Victor Osimhen lit up RAMS Park on Tuesday night as Galatasaray shocked Liverpool 1-0 in a heated Champions League clash.
Returning from a hamstring injury, the Nigerian striker bullied the Reds’ defense with his trademark pace and power, slotting home a 16th-minute penalty that sealed back-to-back defeats for Arne Slot’s side for the first time.
But it was Osimhen’s post-match comments that stole the spotlight, as he brutally singled out one Liverpool defender—believed to be Ibrahima Konaté—sparking outrage among Anfield fans.
“He’s too weak for me—I got past him with ease every time,” Osimhen told beIN Sports. “No one should compare his strength to mine, the difference is huge. I could feel him trembling whenever we clashed.
If he wants to succeed at this level, he has to toughen up. This is the Champions League—you can’t be bullied like that.”
The 26-year-old, who bagged 26 Serie A goals last season before his surprise loan move to Turkey, added another stinging jab: “I respect Liverpool, but tonight their defense looked lost. I was through on goal three times because he couldn’t match my power.”
Osimhen’s penalty—earned after a rash Szoboszlai challenge—was his only effort on target, yet his dominance in duels (winning 8 of 10) exposed Liverpool’s fragility.
Konaté, signed from Leipzig for £36m in 2021, was hooked at halftime after a knock during a tussle with Osimhen, who later mocked the incident as “him backing out too quickly.” Even Virgil van Dijk admitted: “Victor was a handful. We weren’t at our best, but that’s no excuse.”
Social media erupted under #OsimhenOwnsLiverpool. Viral clips compared Konaté to a training cone, while rival fans piled in.
Arsenal supporters mocked: “Chelsea missed Osimhen, Liverpool’s backline looks like butter.” The irony wasn’t lost—Liverpool had once chased Osimhen as a Núñez replacement before spending £79m on Hugo Ekitike.
Slot, furious after the match, defended his players: “Ibrahima’s a fighter, but Osimhen is top class. We take the loss, we learn, and move forward. No one here is weak—it’s about collective strength.”
For Galatasaray, the win was the perfect response after their 5-1 drubbing against Eintracht Frankfurt. Osimhen, prioritized for this tie, celebrated with teammate Mauro Icardi and even donned a Superman cape in the tunnel, embracing the hero’s role.
The result lifts the Turkish champions to fourth place in the league phase, while Liverpool face mounting pressure before a huge Premier League trip to Manchester City.
With Napoli inserting a €75m buy option in his loan deal, Osimhen is already attracting fresh Premier League suitors. Arsenal and Chelsea are circling again, and even Liverpool whispers persist.
The striker hinted with a sly smile: “I want a team that challenges me. Liverpool? Maybe next time—if they fix that defense.”
For Slot and Liverpool, the message is crystal clear—the striker they once chased has become their tormentor, and his words may cut even deeper than his goal.
