Liverpool suffered a tough 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray, and it got worse with Alisson Becker and Hugo Ekitike both limping off.
Liverpool’s difficult night in Istanbul became significantly worse when two of their key players, Alisson Becker and Hugo Ekitike, were forced off the pitch during their 1-0 Champions League defeat to Galatasaray at RAMS Park.
The Reds fell behind to Victor Osimhen’s 16th-minute penalty and struggled to create any meaningful chances thereafter, with Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah coming off the bench in an attempt to spark a response.
However, it was injuries in the second half that will leave Arne Slot more concerned than anything else, particularly with the Premier League visit to Chelsea looming on Saturday.
Alisson’s departure came after he had been called into action following a mistake from Ibrahima Konate, which allowed Osimhen to sprint clear.
The Brazilian goalkeeper produced a brave low save to his left in a one-on-one situation, but immediately after waving to the medical staff, it became apparent he had sustained an issue while sprinting back. Giorgi Mamardashvili was brought on to replace him, and Slot has confirmed the 31-year-old is highly unlikely to feature at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking after the game, Slot said:
“When he sprinted back he felt something. I cannot tell you [exactly] because I am not a physio, but normally when a player sprints back, feels something, goes to the floor and doesn’t come back onto the pitch [it’s not good]
If my player is on the floor, I nine out of 10 times fear the worst – and by the worst I mean he cannot continue. That’s what happened with Alisson. Normally, he will not be able to play Saturday. That’s 99.9 per cent – I’ve already said 100 per cent, but let’s make it 99.9 [although] I think it’s 100.”
Moments later, Hugo Ekitike also limped off after stretching to reach a loose ball. The French forward stayed on the turf receiving treatment before being substituted, leaving Liverpool even more depleted. Slot elaborated on the nature of the injury:
“He felt something when he had to reach for the ball. I think we all know which one it was when we were trying to force something.”
“After the game, that’s always the difficult thing with these moments when players feel like it is not too bad, but when you just walk around it is something different than when you make a sprint or have to shoot on target. He said he couldn’t continue so we had to take him off. Let’s see how he is for the weekend.”
The loss of both Alisson and Ekitike compounds Liverpool’s existing concerns. While the squad has depth, losing a goalkeeper of Alisson’s calibre and a forward who has already become a key figure in the attack is a major setback.
The Reds will now await updates from the medical team with anxiety, especially with Chelsea’s visit to Stamford Bridge looming a fixture that could have significant implications for the Premier League title race.
Liverpool’s performance overall was lacklustre. The team struggled to create any clear-cut chances, with their attacking fluidity almost completely absent. Isak and Salah were introduced from the bench, but neither could make the difference, as Slot suffered only the second consecutive defeat of his tenure at Anfield.
Off the pitch, questions are mounting over the team’s form and structure. Konate’s errors are becoming a recurring concern, Florian Wirtz has yet to make an impact with either a goal or assist, and the balance of the midfield appears off at times. While Liverpool’s depth may help mitigate injuries in the long term, the immediate loss of two key players is a blow the team will feel acutely.
Slot reflected on the broader picture after the match, noting the challenges of navigating injuries and trying to force results in difficult circumstances:
“It’s always tricky. When you lose players like this, it affects not just the match but preparation for the next one. We have to hope for the best with their recovery and try to adjust as best we can for Saturday. That’s football; these things happen, but they are never easy.”
With Alisson and Ekitike both set to undergo further assessment, Liverpool will be hoping for at least one positive update ahead of their trip to Stamford Bridge. Slot and his staff will have to make decisions regarding goalkeeper selection and attacking options, as they aim to bounce back from back-to-back defeats a scenario rarely encountered during the Dutch manager’s time at Anfield.
The stakes are high, and Liverpool must hope that their Premier League campaign does not suffer further disruption from these latest setbacks ahead of a crucial weekend clash.
