Liverpool return to Anfield with a 1-0 deficit to overcome after another performance to forget for Arne Slot‘s side in a basketball affair against Galatasaray.
Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool
Champions League Last 16 First Leg | Rams Park
March 10, 2026
Goal: Lemina 7′
Liverpool can still turn Galatasaray tie around at Anfield
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - Tuesday, March 10, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk speaks to Jesús Gil Manzano during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st Leg match between Galatasaray SK and Liverpool FC at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
So let’s start with something positive: Liverpool can still easily turn this tie around at Anfield.
The fact is, Galatasaray do not travel well, as they proved in so nearly throwing away a huge lead in the play-off tie against Juventus that brought them to this stage.
And they will hardly be helped by arriving on Merseyside next week without their incredible supporters, who have been banned from travelling.
Still, the flip side of this point is that, should the Reds come through comfortably, it will only emphasise just how bad they were in losing here.
Arne Slot can’t afford these games
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - Tuesday, March 10, 2026: Galatasaray's Gökdeniz Gürpüz scores the first goal during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st Leg match between Galatasaray SK and Liverpool FC at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
And yes, this was a catastrophically bad performance from Liverpool, whose head coach Arne Slot simply cannot afford for this to keep happening.
The idea in a transition season is that you start performing better towards the end, but there aren’t enough consistent signs of that happening.
What’s more, for all that the Premier League‘s physicality and set-piece focus has provided mitigation for poor performances in that competition, the Reds simply have no excuses for playing this badly against Turkish opposition in Europe.
Slot’s contract situation guarantees that sporting director Richard Hughes has a big call to make at the end of this season, and you suspect this game will feature prominently in his thinking when he does.
Florian Wirtz inclusion in Liverpool XI a disaster
There was excitement among supporters to see Florian Wirtz returning to the starting XI for the first time since his recent injury.
Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent that Slot had made a mistake in including the German, who looked miles off the pace in a game where sharpness was a must.
In his 73 minutes on the pitch, Wirtz missed two huge opportunities, created zero chances, and completed just 71% of his passes.
Clearly, he should have been eased in with a substitute’s appearance, rather than leaving Liverpool carrying a man who was contributing little.
What do Jeremie Frimpong and Curtis Jones have to do for minutes?!
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - Tuesday, March 10, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah is replaced by substitute Jeremie Frimpong during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st Leg match between Galatasaray SK and Liverpool FC at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Of course, there is a school of thought that Slot’s hands are tied by the squad at his disposal, with certain players making his team so easy to play against.
But that argument does not stand up to scrutiny, given that the Dutchman is continually making inexplicable selection decisions around them.
For example, he did the hard work in initially dropping Mohamed Salah, but now seems wedded to the Egyptian despite Jeremie Frimpong being a better option.
And there is no chance that Alexis Mac Allister‘s performances this term have justified him staying in the starting XI ahead of Curtis Jones.
Yes, this squad has weaknesses, but Slot is emphasising them.
Giorgi Mamardashvili a rare plus point for Liverpool
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - Tuesday, March 10, 2026: Liverpool's goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili punches the ball during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st Leg match between Galatasaray SK and Liverpool FC at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
He may not have kept a clean sheet, but Giorgi Mamardashvili was one of the few Liverpool players who could leave the field with his head held high.
Standing in for Alisson, the Georgian made three saves, with one sprawling stop in particular catching the eye.
He also looked comfortable in terms of distribution, releasing Mohamed Salah in Alisson-style for a counterattack that was one of the visitors’ most promising of the first half.
If the Reds’ No.1 is going to face any longer on the sidelines, then supporters can at least have faith in the man who will cover for him.