Alexander Isak fears come true as Florian Wirtz moment sums up Liverpool struggles

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.

Ian Doyle with the talking points after Liverpool slumped to a disappointing Champions League 1-0 defeat at Galatasaray on Tuesday eveningIan Doyle has covered Liverpool for more than 20 years, following them across Europe in multiple Champions League and Europa League finals and as far afield as Thailand, Singapore, the United States, Hong Kong and Qatar, and has reported on the Reds winning every major honour. Once had to tell Jude Law he does not drive a Mini.Istanbul may have provided Liverpool with their greatest-ever European night.

But the Turkish capital has otherwise offered little joy to Liverpool, this a third successive defeat in the city.More worryingly, though, it was only the fifth time in 66 games under Arne Slot that Liverpool failed to score a goal.It’s not that they weren’t without chances in the first half, one of which saw Ibrahima Konate sum up another alarmingly hapless showing by heading a corner wide from close range.Hugo Ekitike was lively for the opening 30 minutes while there was a sense that with a little more care, the Reds could prise open a Galatasaray side who had not won at home in the competition proper for almost 10 years.But that Liverpool became blunted when Alexander Isak emerged points to an issue of which Slot has long been fearful – the lack of time for the £125million man to build up an understanding with a team still adjusting to so many other new arrivals.Isak managed a shot with his first action, but had only three further touches during his 38 minutes on the pitch – Mohamed Salah, who came on at the same time, had 19.With doubts over Ekitike’s fitness, Isak must now assume the number nine responsibility for the foreseeable. And the Reds need to start working out how best to capitalise on his quality.Wirtz struggles continueIt was a moment that perhaps encapsulated the first few months of Florian Wirtz’s time at Liverpool.

After Ekitike had been crowded out and Cody Gakpo saw a shot cleared off the line, the ball fell to Wirtz inside the area.But rather than try for goal or play a simple pass, the Germany international chose to blindly roll the ball behind himself in the expectation it would be met by an incoming team-mate.Instead, Galatasaray simply picked up the loose possession and 20 seconds later were awarded the penalty from whistle-happy referee Clement Turpin that exposed Dominik Szoboszlai’s inexperience at right-back and ultimately decided a low-quality encounter.Wirtz was at the heart of sufficient Liverpool first-half threat, and saw a smart shot on the turned saved.But his performance dipped considerably after the break, with only the injuries of others contributing to him lasting the full 90 minutes for the first time since moving to Anfield.There was one good cross for Conor Bradley to head wide, but by the end he was guilty of the loose possession that affected most of his team-mates.A booking in injury time prompted an incredulous look from Wirtz having earlier been aggrieved at some rough treatment. He is becoming a marked man in more ways than one.Alisson deepens woeParis Saint-German demonstrated last season at Liverpool’s expense that just finishing inside the top 24 of the Champions League opening stage is enough to go on and win the tournament.And while there will be grumbles at a second successive defeat for the Reds – only the second time that has happened under Slot – the most immediate concern will regard the fitness of Alisson Becker.The sight of the Brazilian holding his arm up to signal an obvious problem when saving a one-on-one from Victor Osimhen would have made hearts sink all the way back to Merseyside.Slot has already ruled him out of Saturday’s trip to Chelsea, which will be a first real test for Giorgi Mamardashvili, with the Georgian having had little to do during the half-hour or so he was on the pitch.Elsewhere, a fitful cameo from Alexis Mac Allister highlighted the Argentine remains way short of full fitness.But on a night of few positives, Curtis Jones at least acquitted himself well and will now be a strong contender to keep his place at Stamford Bridge at the weekend.