Liverpool endured a night to forget in Istanbul as Galatasaray handed them a 1-0 defeat in the Champions League. Notably, it marked the Premier League champions’ second successive loss. To compound matters, head coach Arne Slot confirmed that goalkeeper Alisson will miss Saturday’s clash with Chelsea after picking up an injury.
Slot, who opted to rest Mohamed Salah from the starting XI, saw his side struggle to create chances amid a deafening atmosphere at RAMS Park. Galatasaray took the lead in the 16th minute when Victor Osimhen converted a penalty. Referee Clement Turpin had awarded a penalty after Dominik Szoboszlai had fouled Baris Alper Yilmaz. The goal arrived just seconds after Davinson Sanchez had cleared Cody Gakpo’s effort off the line.
The biggest setback of the evening came in the second half when Alisson pulled up after making a fine save from Osimhen. The Brazilian immediately signaled his discomfort and was replaced by summer signing Giorgi Mamardashvili in the 56th minute. Slot later confirmed the 32-year-old would play no part against Chelsea as he sad, “It’s never positive if you go off like this. You can be sure he is not playing Saturday.”
Mamardashvili, signed for £29 million from Valencia, is now set to make his Premier League debut at Stamford Bridge. Alisson’s absence will be keenly felt, particularly after the Brazilian missed 10 league games last season through a hamstring problem.
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Liverpool’s woes deepened further as striker Hugo Ekitike also limped off in the second half after overstretching for the ball. “He said he couldn’t continue. So we had to take him off. Let’s see how he is for the weekend,” Slot explained.
With Alisson ruled out and Ekitike also a doubt, Liverpool head into a crucial Premier League clash with Chelsea facing both form concerns and injury setbacks. However, Slot will look for a positive response from his players following back-to-back defeats.
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