Victor Osimhen’s first-half penalty proved decisive as Galatasaray edged Liverpool 1-0 in Istanbul, handing Arne Slot’s men a second successive defeat and another night to forget.
The Super Eagles striker struck confidently from the spot after Baris Alper Yilmaz was clipped in the box by Dominik Szoboszlai, punishing Liverpool for both their defensive lapses and profligacy in front of goal.
Slot, who left Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak on the bench in favor of Jeremie Frimpong, saw his side begin nervously.
Yilmaz’s early burst of pace exposed Szoboszlai, forcing Alisson Becker into a save, before Hugo Ekitike squandered a golden chance at the other end.
The striker stumbled while trying to round Galatasaray goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir, with Cody Gakpo’s follow-up cleared off the line. Seconds later, Osimhen made Liverpool pay.
Despite the setback, the Reds carved out openings. Florian Wirtz tested Cakir, while Milos Kerkez and Ibrahima Konate both spurned close-range chances from corners.
By halftime, Liverpool had racked up 1.19 expected goals without finding the net.
Their woes deepened after the restart. Ekitike’s close-range effort was brilliantly denied before Konate’s slack pass gifted Osimhen another sight of goal.
Alisson managed to block, but in the process limped off with an injury. Soon after, Ekitike also hobbled off, leaving Slot short in attack.
Salah and Isak were introduced in search of a response, but Cakir remained unbeatable. Even when Konate went down under Wilfried Singo’s challenge and referee Clement Turpin awarded a penalty, VAR swiftly overturned the decision after replays showed a clean tackle.
Liverpool pressed until the final whistle, yet Galatasaray’s resilience held firm. On a bruising night defined by missed chances, defensive errors, and costly injuries, Osimhen’s strike was enough to seal victory for the Turkish champions.
