Liverpool Rocked Again as Osimhen Strikes

Liverpool’s European journey hit another bump as Arne Slot’s men suffered back-to-back defeats, this time against Galatasaray in Istanbul. A first-half penalty from Victor Osimhen was enough to sink the Premier League champions, leaving more questions than answers for the Reds.

Flat start, costly mistakes

Liverpool never found their rhythm. With Mohamed Salah surprisingly left out of the starting eleven, Slot’s side lacked spark up front and looked shaky at the back. The home crowd created a thunderous atmosphere from well before kick-off, and Galatasaray fed off it. Their energy paid off when Baris Alper Yilmaz, a constant menace down the left, drew a foul inside the box. Osimhen stepped up and buried the penalty straight down the middle.

Missed chances on both sides

The Reds did have openings. Cody Gakpo twice created good looks for Hugo Ekitiké, but the striker couldn’t convert. Florian Wirtz also saw his effort blocked at close range, while Konaté headed wide from a promising position. Galatasaray, however, could have made the scoreline worse. Osimhen wasted two golden chances after the break and continued to bully Liverpool’s defence until injury forced him off.

Late drama denied

Hope flickered for Liverpool in the dying minutes when Ibrahima Konaté went down in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. But after a VAR review, the decision was overturned, crushing the visitors’ last chance to escape with a point.

Salah stays on the bench until late

Even with a summer of heavy investment, leaving Salah out of the starting XI still raises eyebrows. Slot eventually turned to him and Alexander Isak just after the hour mark, and their introduction gave Liverpool more direction. Still, it wasn’t enough to break down Galatasaray’s resistance.

Questions for Slot

For a side sitting top of the Premier League, Liverpool suddenly look vulnerable in Europe. Defensive lapses, poor finishing, and the strange omission of their biggest star combined for another frustrating night. Slot will know his team must respond quickly if they want to avoid deeper trouble in the Champions League.

Galatasaray, meanwhile, celebrated a rare European win with their fans in full voice. It wasn’t pretty, but it was full of passion — exactly what Liverpool seemed to lack.