Liverpool’s historical advantage over PSV Eindhoven may count for little on Wednesday when the struggling Reds host the Eredivisie leaders in matchday five of the Champions League.
The defending Premier League champions have won all three previous meetings against PSV at Anfield, but they have arguably never faced the Dutch side in such poor form, giving Peter Bosz’s team reason for optimism ahead of their eighth European encounter with Liverpool.
Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest was a stark illustration of the Reds’ domestic struggles. Coming just two weeks after a 3-0 loss to Manchester City, it highlighted how deep the crisis runs, leaving Liverpool 12th in the Premier League after 12 games.
Alisson Becker’s return could not prevent three goals being conceded in consecutive matches for the first time since April 1965, while the defence led by Virgil van Dijk looks fragile. Ibrahima Konate appears distracted amid contract talk, Milos Kerkez struggles to fill his role, and the right-back position remains exposed following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real Madrid.
Midfield options are similarly stretched. Dominik Szoboszlai, one of the team’s best performers, has occasionally been forced to play out of position at right-back, weakening the side’s ability to control the game. In attack, Mohamed Salah has yet to recapture the form that earned him fourth place in the 2025 Ballon d’Or, Alexander Isak has struggled to link effectively with Hugo Ekitike, and Florian Wirtz has yet to settle in English football.
With so many issues, Liverpool’s title defence looks all but over, and even competing for European qualification next season could be in jeopardy unless they win the Champions League this year. Domestically poor form contrasts with their European record, where they have won three of four group matches, currently holding the eighth and final automatic qualification spot for the round of 16.
Historically, Liverpool have fared well against PSV, winning five of seven previous encounters, including three at Anfield. Yet this Wednesday could present one of the toughest tests of that streak. Bosz’s PSV side will be aware of Liverpool’s record against Dutch clubs at Anfield—seven wins and two draws in the last nine matches—as well as the Reds’ 16-game home winning streak in European group matches. However, Liverpool have rarely appeared so vulnerable.
PSV remain unbeaten in 11 games across all competitions and have had a mixed start to this season’s Champions League, winning one, drawing two, and losing one of their first four matches. The team’s approach under Bosz is clear: nine goals scored and seven conceded, reflecting an attacking but high-risk style.
After a shock 3-1 loss to Union Saint-Gilloise in the opening matchday, PSV recovered with two 1-1 away draws against Bayer Leverkusen and Olympiacos, separated by a 6-2 win over Antonio Conte’s Napoli. They currently sit 18th in the 36-team league phase, a position that secures participation in the knockout phase playoffs, though they could easily slip out of the top 24 given how tight the points are between 25th and 28th.
Travelling PSV fans will have mixed expectations. Historically, their club has won only once in the last 14 encounters against English sides in Europe, but this Liverpool team appears exposed, and Bosz’s men will be confident they can inflict further misery on a team in disarray.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
While Florian Wirtz’s participation remains uncertain, Liverpool are set to be without long-term absentee Giovanni Leoni, as well as right-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley.
With options limited at right-back, Dominik Szoboszlai may continue in a makeshift defensive role, while Andrew Robertson is expected to fill in on the opposite flank in place of Milos Kerkez.
Up front, Mohamed Salah, who has gone three matches without scoring in all competitions, will look to become the first African player to reach 50 Champions League goals, aiming to get there with a brace. He is likely to start alongside Hugo Ekitike, who may replace Alexander Isak, and Cody Gakpo, formerly of PSV, who scored 55 goals in 159 appearances for the Dutch club.
PSV emerged from their league victory over NAC Breda on Saturday without any new injury concerns. The Eindhoven side’s only absentees remain Ruben van Bommel and Alassane Plea.
Guus Til is expected to continue as PSV’s makeshift striker, seeking to extend a strong run that has seen him contribute to six goals in his last five matches, including five goals and one assist. Til is level with Ismael Saibari on 10 goal contributions in the Eredivisie, one behind Joey Veerman’s 11, and leads the team in European assists with two, although Ricardo Pepi has more overall goal involvements with three.
Pepi has scored in three of his last four Champions League matches, including the goal against Liverpool on matchday eight last season.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo
PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:
Kovar; Dest, Gasiorowski, Schouten, Salah-Eddine; Junior, Veerman; Man, Saibari, Perisic; Til
EXPERT PREDICTION
Liverpool 1-1 PSV
