Victor Osimhen scored the winning goal for Galatasaray as they beat Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday night
Victor Osimhen has given his verdict on Liverpool(Image: Ahmad Mora – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Victor Osimhen has hailed Liverpool as ‘one of the greatest clubs in the world’ after helping Galatasaray beat the Reds on Tuesday night. The Nigerian scored the winning goal from the penalty spot in the first half to hand the Turkish giants a famous win.
The victory was Galatasaray’s first victory at home in the Champions League for seven years, with the final whistle inevitably prompting wild celebrations from both Okan Buruk’s side and a passionate home crowd.
Osimhen had been an injury doubt in the build-up to the game, having only returned from a month on the sidelines as a late substitute on Friday night.
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But after returning to the Galatasaray starting XI, the 26-year-old has urged his team-mates to use the win as motivation to progress further in the tournament.
“I’m extremely happy about the performance we put in about one of the greatest clubs in the world,” he told CBS Sports after the final whistle. “For us, we never get carried away because this is a true test that Liverpool gave to us and I’m really happy about this win.
“It won’t take away that they are one of the best [teams] in the last decade. For us, it’s a really big motivation for us.
“They made us even better and we know we have a lot of things to work on. I’m really happy for this win and the team.
“We have quality in our team and we just need to be focused in many games in this competition.
“This is a huge step for us and we won’t be carried away because we beat Liverpool. It’s a big motivation.”
Osimhen also admitted it was a ‘huge moment’ to score the winning goal against Alisson Becker as he lauded the Brazilian – who went off injured in the second half – as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
The Nigerian has now locked horns with Alisson and Liverpool on three occasions, with Tuesday night’s victory the second time he has come out on the winning side.
But his winner against the Reds marked the first time he had scored against the six-time European champions, while he had previously seen Alisson deny him from the penalty spot during his time with Napoli back in 2022.
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Osimhen conceded his previous effort had been on his mind ahead of stepping up against the Liverpool shot-stopper as he put his previous demons to bed.
“You come face-to-face with one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Alisson,” he said. “I have to be on high concentration for the place where I want to put the ball and I didn’t change it.
“For me, it’s a huge moment. I came against him when I played for my previous club and he heard my penalty so I needed to be highly concentrated to do better.”
Prior to joining Galatasaray permanently from Napoli this summer, Osimhen had repeatedly been linked with a move to Liverpool.
However, ahead of facing the Turkish giants, Arne Slot had played down suggestions that the Nigerian was ever on the Reds’ transfer shortlist.