Liverpool endured a second successive defeat as Galatasaray claimed a significant Champions League win on a thunderous night in Istanbul.
Head coach Arne Slot opted to leave talisman Mohamed Salah on the bench following the loss at Crystal Palace, but the Premier League champions failed to find rhythm amid the deafening atmosphere at RAMS Park.
To compound Liverpool’s misery, goalkeeper Alisson was forced off injured in the second half after producing a superb save to deny Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen had earlier given the Turkish side the lead after 16 minutes, converting from the penalty spot after French referee Clement Turpin adjudged that Dominik Szoboszlai had fouled Baris Alper Yilmaz.
The goal came just 17 seconds after former Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez had cleared Cody Gakpo’s effort off the line.
Slot introduced Salah and Alexander Isak just after the hour mark in an attempt to turn the tide, but the changes had little effect.
Liverpool thought they had earned a late chance to equalise when Turpin awarded a penalty after Ibrahima Konate went down, but the decision was overturned following a VAR review.
Once again, Liverpool fell short of the standards that saw them stroll to the Premier League title last season, struggling to cope in a deafening and hostile environment.
The visitors looked vulnerable at the back throughout, with Alisson called upon early to keep Yilmaz at bay even before the opening goal.
This season, Liverpool have shown signs of a soft underbelly, with several big-name signings failing to impose themselves. £116 million midfielder Florian Wirtz was once again largely anonymous.
Despite sitting top of the Premier League, Liverpool’s recent form is concerning. It had taken a stoppage-time winner from Virgil van Dijk to beat Atletico Madrid in their group opener, and further improvement is clearly needed.
Slot’s decision to leave Salah out did not pay off, while Liverpool were dealt another blow when Hugo Ekitike also went off injured in the second half.
The setting at RAMS Park was intense from hours before kick-off, with the famous old “Welcome To Hell” banners of Ali Sami Yen replaced by an equally intimidating noise at the new venue perched high above Istanbul.
Liverpool’s periods of possession were drowned out by whistles, while Osimhen’s goal and the final whistle were met with near hysteria from the home crowd.
