Liverpool’s Collapse Exposed: Carragher Rips Salah and Van Dijk After Eindhoven Rout

Match fallout and a manager under pressure

Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool defender, publicly challenged Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk after a harsh 4-1 defeat to Eindhoven in the Champions League, while signaling that Arne Slot’s job may be in jeopardy. The result underscored a difficult period for Liverpool as they grapple with a worsening run of form.

Liverpool were beaten convincingly as they slipped to a 4-1 defeat on Wednesday in Europe, marking nine losses in their last 12 outings and their third straight loss by a margin of three goals across all competitions. The setback intensified the pressure on Slot, who had celebrated a Premier League title only six months earlier in his first season in charge.

Speaking to CBS Sports, Carragher said: Liverpool is not a club that sacks managers, and the club historically gives the manager time. He added that he has supported giving managers a chance, but admitted he is angry with the players. He warned that every manager reaches a point where the situation becomes unsustainable, and while he hasn’t reached that conclusion himself, many inside the game have.

The former star directly criticized the squad’s balance, arguing that Virgil van Dijk, Salah, and goalkeeper Alisson Becker are no longer capable of carrying the side as they once did, pointing to a noticeable drop in form for Van Dijk and Salah specifically.

Carragher insisted that the 2018 renaissance under Jurgen Klopp was powered in part by Alisson, Van Dijk, and Salah. He argued that Alisson has been sidelined by injuries, and that Van Dijk no longer looks like the same player, while Salah appears to have lost some of his physical edge.

Despite his criticisms, Carragher stressed he does not relish criticizing the duo, noting their status as club legends. He said: “I don’t love criticizing them because of what they’ve given the club, but the reality is they’re no longer able to deliver what they used to.” He added that Van Dijk, in particular, may need help more than he did in the past, and Salah’s once-elite physical condition seems diminished.

He urged other players to shoulder more responsibility: “Where are the other players? Can you play well only when these three shine? Can you rely on yourselves? The current level is unacceptable for a club of Liverpool’s size. Perhaps this is a glimpse of what happens when Salah, Van Dijk, and Alisson depart.”

Killer numbers

The defeat to Eindhoven was not just another bad result; it cemented a harrowing trend, with Liverpool losing nine of their last 12 across all competitions—a downturn not seen since late 1953 to early 1954. The slump also featured three consecutive losses by three goals or more for the first time since the 1953 period, according to Opta, and three or more goals conceded in three straight matches across all competitions for the first time since 1992.

Van Dijk’s discipline has also come under scrutiny, with the captain contributing three penalties this season—the most among Premier League players—marking a notable regression for a player who was once regarded as the world’s best defender.

The fortress of Anfield cracked and Eindhoven’s momentum

Before facing Eindhoven, Liverpool had seemed almost ironclad at home in European competition, boasting a long unbeaten stretch in the group stage and the early knockout rounds. The 4-1 loss with Eindhoven snapped a 16-match home-streak in European play, and in the two most recent home fixtures, Liverpool were beaten decisively with a combined 7-1 scoreline against Nottingham Forest and Eindhoven.

The collapse didn’t occur in a vacuum; Eindhoven delivered a strong performance, continuing a solid run of results. After failing to beat Liverpool in their first six encounters historically, Eindhoven recorded back-to-back wins against the Reds, including a 3-2 victory in the previous season.

Eindhoven have lost only three of their last 18 Champions League matches, securing eight wins and seven draws, and finding the back of the net in all but one of those games.

Man of the match and the media chorus

The substitute Zeheib Driewish, who scored twice against Liverpool, earned the man-of-the-match award, with UEFA’s technical observers noting he entered at the perfect moment to energize the team and apply relentless pressure throughout his time on the pitch.

English media did not spare Liverpool either. Former defender Michael Dawson told Sky Sports: “This was worse even than the Forest result. Liverpool showed no respect to Eindhoven; I expected a strong response, but what happened was a disaster.” He added, “Nine defeats in 12 games… this is devastating; the team clearly lacks self-belief. In the second half, there was only one team on the pitch… Eindhoven controlled proceedings.”

In summary, the article painted a picture of a club in flux, with deep concerns about the balance of the squad, the form of its star players, and the sustainability of the current project in the face of mounting European pressure.

Two quick punchlines for good measure: If defending were an Olympic sport, Liverpool would be sprinting in the wrong lane. And if their tactics were a Netflix series, the plot twists would be offside every episode.