Liverpool are now in their worst run of form since 1953 after a 4-1 home loss to PSV at Anfield brought their tally to nine defeats in 12 matches.

The Champions League had been a welcome distraction given their Premier League struggles but they were abject in defeat to the Dutch underdogs.

Liverpool were under it in the opening minutes and quickly fell behind when Ivan Perisic gave PSV the lead from the penalty spot.

Virgil van Dijk was the man at fault, raising his hand high above his head in what was a stonewall penalty despite the pressure of Jerdy Schouten behind him.

The Liverpool captain protested the referee’s decision, but it stood and Croatian veteran Perisic stuck the ball in the bottom corner.

Liverpool woke up and Dominik Szoboszalai levelled after good work from Cody Gakpo, before PSV had the ball in the Liverpool net again but an infringement saved the hosts’ skin.

However, PSV would get their second after a well-worked goal capped off by Guus Til with Milos Kerkez trailing behind.

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PSV added their third after a poor read from Ibrahima Konate, Couhaib Driouech with plenty of time to find the net. He would cap the win off with his second in added time.

Hamann highlights worrying Virgil van Dijk habit

Liverpool legend Didi Hamann was in the RTÉ studo for the game and gave light to Salah’s lack of defensive effort which preceded their second goal.

Salah was easily beaten by Mauro Junior before Til found the net and showed little effort to track back and stop the goal.

Hamann believes Slot has to prioritise his future by axing Salah, and should have taken the chance to do so after the goal.

There comes a point when you’ve to drop players,” Hamann said.

“Slot had a decision to make, does he get the sack with Salah or keep his job without him?

“What Salah did for that second PSV goal… I think Slot had one chance to take him off straight away – what he did there was disgraceful. For a player the calibre of Salah.

“It pains me to say… but the way he let the player go past him without doing anything to help the team.”

Hamann also noted a worrying habit that has become prevalent with Van Dijk this season.

‘Van Dijk – well he was telling the referee has been pushed,” he said.

“(Jerdy) Schouten has got his arm on him but I don’t know why he (Van Dijk) has put his arm up.

“It is the third penalty he has given away which is more than any other player this season.

“Fortunately he did not get booked because he got booked for something else a few minutes later.”

Van Dijk was back to his best last season in leading The Reds to the Premier League title under Slot, but has shown defensive frailties this campaign.

Hamann was equally blunt when assessing Slot’s future at the club.

‘Another embarrassing performance… the fans are obviously not happy… many of them left before the end of the game.

“The team is in disarray, they don’t play as a team. I am not sure if this is solvable. In the way they are set-up at the moment with Slot, it is unsolvable. I don’t think he is in control of this team.

“What I have seen tonight… I get a feeling everybody is doing what they want – they look at their own performance more than the team’s performance. It is inexplicable how you can go from being brilliant last season and bringing quality players in to having nothing.

“I don’t want to see him sacked because it would be very harsh after what he did last season but it is nine defeats in 12 now.”

Tough times at Anfield, that is for sure.

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