Liverpool’s Champions League campaign took another hit as Galatasaray pulled off a stunning 1–0 victory on a raucous night at RAMS Park in Istanbul.
Head coach Arne Slot made a bold decision to leave star forward Mohamed Salah on the bench following the team’s recent Premier League defeat at Crystal Palace. However, his gamble didn’t pay off as Liverpool struggled to find rhythm amid relentless pressure from both Galatasaray and the electric home crowd.
The decisive moment came in the 16th minute, when Victor Osimhen converted a penalty awarded after Dominik Szoboszlai was adjudged to have fouled Baris Alper Yilmaz in the box. The goal came just seconds after Davinson Sanchez had denied Cody Gakpo with a crucial goal-line clearance.
Liverpool’s night went from bad to worse when goalkeeper Alisson Becker was forced off in the second half due to injury, moments after making a brilliant save to deny Osimhen a second.
Slot introduced Salah and Alexander Isak just after the hour mark in a desperate attempt to spark a comeback, but Galatasaray held firm.
The visitors thought they had a lifeline late in the game when Ibrahima Konaté went down in the box and the referee initially pointed to the spot. However, the penalty decision was overturned after a VAR review, extinguishing any hopes of a late equaliser.
The result marks Liverpool’s second consecutive defeat, raising questions about their form as the Champions League group stage intensifies, while Galatasaray celebrated a famous victory in front of their home fans.
