GALATASARAY 1-0 LIVERPOOL: Arne Slot's side were beaten in Istanbul for the second time this season and will have to stage a comeback to reach the Champions League quarter-finals
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - MARCH 10: Mario Lemina of Galatasaray A.S. celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Galatasaray SK and Liverpool FC at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on March 10, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)
Liverpool were stunned by Galatasaray again(Image: Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)
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Liverpool will have to come from behind to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League, having fallen to a 1-0 defeat against Galatasaray in their round-of-16 first leg. Arne Slot's men lost by the same scoreline as they did in Istanbul during the league phase, as Mario Lemina's early goal separated the sides this time out.
It was lightning-fast start to the game, with 10 attempts on goal inside the opening 25 minutes. Only one of those found the net, as Lemina exploited Liverpool's Achilles' heel by scoring from a set piece.
Hugo Ekitike missed a huge chance to draw the Reds level in the second half, but he wasn't alone in fluffing his lines. Liverpool were pushing for an equaliser and looked to have one when Ibrahima Konate helped bundle the ball home, but VAR intervened and the goal was controversially ruled out.
Galatasaray will have the advantage heading into next Wednesday's second leg at Anfield. Liverpool's supporters will do well to create a similarly raucous atmosphere as the one here.
Here are five talking points from Rams Park.
1. Lemina exploits Liverpool's familiar failing
Mere minutes after almost gifting Liverpool a goal, Lemina put Galatasaray ahead to crank the noise up even louder. The hosts had been under the cosh for the opening six minutes but won on a corner on their first attack.
Poor defending allowed Victor Osimhen to head the ball back across goal and Lemina threw himself at it to beat Giorgi Mamardashvili. The former Southampton star had gone from almost zero to certain hero - but there was a long way to go.
As of December 30, no team in Europe's top five leagues had conceded more set-pieces goals than Liverpool's 12. The Reds decided to part ways with their set-piece coach in January and while Liverpool have improved since, it's clear that Slot's side can still be exploited from dead-ball situations.
Galatasaray's Gabonese midfielder #99 Mario Lemina (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Galatasaray SK and Liverpool FC at the Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex in Istanbul on March 10, 2026. (Photo by YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images)
Galatasaray's Gabonese midfielder #99 Mario Lemina (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Galatasaray SK and Liverpool FC at the Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex in Istanbul on March 10, 2026. (Photo by YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images)
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2. Wasteful Wirtz
It was a rusty return to the starting XI for Florian Wirtz. The German had suffered an injury last month which ruled him out for three games.
Wirtz came back against Wolves on Friday as a second-half substitute, helping Liverpool reach the FA Cup quarter-finals. Slot wasted no more time in getting the playmaker up to speed here, naming him in the Reds' line-up as Cody Gakpo missed out.
But Wirtz didn't repay his manager's faith by missing two big chances in a chaotic opening 45 minutes. The £115million man and his team-mates went in trailing at the break.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - MARCH 10: Florian Wirtz of Liverpool reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Galatasaray SK and Liverpool FC at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on March 10, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)
Florian Wirtz fluffed his lines twice(Image: Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)
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3. Yilmaz terrorises Reds again
Little changed in the second half as the game continued to be wide open, allowing both sides to create chances. One man benefiting from the transition-heavy contest was Baris Alper Yilmaz, who troubled Liverpool back in September when the teams met in the league phase.
Slot acknowledged during Monday's pre-match press conference that Yilmaz was 'too fast' for his defenders last time out. Opting for Milos Kerkez at left-back over Andy Robertson, the Hungary international had a torrid time against Yilmaz in the first half.
Kerkez soon went in the book and wasn't the last Liverpool player to be shown a yellow card for a foul on the winger. Van Dijk also picked up a booking when Yilmaz threatened to race away from the Reds captain just before the hour mark.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - MARCH 10: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Baris Alper Yilmaz of Galatasaray A.S. is fouled by Milos Kerkez of Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Galatasaray SK and Liverpool FC at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on March 10, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Baris Alper Yilmaz got two Liverpool players carded(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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4. Salah hooked as record goes begging
After an hour, Slot had seen enough. Kerkez was brought off for Robertson while Mo Salah - who'd endured an equally difficult night in an attacking sense - was replaced by Jeremie Frimpong.
By starting the match, Salah became Liverpool's record appearances maker in the Champions League with 18, surpassing Jamie Carragher. But the Egyptian had his sights on another milestone: becoming the first African player to reach 50 goals in the competition.
Salah had scored in Liverpool's two previous games, but he looked short on confidence in Istanbul and it was no surprise to see him subbed. Could he have a big say in the second leg?
ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - MARCH 10: Liverpoolâs Mohamed Salah (11) plays during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 play-off first leg match between Galatasaray and Liverpool at RAMS Park in Istanbul, Turkiye, on March 10, 2026. (Photo by Abdulhamid Hosbas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Mo Salah was largely anonymous(Image: Abdulhamid Hosbas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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5. VAR denies Liverpool equaliser
Soon after Ekitike squandered a one-on-one with Galatasaray goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir, Liverpool finally had the ball in the back of the net. It came from a corner of their own, with Konate appearing to get the final touch.
But it was unclear whether the goal had actually been given on field. Referee Jesus Gil Manzano indicated that he'd wait for the VAR to assess and after a forensic look, it was deemed that Konate had handled the ball and Liverpool's would-be equaliser was therefore ruled out.
The Reds pushed to level the scores in the closing stages but Galatasaray held on. The Turkish champions will now head to Anfield - without any away supporters to back them - hoping to reach the last eight.