Liverpool
Konate – 3, Salah – 3: Liverpool player ratings after PSV defeat
Arne Slot and Virgil van Dijk / Colla
Liverpool endured a heavy defeat as PSV Eindhoven thrashed them 4-1 at Anfield on matchday five.
Here are the player ratings:
Curtis Jones – 4/10
Displayed some neat passes in the first half but failed to threaten PSV seriously. Controlled possession but offered little after halftime.
Ibrahima Konaté – 3/10
Comfortable early on but slow on the ball at times. His error led to PSV’s third goal. Struggled in the second half.
Virgil van Dijk – 3/10
Controversial handball from PSV corner. Booked for a rash tackle and failed to prevent further damage after the break.
Milos Kerkez – 5/10
Energetic and intense early on, played some good passes and created opportunities. Couldn’t stop Til’s second-half goal but showed fight.
Ryan Gravenberch – 4/10
Active in possession and disrupted PSV in the first half. Failed to provide defensive cover in the second half, even dropping into central defence.
Mohamed Salah – 3/10
Missed a key first-half chance and was largely ineffective. Barely impacted the game after halftime.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 6/10
Scored Liverpool’s equalizer and linked play well in tight spaces. One of the better performers, though overshadowed by the defeat.
Hugo Ekitike – 5/10
Forced PSV to retreat with his direct running and intensity. Denied a penalty and looked lively before being substituted due to injury.
Cody Gakpo – 4/10, Alexis Mac Allister – 4/10, Giorgi Mamardashvili – 4/10, Isak – 4/10, Chiesa – 6/10
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Liverpool
Yes — there are reports linking Liverpool with Sven Botman as a possible summer transfer target, particularly if they need replacements in central defence. Here’s the latest news
🔴 Liverpool & Botman Link
Liverpool are said to be considering a bid for Newcastle United defender Sven Botman ahead of the summer 2026 transfer window. The idea being mooted in some outlets is that Botman could add experience and help mentor younger defenders (e.g., Jeremy Jacquet) if he were to move to Anfield. �
TEAMtalk +1
Liverpool’s interest appears to be part of a broader plan to strengthen centre-back options, especially with Ibrahima Konaté’s contract situation unresolved and the potential of him leaving as a free agent. �
Yardbarker +1
🔄 Konaté & Defensive Plans
Ibrahima Konaté’s contract at Liverpool is due to expire this summer, and while there have been negotiations, no new deal has been agreed yet — meaning he could leave on a free transfer if he doesn’t sign an extension. �
Anfield Watch
This has increased the likelihood that Liverpool must plan for defensive reinforcements — something that could put Botman on their radar along with other centre-back targets. �
Yardbarker
🔁 Newcastle’s Position
Botman recently signed a new long-term contract with Newcastle until 2030, which could make a move more expensive or complicated. �
Yahoo Sports
Still, reports suggest that Newcastle might struggle to keep players or resist offers if they fail to qualify for the Champions League, as missing out on European football often influences player decisions and club finances. �
Sports Boom
📰 Conflicting Coverage
Some outlets recently claimed that Liverpool’s interest has cooled, and the club may prioritise other defensive targets instead. �
Sports Mole
However, others still list Botman among players Liverpool are monitoring ahead of next summer. �
Sports Boom
🧠 Bottom Line
✔️ Botman remains a possible summer target for Liverpool if Konaté leaves.
✔️ Newcastle’s Champions League qualification (or lack thereof) could impact whether they’re willing to sell or if Botman himself is open to departing.
✔️ His recent contract extension complicates a move, but it doesn’t rule out a transfer if a suitable offer arrives.
Would you like a projected likelihood analysis based on his contract + Newcastle’s season performance?
Liverpool
HOW ARE LIVERPOOL NOT WINNING THIS GAME…. Florian Wirtz’s shot is tame and Guehi blocks it out for a corner kick
HOW are Liverpool not ahead here?! 😤
That moment summed it all up.
The Wirtz chance – what actually went wrong
Florian Wirtz did everything right up to the final action. The space opened on the edge of the box, Liverpool moved the ball quickly, and the shooting lane was there. But the finish? Way too tame.
Instead of whipping it across the keeper or drilling it low into the corner, Wirtz opts for placement without power. At this level, that’s basically an invitation for defenders to recover.
Credit where it’s due: Guehi 👏
Marc Guehi reads it early.
He doesn’t dive in
He holds his line
He closes the angle
By the time Wirtz shoots, Guehi is already set, making himself big and getting the block in. It’s excellent defending, but it only becomes possible because the shot lacks conviction.
The bigger Liverpool problem
This isn’t an isolated incident — it’s a pattern in the game:
Dominance without ruthlessness
Good build-up, poor end product
Too many extra touches in the box
Liverpool are getting into the right areas but playing like a team waiting for the perfect goal instead of forcing the issue.
Why Liverpool aren’t winning (yet)
No killer instinct in front of goal
Shots either blocked or too close to defenders
Final decisions a half-second late
Opposition defenders growing in confidence with every missed chance
Corner kick or not, that should’ve tested the keeper far more.
If this keeps up, it’s the kind of game where Liverpool dominate the stats… and still drop points. One moment of real quality — or one defensive mistake — is all that’s missing.
Football can be cruel like that. 😬⚽
Want this turned into a match report or live commentary-style thread?
Liverpool
The contract and paperwork are already in place for Liverpool to welcome back Jarell Quansah, who left Merseyside to join Bayer Leverkusen last summer, to help fill out the Reds’ thin defensive ranks
Yes — that claim lines up with multiple transfer-news reports: Liverpool could re-sign 23-year-old England centre-back Jarell Quansah from Bayer Leverkusen in future, thanks to a buy-back clause in the deal that sent him to Germany — but not immediately next season.
🔁 What’s Happening with Quansah and Liverpool
Quansah moved from Liverpool to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025 for a reported fee around £30m-£35m (plus add-ons), joining the Bundesliga side on a long-term contract.
As part of that transfer, Liverpool inserted a buy-back clause allowing the club to re-sign him in the future for a pre-agreed fee.
footballtransfers.com
However, the clause cannot be activated until the summer of 2027 at the earliest.
TEAM
Reports suggest the buy-back figure could be around £50m-£60m (with potential add-ons increasing the fee), although exact numbers vary across sources.
Sports Mole +1
There are also indications Liverpool have pre-agreed personal terms with Quansah should they trigger the buy-back, smoothing the path for a return.
TEAMtalk
🧠 Context for the Move
Quansah was a Liverpool academy graduate and made senior appearances before leaving, but opted for more first-team football in Germany.
Football Today
With his development in the Bundesliga and Liverpool’s evolving defensive needs, the idea of bringing him back — especially given future departures or ageing defenders — is being discussed in transfer circles.
TEAMtalk
Bottom line: the Football Insider claim that Liverpool could re-sign Quansah later isn’t unfounded — there is a buy-back clause — but any switch is realistically targeted for 2027 or beyond, not next summer.
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