Victor Osimhen’s first-half penalty proved decisive, punishing the Reds for a sluggish performance and leaving Arne Slot with fresh questions to answer.

The breakthrough came in the 16th minute after Hugo Ekitike saw a golden chance saved at the other end. Galatasaray countered swiftly, won a spot-kick, and Osimhen made no mistake.

Liverpool struggled to impose themselves and almost fell further behind before half-time as the hosts pressed aggressively and pounced on sloppy errors.

Their night worsened when goalkeeper Alisson was forced off injured just before the hour mark, replaced by Giorgi Mamardashvili. The Brazilian’s absence will worry supporters as much as the result itself.

Slot introduced Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak in the second half to chase an equaliser, but the pair could not find a breakthrough. VAR later denied Liverpool a late penalty shout, compounding their frustration.

Hugo Ekitike was one of the few bright spots, working tirelessly before being forced off with a knock. Still, Liverpool lacked rhythm and cutting edge in attack.

The loss highlights ongoing “teething problems” under Slot, with defensive lapses and attacking chemistry both under the microscope. The Reds have now conceded 11 goals in their opening fixtures, far more than at this stage last season.

For Galatasaray, the win will be remembered as one of their great European nights. For Liverpool, it was another reminder that life after Klopp is proving far from straightforward.

In the bigger picture, Liverpool’s stumble in Istanbul echoes past European setbacks like Basel in 2014 or Red Star in 2018 reminding fans that even elite squads can falter on hostile away nights.