Liverpool are a rabble, a mess, a SHAMBLES, writes LEWIS STEELE - PSV humiliation confirms they are now the laughing stock of Europe... so, is it time to sack Arne Slot?

Some fans had stayed until the end to beat the traffic.

The rest were already on the roads or boarding the first train out of here. They had seen enough and, by full-time, Anfield was in a funereal mood as boos were heard from those still in the building.

Those jeers were commonplace in L4 when Everton were still sharing a postcode with their city rivals, Goodison Park often a haven of negative noise that became famous for the rumbles of discontent.

It proved that the 'Arne Slot out' brigade are not just the online boo boys who moan at everything. They are in the stands, too, and the unthinkable question – is his job safe? – appears to be a less bonkers query every week.

First, it was a blip, they hoped. Then it was a team in transition that would need time to gel together. Now it is a rabble, a mess, a shambles. Nine losses in 12 now and it is only getting worse, seemingly

'Always look on the bright side of life,' the jubilant PSV Eindhoven fans sang as they waved in the direction of Reds fans trudging down gangways and heading for the exits. They were, to put it mildly, taking the mick.

And who can blame them? Slot's Liverpool have gone from the envy of Europe to the laughing stock of the continent. 

The Premier League champions who spent £450million and got worse, the team who signed one of the best strikers in the division who now looks like a passenger.

Alexander Isak is not the sole problem and this 4-1 defeat to the Dutch league leaders was by no means his fault, but these were the sorts of games that Liverpool should be putting to bed early in the first half. Instead, they invite teams to grow in confidence.

Anfield, once a fortress, is now a welcoming place to come. The atmosphere is non-existent – no one is blaming the fans here, by the way, they have had little to shout about. Teams will now see the fixture list and be rubbing their hands at the possibility of playing Liverpool.

No disrespect whatsoever intended towards PSV, but they are bang average. They absolutely deserved to win this game and Peter Bosz unveiled a masterful tactical plan. But they should have been dispatched with ease by a team of Liverpool's quality.

The same can be said about Nottingham Forest, who won 3-0 here on Saturday. Sean Dyche, remember, is their third boss of the season for a reason – and he inherited a team in the relegation zone. They rolled up here and played like, well, Liverpool of last season.

PSV were made to look more like PSG, the champions of Europe. For 15 minutes at the start of the second half, one was reminded of the Parisians who played Liverpool off the park in March. Pass, pass, pass… Liverpool could not get near them.

So after a ninth defeat in 12, is it time to ask a question that would have you sent to a psych ward six weeks ago?

Is it time to ask THE question? The one with the S word. Is it time for Liverpool to sack Slot?

For what it is worth, the head coach still has the support of the hierarchy. From what the players say publicly, such as Virgil van Dijk's comments that he was letting the boss down with performances, Slot still has their support, too.

But what about the fans? It is an awkward conversation. Some are straight up that they think his time is up. 

Others are too grateful for the Premier League title triumph and the unforgettable memories that came with it to call for his head.

Each defeat, though, plants an extra seed of doubt in their mind. Suddenly, the next three fixtures – a trip to West Ham, Sunderland at home on Wednesday and then Leeds away – go from three winnable games to a trio of teams who could hurt Liverpool.

And that is what is wrong with Slot and Co right now. From invincible and formidable to a team lacking direction and confidence.

We do not need to go through everything that is wrong with them. We have done that far too many times over the last two months. But that in itself is the biggest problem. All these issues are not going away, they are rearing their ugly head week after week.

Any questions over Slot's future would have seemed ridiculous a month ago. Now his post-match press conference was littered with them and he looked like a broken man who wanted the earth below him to swallow him whole.

Does he have the answers and is he the man to solve this crisis and get Liverpool back to their best? Who knows. Does he deserve a chance to put it right? That is for the hierarchy to make up their minds.

But suddenly, the unthinkable question looks less ridiculous to ask.