Champions League Triumph
Istanbul brings back cherished memories for Liverpool, notably their remarkable comeback against AC Milan in the 2005 final. However, two decades later, Arne Slot’s squad faced a disastrous evening. The infamous banner “Welcome to Hell” greeted the visiting team at Rams Park, as the passionate home fans contributed to a difficult night for the English Premier League champions, who suffered a 1-0 loss to Galatasaray in the Champions League.
Victor Osimhen emerged as the standout player for Galatasaray, scoring from a penalty in the 16th minute and marking the first back-to-back defeats for Liverpool during Slot’s tenure—previously losing to PSG last season and Newcastle United in the League Cup final. Despite Liverpool’s significant summer spending on new signings, their performance in Türkiye appeared disjointed, with high-profile recruits Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak failing to make an impact. The team showed no signs of bouncing back from their recent loss to Crystal Palace and has struggled to find form this season, despite being at the top of the Premier League.
Victor Osimhen Sets Champions League Record
It was a memorable evening for Galatasaray, as they secured their first Champions League home victory in seven years. After a disappointing 5-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt in their opening match, this win over Liverpool highlighted the significance of their home support. While Galatasaray is a dominant force in Turkish football, Liverpool’s squad is valued at over €850 million more, making this one of the most remarkable victories in Galatasaray’s history, considering the valuation difference. Additionally, Osimhen made history by becoming the all-time leading Nigerian scorer in the Champions League, with ten goals to his name.
For Liverpool, there are concerns regarding their performance, as Slot’s revamped squad has yet to find cohesion. They face a challenging series of fixtures ahead, starting with a visit to Chelsea on Sunday. Additionally, injury issues have arisen, with Hugo Ekitiké and Alisson both facing problems, and Slot has confirmed that his goalkeeper will miss the match at Stamford Bridge. After the game, Slot expressed his disappointment, stating, “Again, disappointed. For me, this was a different performance on and off the ball. We are not far from last season. Sometimes the schedule can be tough; Galatasaray is not an easy match. We now face Chelsea away, a difficult game. The margins are small and were similar last season. For the second consecutive time, we find ourselves on the wrong side of the result.”
