No panic - but is this Liverpool's transitional season coming a year late?

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No panic - but is this Liverpool's transitional season coming a year late?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Liverpool suffered back-to-back defeats for only the second time during Arne Slot's tenureLiverpool's players were subjected to fireworks let off outside their Istanbul hotel designed to disturb their sleep - but it is a second successive loss that must act as the real wake-up call.The Premier League champions hardly need to go into panic mode as they sit top of the table, but the warning signs of frailty that have dogged the early weeks of their campaign were on display again as they lost 1-0 to Galatasaray in the Champions League.After a seamless transition following his succession to Jurgen Klopp, the title won so impressively in his first term in charge, head coach Arne Slot has hit the first real bumps in the road.On current evidence, after spending close to £450m in the summer, this may yet turn out to be Slot's transitional campaign, rather than the smooth takeover from Klopp without any major acquisitions that followed his arrival from Feyenoord.Alexander Isak, a substitute in Turkey, is still way short of full match fitness following his drawn-out and acrimonious British record £125m move from Newcastle United.And Florian Wirtz, a little cheaper at £116m from Bayer Leverkusen, currently looks somewhat lost and lightweight while he adjusts to the pace of life at Liverpool.But this was not a good night for Slot either.The Dutchman's golden touch with his decision-making deserted him here in Istanbul, the choice to leave Mohamed Salah on the bench backfiring. You suspect Slot may not do it again in a hurry.Liverpool, as they were when beaten at Crystal Palace and as they have been all season, were once again exposed by a Galatasaray side that had clearly done their homework well under coach Okan Buruk.The warning signals were posted in the opening moments when Baris Alper Yilmaz did what other players have done too often for Slot's liking.

The forward ran through on goal unchallenged, only for keeper Alisson to rescue Liverpool once more.Slot used new right-back Jeremie Frimpong as a right-sided attacker, not exactly an act of faith in his defensive abilities, with recognised midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai moved to defence.It was Szoboszlai who conceded the decisive 16th-minute penalty when he was adjudged to have fouled Yilmaz, Victor Osimhen completing the formalities amid scenes of near hysteria.As former Scotland winger Pat Nevin so aptly put it on BBC Radio 5 Live: "It is so un-Liverpool."After the loss at Selhurst Park, the trip to Istanbul was arguably the last thing Liverpool needed, walking into this hostile, fanatical atmosphere that is a ready-built stage for sporting theatre.Galatasaray's fans gathered in their thousands in the bars and cafes close to this magnificent arena, built on a hill so it overlooks Istanbul, hours before kick-off.And the cacophony inside also started hours before the start and, when the action began, every Liverpool touch was greeted with deafening, piercing whistles.To add to Liverpool's misery on this miserable night in Turkey, the outstanding keeper Alisson went off injured in the 56th minute after another save from Osimhen, while in-form striker Hugo Ekitike also limped off later.Has Wirtz unbalanced Liverpool?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Florian Wirtz cut a frustrated figure in IstanbulOne of the major sources of concern in Liverpool's season so far is the lack of impact from Wirtz.Here is a player clearly rich in talent and pedigree, who attracted strong interest from Manchester City before choosing Liverpool.He was the Bundesliga's golden boy after his development under Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen.Wirtz is playing in a withdrawn role behind Liverpool's striker - Ekitike in Istanbul - but apart from one shot in the first half that forced a save from Galatasaray keeper Ugurcan Cakir, he was once more peripheral. They do not look as secure as they did last season and team shape appears to have been affected.Image caption, Florian Wirtz's touch map against Galatasaray illustrates how he popped up just about everywhere for Liverpool in attack - but with little end product"I don't see where Wirtz gets into the team," ex-England captain Wayne Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show.

I think Wirtz actually damages the balance of Liverpool and how they play."He's a top player and I'm sure he will get better - but he's had a slow start and I think there's no denying that."Wirtz's current struggles are not down to a shortage of endeavour. They also conceded two-goal leads against Bournemouth, Newcastle and Atletico.And, again, you can compare the start of this season to the beginning of last - they have had only two clean sheets in 10 games this season having kept six in their first 10 last season."Right now they're not there yet," said ex-Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge on Amazon Prime.