Champions League setback as Galatasaray outmanoeuvre Liverpool
Control of possession and territory could not mask wasted chances and lost battles as Galatasaray took full advantage.
Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool: A Night of Frustration in the Champions League
European away nights are meant to test character, and Liverpool found Istanbul a harsh reminder that possession and reputation alone do not win matches. Against Galatasaray, a side who treated the occasion as their biggest game of the season, Arne Slot’s men faltered in both rhythm and execution, leaving Turkey with their second straight defeat.
The Champions League group stage offers room for recovery, but this was still a warning sign. Liverpool looked flat, disjointed and, most worryingly, lacked the composure to manage key moments.
Possession Without Penetration
Liverpool dominated possession with 67% of the ball, yet that control rarely translated into incision. They attempted 525 passes to Galatasaray’s 271, completing 87% compared to their hosts’ 68%. Despite that numerical superiority, much of it was sterile, played in areas that carried little threat.