Liverpool suffered a humiliating Champions League defeat at home to PSV Eindhoven, with defensive errors and a lack of quality contributing to a 4-1 loss, intensifying pressure on manager Arne Slot.
Liverpool were the architects of their own downfall on Wednesday night, crashing to a 1-4 defeat against PSV Eindhoven at home in the Champions League.
The team’s nightmare began early, conceding a penalty five minutes in. The loss is the Reds’ ninth defeat in 12 matches, a run that is “pile[ing] even more pressure” on manager Arne Slot.
The hosts’ poor display, where they were “nowhere near good enough at either end of the pitch,” drew heavy criticism.
According to a report from Express Sport, here is how the Liverpool players rated following the humiliation:
Giorgi Mamardashvili — 5
The goalkeeper was not seen as directly responsible for the goals conceded, having “no chance of saving the penalty” and generally not being “to blame for any of the goals.” However, the sheer fact of “conceding four is never a great look.”
Curtis Jones — 6
Playing on the right side of the defense, the player “did okay.” His performance involved being “quick to press and challenge at the back while bombing further up the pitch when needed.”
Ibrahima Konate — 3
The centre-back was heavily criticized for two separate moments. He “could have done more to get closer to the ball in the build-up to the winning goal” and had a “nightmare for the third, getting his bearings completely wrong,” resulting in him being “deservedly hooked moments later.”
Virgil van Dijk — 3
In an overall “dreadful” performance, the captain was penalized for a “mindless handball for the penalty” and quickly received a “silly booking.” Though he did “hit the bar with a towering header,” the report noted a severe lack of “leadership and very little quality” apart from that.
Milos Kerkez — 5
The defender had started out “having a good game at both ends of the pitch” until he failed to prevent Guus Til from “squeez[ing] in front of him for PSV’s second goal,” an error which entirely “overshadowed his display.”
Ryan Gravenberch — 5
Gravenberch was said to have “lacked composure at times” and generally “blended into the background.” The assessment concluded that he “wasn’t as good as he usually is for the Reds.”
Alexis Mac Allister — 5
The midfielder “worked hard to influence proceedings in the engine room” throughout the match, but unfortunately, “not everything came off the way he would have wanted.”
Dominik Szoboszlai — 7
Szoboszlai was hailed as “a rare shining light.” He positioned himself correctly to “tuck home for Liverpool’s equaliser,” “carved out plenty of chances,” and was impressive with his off-the-ball movement.
Cody Gakpo — 6
Gakpo “created the equaliser with some forward-thinking play and looked lively,” but later “missed a point-blank header in the second half.” After PSV’s third goal, his “head went down.”
Mohamed Salah — 3
The Egyptian winger had a major chance in the first half but “smashed his effort well over the crossbar.” He “didn’t do much else of note” and was “beaten far too easily in the build-up to the winning goal.”
Hugo Ekitike — 6
Ekitike’s desire to affect the match “showed in his energetic approach” until he was unfortunately “forced off with an injury.”