Giorgi Mamardashvili shines as 3/10 teammate loses possession 14 times – Liverpool player ratings vs Galatasaray

Tue 10 March 2026 19:49, UK

Liverpool were beaten 1-0 by Galatasaray in the Champions League after Mario Lemina’s first half strike saw the Turkish giants take a lead into next week’s round of 16 second leg.

Liverpool wasted two fine chances in the opening stages of the game, and were made to pay in the seventh minute as Mario Lemina powered a header home after Victor Osimhen’s knock-down from a corner.

Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konate both went close to levelling the game, but it also took a fine save from Giorgi Mamardashvili to stop Davinson Sanchez from making it 2-0 in the 24th minute.

Galatasaray thought they had doubled their lead through Osimhen just after the hour mark following some poor defending from Ibrahima Konate, but Baris Yilmaz was deemed to have been offside in the build-up and it was disallowed.

Konate then seemingly caused a Liverpool goal to be ruled out after the ball hit his arm before it was bundled into the hosts’ net by Virgil van Dijk.

Liverpool face Galatasaray next Wednesday in a huge second leg, with the Turkish giants now ahead on aggregate going into the clash at Anfield.

Giorgi Mamardashvili – Man of the match

Liverpool’s outfielders left a lot to be desired with their respective performances in Istanbul, with stand-in stopper Mamardashvili needing to bail them out on several separate occasions.

The Georgian international pulled off some superb saves to keep to score at 1-0, not least to deny former Spurs defender Sanchez in the 24th minute as he sprung to his right to claw the ball away from goal.

He also had to stop a teasing cross from Noa Lang just before that, as it looked to be creeping to the far corner, after every Liverpool defender had simply stopped in their tracks.

Mamardashvili will likely come out of the Reds’ starting lineup as soon as Alisson is fit, but did his chances of more minutes no harm with a performance that earns him a 7 out of 10 rating.

Florian Wirtz had a shocker as numerous chances missed

Wirtz cost Liverpool a lot of money last summer and needs to step up in games like these, but he struggled to make his mark and actually spurned a few huge chances.

The German playmaker wasted a fine chance to score early on, as his first-time shot whistled wide after Ugurcan Cakir failed to clear and was stranded way out of his goal.

Florian Wirtz looking focused for Liverpool — Credit: Imago

He then should have made it 1-1 in the 16th minute as Mac Allister found him at the back post following some slick Liverpool play, but his weak effort was comfortable for Cakir.

Sources have told Football Insider that numerous Liverpool stars could leave this summer if they fail to qualify for the Champions League for next season, but based on this showing, Wirtz certainly should not be one of those who believe he deserves a better move.