Mario Lemina’s early goal condemned Liverpool to defeat at Galatasaray in an enthralling first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie.
But the Reds will be thankful that they won’t have a greater deficit to cancel out at Anfield next week, having produced an incohesive, error-strewn display in Arne Slot’s 100th match in charge.
Looking to dampen a typically hostile atmosphere in Istanbul, Liverpool began the game firmly on the front foot, their aggressive press frequently forcing Galatasaray into losing the ball around their own box, but Florian Wirtz dragged well wide with more or less an open goal to aim at.
And Slot’s side were made to pay for their wastefulness almost immediately as Galatasaray struck with their very first shot, Lemina heading home after Victor Osimhen had made first contact from Gabriel Sara’s corner.
That goal seemed to leave Liverpool somewhat shellshocked, but Osimhen gave the visitors a big let-off when he missed the target with a free header.
Galatasaray’s wobbly defence was always going to give up opportunities, though, Florian Wirtz drawing the first save of the night from Ugurcan Cakir then Ibrahima Konate sending a long-range rocket just over the bar.
Liverpool’s backline was looking veritably porous itself, however, and they had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping the score down to 1-0.
Giorgi Mamardashvili reacted brilliantly to clip Noa Lang’s cross-cum-shot round the post then produced another fine fingertip save to keep out Davinson Sanchez’s header.
The attacks kept coming thick and fast, and Osimhen spared the blushes of Konate – who completely missed the ball while attempting to clear Wilfried Singo’s teasing cross – by snatching at his attempt and blazing over.
At the end of a frantic first 45 minutes, Galatasaray will have been disappointed not to head into half-time with at least a 2-0 lead for which they’d have been good value, while Liverpool could count themselves very fortunate.
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The second half started in similarly chaotic fashion, Dominik Szoboszlai having a couple of efforts from distance either side of Abdulkerim Bardacki’s shot into the side netting which almost caught out Mamardashvili.
Galatasaray thought they’d doubled their lead when Konate, enduring a rotten night, gifted possession to Lang then got his feet tangled in trying to recover, allowing Osimhen to smash home – only for the offside flag to come to Liverpool’s rescue.
A breathlessly end-to-end spell continued when Hugo Ekitike intercepted Baris Alper Yilmaz’s loose pass to break through on goal, but Bardakci got back superbly to put the Frenchman off and allow Cakir to save.
It was then Liverpool’s turn to think they’d scored as the ball was scrambled over the line amid chaotic scenes at a corner, but the goal was chalked out after a VAR check, Konate having handled the ball on its way in.
Reds substitute Andy Robertson went close to equalising with a deflected shot at the near post, but Cakir again came to the hosts’ rescue, before Sara hit the side-netting with his last involvement of the game.
Another substitute, Cody Gakpo, was the next Liverpool player to threaten, flashing a vicious effort just wide of Cakir’s near post as the Reds pushed for a late leveller, but Galatasaray held out for their second win over Slot’s men in this season’s Champions League – having triumphed by the same scoreline in the league phase.
