Arne Slot's big Mo Salah call backfires as Liverpool lose vs Galatasaray - 5 talking points

Another off-key performance from Liverpool saw the Premier League champions succumb to a second straight defeat as Galatasaray took full advantage of their listless opponents to register a famous 1-0 triumph in Istanbul.

The deadlock was broken in the 16th minute, mere seconds after Hugo Ekitike came close to giving Arne Slot's men the lead. But the striker was thwarted when clean through and, after clearing Cody Gakpo's follow-up off the line, Galatasaray were awarded a penalty following a swift transition, which was dispatched expertly by Victor Osimhen.

The hosts were the better team and were gifted chances to extend their lead courtesy of some sloppy moments from the Reds, though they did improve at the start of the second half. Things went from bad to worse, though, when Alisson was forced off through injury just before the hour mark.

Liverpool introduced the cavalry soon after as Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak were called into action. But they were unable to conjure up that moment of magic Liverpool needed in front of goal to avoid consecutive defeats, with VAR intervening to prevent the visitors from being awarded a penalty at the death. Here, Mirror Football round up the game's big talking points...

READ MORE: Liverpool given instant penalty verdict after Dominik Szoboszlai decision against Galatasaray

READ MORE: Arne Slot explains surprise Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak Liverpool decision vs Galatasaray

1. Reds struggle to catch light

Liverpool are out to make amends in the Champions League this year after falling at the Last-16 hurdle last term. But for a club with a catalogue jam-packed with famous European nights, this one won't live long in the memory.

The penalty that decided the game, awarded after a stray arm from Dominik Szoboszlai struck Baris Alper Yılmaz in the face, appeared soft. But so did Liverpool, who struggled to impress against inferior opposition. VAR rightly intervened when it looked as though a late penalty would bail them out; not for the first time this season. But there was to be no lifeline on this occasion - and Liverpool can have no complaints.

2. Slot's big call backfires

To be fair to Slot, he hasn't exactly got much wrong since succeeding Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. After all, this marks just the second time during his tenure that Liverpool have lost consecutive games. But his decision to leave Mohamed Salah on the bench and play Jeremie Frimpong ahead of Dominik Szoboszlai in an advanced role just didn't land here.

Galatasaray had plenty of joy down Liverpool's right-hand side and it was of no surprise when Salah and others, including Isak, were introduced on the hour. Frimpong is a fine player and Szoboszlai has deputised at right-back well before. Plus, if we're being fair, Salah hasn't hit the same heights so far this season as he did last term.

But tonight felt like the wrong time to experiment, especially given Liverpool haven't felt fluent at the best of times this season - and so it proved to be.

3. Ekitike makes amends

Ekitike missed Liverpool's sole defeat of the season against Crystal Palace for a 'stupid' red card after removing his shirt in the Carabao Cup win over Southampton. The young Frenchman was reinstated for the trip to Turkey, though, and quickly went about making amends.

Should he have done better when through on goal just seconds before Galatasaray's opener? Yes. But he was also Liverpool's best attacker by some distance and didn't give Galatasaray's defence a moments peace. On this evidence, Slot could have a real headache on his hand when both Ekitike and Isak are fit - provided that the issue that forced the former to leave the field after 69 minutes is nothing to worry about.

4. Alisson injury blow

On a night where hardly anything went right from a Liverpool point of view, the sight of Alisson leaving the field injured was undoubtedly the low point.

Liverpool's No 1 - who hurt himself making a save to prevent Osimhen from doubling Galatasaray's lead just before the hour mark - has been the Premier League's best keeper for years and a combination of his brilliance and some late goals have bailed the Reds out of some sticky situations already this season.

Giorgi Mamardashvili is a fine keeper and will get his chance to impress if the Brazilian is now set for an extended period on the sidelines, but losing Alisson is still a big, big blow.

5. Reds' teething problems continue

Liverpool may have been winning games this season - every one, in fact, until Saturday's shock reverse at Crystal Palace - but there has still been an air of vulnerability about them. The Reds have looked markedly more mortal this season despite a record summer of spending, which has brought fresh challenges to a team that won the Premier League title so convincingly last term given.

Late goals may have papered over some cracks, but the numbers at the other end are slightly more telling. Liverpool conceded just four goals in their first eight games in all competitions last season, not including the Community Shield. This year, that number stands at 11 and is cause for concern for Slot and Co.

Maybe teething issues were inevitable given the big changes to the team. But the manner in which Liverpool were carved open far too easily once again against Galatasaray underlines a growing issue. And at the other end, Daniel Sturridge summed it up best on Amazon Prime when he said post-match that the "chemistry is not right".

Nobody was expecting Liverpool to be the finished article before October. But they are definitely further away from where most expected them to be right now.

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