Premier League champions and league leaders Liverpool succumbed to a narrow 1-0 loss against Galatasaray in the Champions League encounter at Rams Park in Istanbul. The defeat, sealed by a Victor Osimhen first-half penalty, marks the second consecutive loss of Arne Slot's tenure, following Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace. While the result is concerning, the performance is generating genuine cause for concern around Anfield.
Liverpool’s troubles began with a surprising team selection, as head coach Arne Slot benched star forwards Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak, along with Alexis Mac Allister and Conor Bradley. Midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai was positioned at right-back, where he struggled against the pace of Baris Alper Yilmaz. It was Szoboszlai who was controversially adjudged to have fouled Yilmaz in the 16th minute, conceding the decisive penalty that Osimhen converted down the middle. Adding to Liverpool’s woes, forward Hugo Ekitike and goalkeeper Alisson Becker both suffered injuries and were forced off, with Alisson potentially facing another spell on the sidelines.
Moments before the penalty, Cody Gakpo saw a follow-up effort cleared off the line by Ismail Jakobs. In the 89th minute, the referee Clément Turpin initially awarded Liverpool a penalty for a foul on Ibrahima Konaté by Wilfried Singo, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review showed Singo played the ball first. Slot, while defending the performance and his decision to rest Salah, later criticized the disjointed second half, stating, "I don't think in the second half there was a lot of playing time, their striker was on the floor four or five times. It was difficult to get momentum in the game."
Beyond the injuries and scoreline, the form of summer signing Florian Wirtz has been a concern. Despite his talent, Wirtz is still seeking his first Liverpool. Ex-England captain Wayne Rooney said, "I think Wirtz actually damages the balance of Liverpool and how they play... he's had a slow start and I think there's no denying that." This lack of team balance is highlighted by statistics showing Liverpool have kept only two clean sheets in ten games this season, compared to six in their first ten last season.
Despite the recent setbacks and rising anxiety among supporters, Slot eased the ship. "We are not so far. This is sometimes what the schedule can bring, Galatasaray is not a simple game," he stated. The reigning champions have a task ahead of them, getting back the composure that defined their title-winning campaign as they turn their focus to Stamford Bridge, for the match against Chelsea.