Two Liverpool players take the blame after enquiry into Galatasaray mistakes
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Liverpool Echo IconSportFootballLiverpool FCLiverpool are in action against Galatasaray in Istanbul in the first leg of their Champions League round‑of‑16 tieJoe Hart and Steve McManaman both agreed that Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate were at fault for Galatasaray's first goal against Liverpool. The Reds were victims of poor defending, with the hosts capitalising from their first effort on goal.Lemina was given far too much space in the six‑yard box and headed home a knock‑down from a Victor Osimhen corner.
Speaking at half‑time, former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart told TNT Sports: "Lamina just goes through the back of [Dominik] Szoboszlai and Van Dijk just don't pick him up."[Victor] Osimhen rises, it's a brilliant header, Lemina can't believe his luck."READ MORE: Galatasaray vs Liverpool LIVE - Champions League score, Mario Lemina goal, commentary streamREAD MORE: Graeme Souness refuses to answer Arne Slot Liverpool question as he blasts 'excuse after excuse'McManaman then interjected saying: "Very frustrating wasn't it, for Liverpool? The way they attack, they didn't attack with any real purpose even though they had wonderful chances."In the air defensively, they were very, very vulnerable - that was an awful goal to concede."Osimhen, the most dangerous player on the pitch in a Galatasaray shirt, winning the header, heading it back into the danger area."Konate not picking up on anybody, and then other players falling asleep and then a simple header on the far post."Liverpool started really well and exploited Galatasaray, playing out from the back but they've [Galatasaray] been getting chances on target."That has to stop in the second half."FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!
All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageLiverpool went 2-0 down shortly after the break, with Konate once again at the centre of some poor defending.Galatasaray thought they had doubled their lead, but VAR intervened and ruled Baris Yilmaz offside.Konate was seen on the ground trying to wrestle the ball from Osimhen, who had put it in the net before the goal was overturned.Liverpool had started the brighter side in Istanbul, but it was the Turkish giants who struck first, capitalising with their very first effort on target.Arne Slot's side have been exposed defensively throughout the season, a recurring issue that has drawn plenty of scrutiny from pundits.Despite the 1-0 defeat, Liverpool will head to Anfield with a narrow disadvantage and the boost of there being not away fans after they were banned by Uefa for 'throwing objects, lighting fireworks and causing crowd disturbances' during their 3-2 defeat at Juventus in February.Choose Liverpool Echo as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FCUEFA Champions League