Liverpool’s aura of control slipping after defeat in hostile Istanbul

Liverpool could not stop the slide in Istanbul as Galatasaray defeated them in their second Champions League outing.

The aura of control they carried last season is slipping. This was another game where they looked short of conviction, soft at the back and blunt in attack.

Victor Osimhen’s first-half penalty was enough to decide the contest, but the margin could have been heavier.

The Nigerian striker wasted two clear chances early in the second half and was a menace throughout until he limped off. Liverpool were fortunate that the score remained narrow.

Slot left Mohamed Salah on the bench again, a decision that raised eyebrows and ultimately backfired.

Salah’s introduction just after the hour alongside Alexander Isak gave the visitors more direction, yet it was too little too late. Liverpool never truly carved Galatasaray open.

There was further frustration when Ibrahima Konate won a late penalty only for French referee Clement Turpin to overturn the decision after a VAR check.

The atmosphere in Turkey was ferocious from long before kick-off. Deafening whistles met every Liverpool touch, and the home players fed off the energy.

Galatasaray had won only one of their previous 18 Champions League group matches, but they tore into this game as if determined to erase that record.

Liverpool looked fragile under pressure. Dominik Szoboszlai, deployed awkwardly at right-back, was exposed by Baris Alper Yilmaz’s pace.

Florian Wirtz, Liverpool’s £116 million summer signing, was ineffective again. The balance of the team felt wrong, and the defending was ragged.

Even Alisson, who stood tall early on to keep the score down, ended the night on the sidelines after suffering a knock.

This defeat followed Saturday’s league loss at Crystal Palace, making it back-to-back setbacks for the champions.

Slot insisted upon arrival that Liverpool would need time to adapt, but the patience of supporters will be tested if standards continue to slip.

Liverpool’s season may depend on whether Slot can steady them before the slump becomes something more serious.