Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk had words of respect for Victor Osimhen after the Reds suffered a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Osimhen, who has already made himself a hero among the Turkish side’s supporters, scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the first half at Rams Park, securing a memorable victory for the home side.
Speaking after the match, Van Dijk admitted Liverpool’s own errors played a part in the loss.
“They won a penalty and had a few other openings because of our mistakes. It was a messy game,” the Dutch defender confessed.
He also reflected on how the Nigerian forward took advantage of Liverpool’s defensive slips:
“Osimhen scored from the spot and had more chances after we gave the ball away. He couldn’t finish them all, but he kept creating opportunities for himself. Their attackers were sharp.”
For Osimhen, the moment was special. The striker, who has been under the spotlight since moving to Galatasaray, described the club as “the biggest team in the world” after leading them past Arne Slot’s men.
“Congratulations to the team. It was a tough game and a strong opponent. Many didn’t believe we could win, but we did,” he said in his post-match remarks.
At full-time, Van Dijk and Osimhen shared a mutual show of respect as they exchanged shirts—a fitting symbol of a night where the Nigerian striker stole the headlines.
