PSV vs Liverpool: Historic Champions League Upset 4-1

But much more important for PSV is that the Brabanders have taken a big step towards the best 24 in the Champions League, with 8 points after five matches.

Relive PSV’s spectacular victory over Liverpool in the Champions League

PSV one point away from the best 24 in the Champions League

Who could have thought that after the tough draw that PSV was presented with and the false start in the Champions League against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise? Figures assume that this season 9 points will be enough to get to the best 24. PSV is still one point away with home games against Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich and an away game against Newcastle United ahead of them.

After the compelling You’ll never walk alone, the football song that sounds best on the homegroundat Anfield, an interesting football battle ensued in Liverpool. PSV immediately put pressure on Liverpool’s defense, where many English teams now dig in when they visit Anfield. Like Nottingham Forest did with great success last Saturday.

Slot had expressed the expectation in advance that Bosz would not deny his philosophy and would even dare to attack the English champion at Anfield. That prediction came true and PSV executed its battle plan very well in the opening phase. Helped by a moment of short-circuiting from Virgil van Dijk. The Liverpool captain was pushed in the back by Jerdy Schouten during a high ball and then hit the ball like a volleyball player, thinking he would get the free kick.

Ivan Perisic quickly gives PSV the lead

However, Spanish referee Alejandro Hernandez was unrelenting and put the ball on the spot. A job that Ivan Perisic, the one-armed bandit from PSV, who plays with one long sleeve and one short sleeve, performed extremely coolly. The lead after six minutes was a major stroke of luck for PSV and gave Bosz’s team extra wind in the sails. The Liverpool crowd immediately started to grumble, because there has been something going on at Anfield lately.

After six defeats in the last seven Premier League games, the pressure was great on Slot and his team. It was striking that it took a long time before Liverpool managed to create their first chance. But when it presented itself, the ball was immediately in the box. Mauro Junior lost the ball in the center of the field. That danger initially seemed to have been averted, but Liverpool retained possession. Cody Gakpo, the child of PSV, fired a difficult shot at PSV goalkeeper Matej Kovar, who pushed the ball straight into the field at the feet of Dominik Szoboszlai: 1-1.

At PSV, Bosz had stuck to the regular starting eleven of recent weeks, with Guus Til in the striker and Jerdy Schouten in the center back. Schouten and his companion in the center, Yarek Gasiorowski, appeared very strong. With many good interceptions they kept PSV going, while Liverpool accelerated. Striker Hugo Ekitiké in particular was constantly dangerous. The Frenchman, acquired from Eintracht Frankfurt for 95 million euros, constantly posed danger.

After the first fifteen minutes, in which PSV had provided good football resistance, it was mainly a matter of survival in the remainder of the first half. PSV escaped a few times behind, such as when Van Dijk headed onto the crossbar and Kovar made a good save from Ekitiké’s shot, but the fact that the half-time score was 1-1 was a big boost.

PSV lets Liverpool chase the ball after the break

After the break there was a different picture of the game. PSV did a much better job of keeping the ball in the team and now let Liverpool chase the ball. The strong phase was crowned with a truly beautiful goal. Mauro Junior showed the often trudging Mohamed Salah his heels and delivered an excellent deep pass to Til, who had started at exactly the right time. The PSV striker had never scored in a European main tournament, but convincingly closed that gap at Anfield: 1-2.

Golden substitutions by Peter Bosz

Once again Liverpool had to struggle against a deficit, while that is precisely what has caused Slot’s team so many problems this season. The Dutch coach indicated in advance that the matches in which Liverpool had fallen behind this season had all been lost, while it turned out fine if the first goal was Liverpool-made. Liverpool pressed and also had opportunities, but it was PSV that increased the lead thanks to golden substitutions from Peter Bosz.

One substitute, Ricardo Pepi, hit the post, the other substitute, Couhaib Driouech, used the rebound: 1-3. The away section went crazy with joy and drowned out the silent Liverpool crowd. In stoppage time it became even better, when Driouech again fired a ball perfectly returned by Dest into the right corner. Long after the final whistle, the PSV fans were singing and dancing in their box after the first Dutch victory ever at Anfield in ten European meetings between a Dutch club and the great Liverpool.