What Arne Slot did after 60 minutes spoke volumes as Liverpool man needs sidelining

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Paul Gorst with the verdict from RAMS Park in Istanbul after Liverpool went down to a 1-0 defeat to GalatasarayPaul Gorst is the Liverpool ECHO's Liverpool FC correspondent and brings readers the inside track on all matters Anfield day in, day out. This was a night where anything that could go wrong pretty much did for Arne Slot as the Reds lost their second successive game while also seeing Alisson Becker and Hugo Ekitike fall to injuries on a miserable night at RAMS Park.And having now suffered back to back defeats, the question is whether this is the start of an alarming slump in both form and results or whether it is a minor blip that is par for the course when a head coach is trying to bed in so many new signings?The result and performance against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening will offer more evidence one way or another for that debate, but it's been a tough few days for Liverpool on the road unquestionably.If Saturday's loss to Crystal Palace was deserved, it could be argued that the Premier League champions were a little unfortunate to be on the wrong side of this 1-0 reverse in Turkey, given both Alisson and replacement Giorgi Mamardashvili were largely untroubled.But after going down to Victor Osimhen's 16th-minute penalty, the Reds rarely looked like having the guile or invention to carve open their hosts and get themselves back into the game and for a club who have spent so much money realigning things at the top end of the pitch, that must be a concern now.Florian Wirtz's adaptation period goes on and it was another game where the £116m man failed to light the blue touch paper for his Anfield adventure.

The Germany international was unable to exert his influence while Alexander Isak, a second-half substitute, continues to look way off 100% after his pre-season was ruined by the nature of his British-record transfer from Newcastle United.It's unfair to criticise the £125m striker too heavily but Liverpool need to figure out how to get Isak up to speed sooner rather than later so he can contribute more meaningfully.The question with regards to this year's Champions League has been how strong Slot was going to go throughout the group stage. The naming of Isak, Alexis Mac Allister and most notably Mohamed Salah on the bench was the biggest illustration of Liverpool's new approach for the European Cup.With Chelsea to come this weekend, particularly on the back of seeing their Premier League advantage chipped down to two points by Arsenal last week, it was obvious which of the two fixtures Slot is prioritising, even if he would no doubt bristle at the mere suggestion.But the decision to start Jeremie Frimpong over Salah, in particular, backfired for Slot.

It was a soft one and the ninth spot kick awarded by referee Clement Turpin in his last 11 Champions League fixtures.Slot was forced to withdraw Alisson shortly after the restart when the Brazil goalkeeper injured himself saving an Osimhen effort and by the hour mark, he had seen enough, introducing his big guns as Salah and Isak arrived alongside Conor Bradley before Mac Allister entered moments later for Ekitike, who was forced off on what was a bruising night for the Reds.The changes didn't have the desired effect, however, and Slot's men continued to toil against the backdrop of one of Europe's most intimidating and deafening dins. Ibrahima Konate endured another nightmare and the France international could do with a few weeks on the sidelines on recent form.Having failed to sign Marc Guehi to provide genuine, high-class competition at centre-half, Konate is coasting and at a time when speculation around his contract goes on, displays like this do little curry favour with those who are naturally suspicious about Real Madrid and their intentions.Liverpool thought they were handed a reprieve late on when Konate was caught by a high boot inside the area in the 88th minute, but after a check with the monitor, referee Turpin overturned his initial decision of a penalty, leaving Slot with plenty to stew on.The wild celebrations inside the penalty area at full time laid bare what this meant to Galatasaray, but for Liverpool it may yet prove to be a cosmetic damage only in their efforts to qualify for the knockout stages.