Image Credits: Imago Images
Arne Slot’s 100th game in charge of Liverpool ended in a 1-0 defeat as Galatasaray took a narrow advantage into the second leg at Anfield.
In front of a hostile crowd in Istanbul, the Reds’ familiar vulnerabilities from set-pieces were exposed, with Mario Lemina heading home in the seventh minute – the 10th goal Liverpool have conceded from corners this season.
Lemina connected from close range after Victor Osimhen’s header from a Gabriel Sara set-piece. It was Lemina’s first goal of the season and recalls his winner for Fulham at Liverpool five years ago.
Liverpool had chances to respond. Florian Wirtz forced a save from Ugurcan Cakır and later fired narrowly wide, while Ibrahima Konate and Hugo Ekitike both came close.
Giorgi Mamardashvili made crucial stops, including denying Davinson Sanchez. Osimhen’s close-range effort was disallowed for an offside in the build-up involving Baris Alper Yilmaz, and a goalmouth scramble from a corner was chalked off for handball by Konate.
Speaking at full-time, Liverpool coach Arne Slot said: “There were a lot of similarities between three months ago and now. We had multiple chances to score. After 10, 15 minutes you expect us to lead and then their first attack leads to a set-piece goal.
“Last time was a penalty, now it was a set-piece goal. And another goal disallowed from us. So, yeah, a lot of similarities. You play over two games against each other and now it’s half-time, they are 1-0 up.
“We can do better, I’m 100 per cent sure about that, but even with the game we played we had enough chances to score goals. Liverpool must overturn the deficit at home on 18 March to keep their round-of-16 hopes alive.
Looking ahead, Davinson Sanchez will miss the second leg next Wednesday after picking up a yellow card, as Champions League rules state that any player receiving three yellow cards before the quarter-finals are completed faces a one-match suspension.
Curtis Jones, meanwhile, currently sits on two yellow cards in theChampions League and risks missing the quarter-finals if he receives another booking in the return leg at Anfield.
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