Post by : Rameen Ariff

Victor Osimhen converted a 16th-minute penalty to secure a 1-0 victory for Galatasaray, handing Liverpool their second consecutive Champions League defeat on a challenging night in Istanbul. The Nigerian striker stepped up after Baris Alper Yilmaz was fouled in the box by Dominik Szoboszlai, earning Galatasaray a crucial early lead.

Liverpool’s night was further complicated by injuries to goalkeeper Alisson and striker Hugo Ekitike. Manager Arne Slot confirmed Alisson would miss Liverpool's upcoming Premier League clash against Chelsea, stating, “It's never positive if you go off like this. He’s not playing on Saturday and we will see how long it will take.”

Mohamed Salah began the match on the bench, along with record signing Alexander Isak. Both entered in the 62nd minute, with Salah replacing Jeremie Frimpong on the right wing and Isak coming on to strengthen Liverpool’s attack. Ekitike, returning from a domestic suspension, was forced off in the 68th minute following a difficult evening for the visitors.

Galatasaray came close to scoring in the second minute when Yilmaz went one-on-one with Alisson, who produced a key save to keep Liverpool in the game. Liverpool’s first clear chance came in the 13th minute, but Ekitike misfired and Cody Gakpo’s follow-up effort was cleared off the line. Within seconds, Liverpool found themselves trailing following Osimhen’s penalty conversion.

Manager Arne Slot defended the referee’s decision to award the penalty, noting that Galatasaray capitalized smartly on a minor handball, turning a “20 per cent chance into a 100 per cent penalty.” Despite several opportunities, including a blocked shot by Ekitike and a missed close-range attempt from Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool struggled to break down Galatasaray’s disciplined defense.

The second half saw Liverpool making multiple substitutions in search of an equalizer, but defensive errors and poor passing left them vulnerable throughout. Late in the match, referee Clement Turpin initially awarded a penalty to Liverpool in the 88th minute, only for VAR to overturn the decision, correctly ruling that Wilfried Singo handled the ball.

Galatasaray’s victory marked their first Champions League home win in seven years and dealt Liverpool a rare back-to-back defeat, having been unbeaten in all competitions until last weekend. The match also featured fan tributes to the late Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, alongside banners protesting the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

This result leaves Galatasaray in a strong position in their Champions League group, while Liverpool will need to regroup quickly to address defensive vulnerabilities and key injuries as they prepare for their upcoming fixtures.

#Sports News