Liverpool coach Arne Slot has admitted that Victor Osimhen’s first-half injury significantly aided his side’s passage into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, saying the Super Eagles striker’s early exit changed the complexion of a tie that Galatasaray had been controlling before the setback.
Liverpool overturned a one-goal first-leg deficit to win 4-0 at Anfield on Wednesday, advancing 4-1 on aggregate, but the tie turned sharply in the 10th minute when Osimhen clashed with defender Ibrahima Konate and sustained a forearm fracture that eventually forced him off at half-time. Without their most dangerous attacker, Galatasaray lost their shape and crumbled in the second half.
Slot was candid about the impact of Osimhen’s injury after the match, while also heaping praise on the Nigerian’s quality.
“Osimhen is an incredible player for them. Yeah, the injury worked for us, but when you look at the first 10 minutes and how the team played with him, I thought he would play the full 90 because the rest of the team plays so well off him,” Slot said.
The Liverpool coach also acknowledged the relief of not having to contend with a fully fit Osimhen for the duration of the match, recalling how influential the striker had been across both legs.
“He’s shown many times in his career that he can score a goal all of a sudden. It’s not nice to see any player get injured, but he’s been very influential on Galatasaray’s performance. It was a difficult task for us when we played them in their stadium, largely because of their fans. It is a huge advantage for us to get ahead without conceding when facing that kind of pressure,” he added.
Osimhen had been the driving force behind Galatasaray’s first-leg victory, providing the assist for Mario Lemina’s winner at RAMS Park and posing a constant threat throughout. He had also scored the only goal against Liverpool during the group stage earlier in the season, making him the player Slot’s side feared most heading into the return fixture.
Galatasaray confirmed after the match that Osimhen had fractured his forearm and may require surgery, a significant blow for the Turkish champions as they continue to fight on two fronts domestically, challenging for the Super Lig title and the Turkish Cup.