again with a fierce 20-yard effort, but Kovar pushed it aside. Gakpo then wasted a golden opportunity, heading wide from point-blank range — a miss that would prove costly. Losing that momentum, Liverpool were punished yet again.
Konaté, who had shown slight improvement after a poor game against Nottingham Forest, self-destructed with a calamitous mistake. Failing to clear a simple ball, he let substitute Ricardo Pepi through on goal. The American struck the post, but Couhaib Driouech followed up to score PSV’s third. Slot made desperate changes, sacrificing a defender for another striker, but it only opened more gaps. PSV struck again in stoppage time, Driouech rolling in his second after a slick counterattack.
At full-time, the statistics told a grim story — nine defeats in twelve matches, three consecutive thrashings, and a dressing room surely questioning its direction. Arne Slot’s project looks to be tilting toward a full-blown crisis. Has he already lost the dressing room, or is this just the painful rebirth of a team forced to rediscover itself the hard way?
And here’s the question every Liverpool supporter must now ask — is this just a blip, or are we witnessing the unraveling of an era? Drop your thoughts: is Slot the right man for this rebuild, or has his time already run out?
