Back-to-back defeats for Arne Slot for only the second time as Liverpool manager and a display in Istanbul that showed Saturday’s defeat at Crystal Palace was no flash in the pan.
Energy levels were low, cohesion was missing and, most surprisingly for the champions, the goal threat was missing. There would be no late escape act here. And it seems, after losing to Galatasaray, that a slight stumble has become a bigger bump in the road…
LISTEN TO THE MANAGER…
It might seem an obvious but there is always a point when something said on a quiet day comes back to have huge relevance. Watching the chaos on the pitch as thunder rolled down from the stands led you to think back to Friday, August 8 and a small room at Liverpool’s Kirkby training base, where Slot was holding court.
Slot was being probed about the need for attacking reinforcements and whether he had enough artillery to cope with the demands of competing on four fronts. Almost immediately, the Dutchman flipped the question on its head and spoke about a matter that was leaving him uncomfortable.
‘What we need to improve is to concede less,’ Slot cautioned. ‘Not only conceding goals but also chances. Against Yokohama we only conceded one.
‘But they had, in my opinion, too many chances as well. One of our strengths was also that we hardly gave away a chance, let alone a goal.’
Liverpool conceded nine goals in five pre-season friendlies and failed to keep a clean sheet; they shipped two against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield and the only shutouts they have registered since the real business started on August 15 have been against Arsenal and Burnley. Galatasaray could have had more than one goal.
The players are different and the coaching staff has completely changed but the opening to this campaign is starting to give vibes similar to 2022-23 when it always felt that Liverpool could be got at, while a club record signing was struggling to bed in.
Arne Slot salutes the travelling Liverpool fans after the 1-0 defeat at Galatasaray
Victor Osimhen delivers the killer blow with the only goal of the game from the penalty spot
A jubilant Osimhen leads the celebrations in Istanbul after Galatasaray sealed victory
To be clear: this is not some prediction that everything is about to come tumbling down for Liverpool – but, with Chelsea next on the horizon, they will start listing if they continue ship chances so readily. Slot has been aware of this fallibility for two months. It’s down to him and his staff to ensure it doesn’t last another two weeks.
ALISSON’S AGONY
Regular readers will know this correspondent’s thoughts on Alisson Becker: it remains my belief he is the best goalkeeper to play for Liverpool and the best to pull on a pair of gloves in the Premier League.
His brilliance doesn’t always equate to headlines but he is every bit as important as Virgil van Dijk and an in-form Mo Salah.
What sets him apart – and what illustrates the hold he has over attacking players – is that whenever he is in a one-on-one situation, you don’t for a moment think he will end up being beaten. He was outstanding at Crystal Palace on Saturday, the reason the game wasn’t over at half-time.
He was at it again in Turkey. Baris Yilmaz lost his cool in the fifth minute when he went scampering through and Victor Osimhen did the same in the second period, when Ibrahima Konate – more on him shortly – inexplicably sent the Nigerian streaking clear.
But that save came at a cost. Alisson has endured hamstring issues during his seven-year career on Merseyside and, at first glance, it appears that he has suffered another. A lay-off seems likely, how long will only be determined after he undergoes a scan.
Alisson Becker went down after saving an effort from Osimhen early in the second half
The Liverpool keeper was forced off in Istanbul and now faces a spell on the sidelines
Giorgi Mamardashvili was bought last summer to be Alisson’s replacement and while he has immense talent, he does not yet have the Brazilian’s stature: his quality between the posts has been one thing, his ability to provide a comfort blanket around Anfield is something different completely.
Liverpool will cope without Alisson but they won’t be as good. His form in 2025 has been impeccable – he’s the goalkeeper who makes the difficult seem routine, the man who can spot danger and take on all comers on his own, if needed. This is a big setback.
KONATE’S CHAOS
Few have the France international’s popularity on the terraces and he loves the prolonged chant of “IBOOOUUUU!” when he does something good. Trouble is, the bad moments are far outweighing the good at present and Konate can consider himself lucky not to have lost his place.
Joe Gomez was outstanding in his cameo against Arsenal at the end of August and his partnership with Virgil van Dijk, in Liverpool’s title winning campaign, was almost impregnable: at one stage, they had a record of conceding one goal in 990 minutes.
Does Slot consider a recall for Gomez? It is a tough one. Gomez was on the cusp of moves during the last window, with Crystal Palace, Brighton and AC Milan all trying to recruit him. When Marc Guehi’s switch from Selhurst Park collapsed, Liverpool put the blocks on the 28-year-old leaving.
The head coach has mixed things up at the back so far, not being afraid to use Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back for instance. It’s hard to shake the feeling that Gomez and Andrew Robertson being brought back in for a few games would make a significant difference.
Ibrahima Konate reacts after missing a chance but it’s at the other end that he’s struggling
Arne Slot sent on Mo Salah but the forward was unable to find an equaliser
PERSPECTIVE AMID THE PROBLEMS
Liverpool rattled off seven straight victories in the new league stage last season. They finished top in qualifying, even blitzing Real Madrid, and what reward did that get them? A knockout tie with Paris St Germain and elimination.
This is the phony war: Liverpool’s ambition to finish in the top eight hasn’t been destroyed by this defeat, not by a long shot. Of course, it won’t be easy and if this form persists then they will be in trouble but before rash words are being thrown around, the big picture must be considered.
This club is trying to find its way forward after the tragedy of July 3 and Diogo Jota, at all times, remains in everyone’s thoughts. Yes, Liverpool expect wins and they want to compete but they will forever a club that knows what matters. This was a bad night on a football pitch. It can be put right.
