Liverpool faces risk of elimination in Champions League: A wasted season

The 0-1 defeat against Galatasaray in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 is not the end for Liverpool. With the return match at Anfield, the opportunity to turn the situation around remains in the hands of Arne Slot and his team…

... But if we look deeply into what happened in Istanbul, this defeat reveals a worrying reality. Liverpool currently lacks not only stability but also systemic issues in their playing style.

Weak attack, poor defense

Liverpool started the match quite positively. In the opening minutes, they applied high-pressing tactics that unsettled Galatasaray's defense. A clear opportunity emerged just after 2 minutes when Florian Wirtz had the ball in front of a nearly empty goal following an opponent's mistake.

However, the German midfielder shot wide of the post in a moment of regret. That was a moment that could have changed the course of the match, but it also signaled Liverpool's lack of sharpness. Not capitalizing on the chance, they quickly paid the price. In the 7th minute, from a corner kick on the right flank, Victor Osimhen headed the ball into the far post area, and Mario Lemina easily finished close-range to score the opening goal. Notably, Liverpool's defense had almost no reaction to this situation. Alexis Mac Allister and Joe Gomez failed to jump to contest, while players near the post neglected Lemina.

A disorganized and lacking determination defensive play, something that has repeatedly occurred with Liverpool this season. The most disappointing player in defense was center-back Ibrahima Konate. After an unstable start to the season, the French player had shown signs of regaining form. But in Istanbul, he was awkward as usual.

Konate repeatedly misplaced passes, handled the ball sluggishly, and made several indecisive clearances. One of the most dangerous situations occurred when he carelessly passed back to the goalkeeper, allowing Osimhen to finish close-range.

Not only the defense, Liverpool's forward line also greatly disappointed. Mohamed Salah entered the match with a memorable milestone, making his 81st Champions League appearance for Liverpool, surpassing Jamie Carragher's record. Unfortunately, that historic match did not bring a corresponding performance.

The Egyptian star played quite dimly and hardly created any significant impact on Galatasaray's defense.

Meanwhile, Wirtz, who was expected to bring creativity, performed below expectations. After nearly a month off due to a back injury, the German midfielder clearly hasn't regained his best feel for the ball. In the striker position, Hugo Ekitike was active but lacked the necessary sharpness. This forward had a clear chance facing Cakir, but his shot wasn't dangerous enough to equalize.

A wasted season

The rare bright spot for Liverpool in this match came from the goalkeeper position. Due to Alisson Becker's injury in training before the match, Giorgi Mamardashvili was given the chance to start.

The Georgian goalkeeper made several crucial saves, especially in the first half when Galatasaray continuously created threats. He blocked a dangerous header from Davinson Sanchez and reacted excellently to Osimhen's finishes. Without Mamardashvili, Liverpool might have suffered a heavier defeat. However, a goalkeeper performing well cannot hide the systemic issues of the entire team.

Despite controlling the ball quite a lot, Liverpool lacked ideas in their attacking development. Apart from Szoboszlai, their midfield failed to create the necessary connection and creativity to penetrate the opponent's defense. That is also a familiar image of Liverpool this season: High ball possession but lacking real effectiveness.

The defeat in Istanbul is not the end for Liverpool in the Champions League. The return match at Anfield still opens the opportunity for a comeback, especially since Galatasaray will lack the support of their fans due to UEFA's penalty.

Anfield on European nights has always witnessed miraculous comebacks, and Arne Slot and his team can fully hope for that.

But even if Liverpool reverses the situation and secures a quarter-final ticket, the reality remains unchanged. Issues regarding defensive organization, finishing ability, and creativity in play style persist.

Further ahead, much stronger opponents like Chelsea or PSG might be waiting. With current form, it's hard to believe Liverpool has the capability to compete evenly with top contenders.

Therefore, what Liverpool's leadership likely needs to consider is not the dream of winning the Champions League this season. Instead, it's a squad overhaul in the summer to upgrade the team's lineup and depth.