Liverpool endured a frustrating night in Istanbul on Tuesday, falling 1-0 to Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League and losing two key players to injury.
Head coach Arne Slot confirmed after the match that first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker will miss this weekend’s Premier League clash with Chelsea following a knock sustained in the 56th minute. The Brazilian was replaced by Giorgi Mamardashvili, with further medical checks expected in the coming days.
“It’s never positive if you go off like this,” Slot said post-match. “You can be sure he’s not going to play on Saturday.”
Alisson has struggled with injuries in recent years, having missed over two months last season with a hamstring problem.
Liverpool’s night worsened when striker Hugo Ekitike was forced off midway through the second half after feeling discomfort while stretching for the ball. Slot admitted the severity of the forward’s issue remains unclear:
“After games it’s difficult to judge. He said he couldn’t continue, so we’ll assess him before the weekend.”
The defeat came courtesy of a Victor Osimhen penalty in the first half, awarded after Dominik Szoboszlai was penalised for a foul inside the box.
The result marked Liverpool’s second straight defeat under Slot, following last weekend’s loss to Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Reflecting on the performance, the manager admitted frustration: “First half we played quite well and had a big chance to go 1-0 up. But in the second half there wasn’t much football, Galatasaray slowed the game down and it was difficult to build momentum.”
Liverpool will now look to regroup quickly ahead of their trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea, in what promises to be another stern test.
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