Osimhen on Target as Liverpool Fall to Galatasaray in Champions League

Liverpool’s Champions League campaign suffered an early setback on Tuesday night as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Galatasaray, with Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen scoring the decisive goal from the penalty spot. The result leaves both sides level on three points after two matches, raising early questions over Arne Slot’s ability to replicate last season’s dominance.

The Reds arrived in Istanbul hoping to respond to their weekend disappointment against Crystal Palace, where their unbeaten run ended in the Premier League. But instead of finding rhythm, Liverpool produced another lethargic display, undone by defensive frailties and a lack of attacking edge. Despite enjoying long spells of possession, the English champions rarely carved open a well-drilled Galatasaray defence.

Slot made four changes to his starting XI, notably leaving Mohamed Salah and big-money signing Alexander Isak on the bench. The reshuffle backfired, however, as the team lacked cohesion. Midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai was deployed out of position at right-back, and the experiment proved costly when Galatasaray repeatedly exploited the flanks.

The game’s decisive moment arrived in the 16th minute. Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo spurned Liverpool’s best chance to take the lead, with the ball cleared off the line. Galatasaray immediately countered, and Baris Alper Yilmaz was awarded a controversial penalty after contact from Szoboszlai. Osimhen stepped up and made no mistake, beating Alisson Becker to ignite the home crowd inside the Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi.

Defensive Woes and Missed Opportunities

Liverpool attempted to mount a response but failed to convert half-chances. Florian Wirtz, still searching for his first goal since arriving in a £100 million deal, saw a low drive parried away by Ugurcan Cakir, while Ibrahima Konaté headed narrowly wide from a set piece. Galatasaray, meanwhile, continued to look dangerous on the break, with Osimhen forcing Alisson into another sharp save early in the second half.

That intervention came at a cost for Liverpool as Alisson sustained an injury while racing off his line to deny the Nigerian forward. His replacement, Giorgi Mamardashvili, was soon called into action as Galatasaray’s energy unsettled the visitors. Konaté’s struggles at the heart of defence compounded Liverpool’s problems, and their inability to control transitions left them exposed.

When Slot eventually turned to Salah and Isak on the hour mark, the expectation was for Liverpool to raise the tempo. Yet the pair were unable to alter the flow of the contest, with the Turkish champions holding firm. The closest Liverpool came to salvaging a result arrived in the final quarter when the referee awarded a penalty for a foul on Konaté, only to overturn the decision after a VAR review.

Galatasaray Take Control of Group Dynamics

As the match entered stoppage time, Galatasaray nearly doubled their lead through Lucas Torreira, who fired inches wide from the edge of the area. The miss mattered little in the end, as the final whistle confirmed a famous victory for the Turkish champions.

For Liverpool, the result marked their second consecutive defeat in all competitions and left them in 16th position in the early group standings. More worrying for Slot will be the manner of the loss: lacklustre defending, a blunt attack, and an alarming dependence on Alisson to keep the scoreline respectable.

Galatasaray, thrashed 5-1 by Eintracht Frankfurt in their opening game, reasserted themselves as formidable opponents on home soil. The raucous Istanbul atmosphere played its part, unsettling Liverpool and providing the energy for a disciplined performance. Osimhen’s clinical penalty ensured they claimed their first points of the campaign, reigniting hopes of progressing from the group.

Liverpool now face an uphill task to regain momentum in a competition they once dominated. With injuries mounting and confidence shaken, Slot must quickly rediscover the balance that made his side so formidable last season. For Galatasaray, however, the night belonged to Osimhen, whose early strike secured a result that could shape the destiny of their European journey.

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