Liverpool Suffers Consecutive Defeats to Galatasaray Amid Tactical Criticism and Injuries

Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed disappointment after his team suffered a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League, marking consecutive losses for the first time since March. Slot criticized the penalty decision that led to the only goal, conceding that Galatasaray made a low-probability penalty appear certain, and lamented the congested schedule with an upcoming difficult match against Chelsea. The defeat also highlighted tactical missteps, notably Slot's controversial decision to play Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back instead of Jeremie Frimpong, which led to defensive vulnerabilities and the penalty conceded. Additionally, the choice to leave Mohamed Salah out of the starting lineup backfired, as Liverpool's attack appeared disjointed and lacked the usual vigor, compounded by injuries to key players Alisson Becker and Hugo Ekitike. Despite a few decent chances and late substitutions including Salah and Alexander Isak, Liverpool failed to score and struggled against a strong Galatasaray side in a hostile environment. The result underscores Liverpool's challenges this season under Slot’s management, with fans and analysts questioning some of the tactical decisions amid a tough Champions League campaign.