Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs PSV as Dominik Szoboszlai good but five get 5/10

5 hours ago 3

ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL // Liverpool fell to another poor defeat, this time in the Champions League against PSV, to increase the pressure even further on head coach Arne Slot.

After a bizarre Virgil van Dijk handball, Ivan Perisic opened the scoring on five minutes from the penalty spot, but PSV was not in front for long, as Dominik Szoboszlai leveled on around the quarter-hour mark. The former RB Leipzig man was one of few positive performers on the night.

From 1-1, Liverpool should have been able to press on for the win, but it was PSV that took the next. Guus Til found the back of the net when Milos Kerkez played him onside and then couldn't put a foot in. Couhaib Driouech added a third and then a fourth, making it nine defeats in 12 games for Slot.

Winners

Once again, as is no surprise as this point in the season, Szoboszlai was very good, particularly in the first half. Clearly enjoying himself back in the center of the field, the Hungarian was good on the ball, calmly found the back of the net, and never stopped running. In a Liverpool jersey, he was the one who stood out in a good way.

Losers

Van Dijk endured a frustrating opening period to the game, giving away a penalty and then picking up a caution. He came back into the game after that, though, and did recover to a degree.

In midfield, Liverpool was far too open at times. Alexis Mac Allister has not had the best start to the season and he wasn't particularly good here. Neither was Ryan Gravenberch alongside him, where there were too many gaps.

Ibrahima Konate, meanwhile, did what he has done so often this season. He started well, but ended up making a costly mistake and was substituted shortly after. All around, there is a lack of confidence, with no signs of it coming back.

Player ratings

Giorgi Mamardashvili (6). He frustrated the crowd with some slow distribution at times, but in fairness to the Georgian, there wasn't much movement in front of him on those occasions. He couldn't do much with the goals conceded.

Curtis Jones (6). Chosen at right-back here (rather than Szoboszlai, who was back in midfield), the 24-year-old did a solid but not spectacular job. He wasn't always that involved (and one risky pass nearly led to a PSV goal) but he filled in well enough and may have to do so again in the coming weeks. Certainly not the biggest Liverpool worry.

Ibrahima Konate (5). He has been truly terrible at times this season, but this wasn't one of those occasions. Once again, though, after looking good for most of the game, he air-kicked a clearance and PSV scored. Before that, he had done alright, but then he looked shaky. There were too many gaps in the Liverpool defense once again.

Virgil van Dijk (5). Gave away a penalty for a bizarre handball early on and was booked for an uncharacteristic slide tackle shortly after. Should have scored when his header from a corner hit the crossbar but recovered from a shaky beginning.

Milos Kerkez (6). Keeping his place in the team ahead of Andy Robertson, the Hungary international was lively down the left flank to begin with. He got the crowd up with a couple of strong challenges early on and overlapped Cody Gakpo a few times. Not great for the Til goal, though, and still hasn't integrated into the Liverpool team.

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Ryan Gravenberch (5). He and Mac Allister were far too easy to play around or through at times, with PSV able to break through them even when the ball was on the ground. On the ball, good-ish, but the midfield department was far too open. That simply has to change.

Alexis Mac Allister (5). Some of his passes were either overhit or misplaced and he seemed to frustrate himself at times in the first half. Along with Gravenberch, he couldn't seem to lock down the central third.

Dominik Szoboszlai (7). Back in the center of the field, he finished coolly to make it 1-1 and was once again the best of the Liverpool midfielders. showing plenty of drive and determination.

Mohamed Salah (5). One shot in the first half sailed a mile over the bar, but he wasn't as involved as he would have liked. PSV kept him very quiet.

Hugo Ekitike (6). Deservedly regaining his spot in the team, the Frenchman might have won a penalty at one stage and linked things up nicely. His physical presence up top caused some problems for PSV, but he tailed off in the second half and then went off injured.

Cody Gakpo (6). Facing his old club, the Netherlands international looked bright at times. He put in a couple of dangerous low crosses and seemed to work a bit more naturally with Kerkez, which can only be a promising sign, but wasn't as effective after the break. Missed a big chance with a header.