Footage of PSV Eindhoven players’ actions in stoppage time against Liverpool during their Champions League match has gone viral, sparking a divide among fans.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot rested key players like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Alisson, having already secured a spot in the next round. He fielded a rotated squad, including 19-year-old Jayden Danns and 20-year-old James McConnell.
Liverpool initially led twice but lost 3-2 on Wednesday. Cody Gakpo scored first from the penalty spot, with Johan Bakayoko equalizing. Harvey Elliott gave Liverpool another lead before PSV responded with two quick goals.
Slot also introduced younger players like Amaro Nallo, who was later sent off, along with Tyler Morton and Trey Nyoni. Liverpool finished the match with a youthful lineup, which PSV capitalized on.
As the game wound down, PSV players were seen showboating, which sparked mixed reactions on social media. Some fans praised the playful display, while others criticized it, given the young and inexperienced Liverpool side on the pitch.
One user commented, “This is what football is about.” Another joked, “Well done, they’re 13.” A third said, “Class this hahahaa,” while a fourth added, “If that was Robbo instead of Tsimikas, you’d have seen the most brutal foul in football history.” Conversely, others deemed the actions “nasty work.”
Liverpool’s loss to PSV was their first defeat in this season’s Champions League.
After the match, Slot reflected, “It was an eventful game with many goals, as expected. Both teams like to press high and play from the back, so mistakes are inevitable.
We also played with a lineup different from usual, which led to some unanticipated defensive moments. But we still made a game of it, especially with so many young players on the pitch. I’d call it ‘eventful.’”
