Istanbul, October 1, 2025 – Victor Osimhen made headlines on and off the pitch after firing Galatasaray to a dramatic 1-0 win over Liverpool in the Champions League at a thunderous RAMS Park.
Back from a hamstring injury and starting for the first time in weeks, the Nigerian striker tormented the Reds’ backline with raw pace and strength. He buried a 16th-minute penalty—won after Dominik Szoboszlai’s rash challenge—to seal victory and condemn Arne Slot’s side to back-to-back defeats for the first time under his management.
But the real fireworks came in the post-match interview. Osimhen launched a brutal assessment of one Liverpool defender, widely believed to be Ibrahima Konaté.
“He is too weak for me. I passed him easily whenever I had the ball,” Osimhen told beIN Sports. “No one should compare the defender’s strength to mine—the gap is too wide. I felt him shaking every time we locked horns. This is the Champions League; you can’t be bullied like that.”
The 26-year-old, who scored 26 goals in Serie A last season before his controversial loan switch from Napoli, didn’t stop there. “I respect Liverpool’s history, but tonight their defense looked lost. I was through on goal three times because he couldn’t match my power.”
Konaté, signed for £36 million from RB Leipzig in 2021, was withdrawn at halftime after a collision with Osimhen—a moment the striker later mocked as “him backing away too quick.” Virgil van Dijk admitted his partner had been overwhelmed: “Victor was a handful tonight. We weren’t at our best, but that’s no excuse.”
Online, the fallout was instant. #OsimhenOwnsLiverpool trended worldwide, with clips of the forward brushing past Konaté racking up hundreds of thousands of views. Arsenal fans mocked: “Chelsea missed out on Osimhen, now Liverpool are paying the price.” Neutral observers pointed out the irony—Liverpool once pursued Osimhen as a replacement for Darwin Núñez before splashing £79 million on Hugo Ekitike instead.
Slot bristled at the criticism but defended his players. “Ibrahima’s a warrior, but Osimhen is world-class. We take the L, learn, and move on. No one’s weak here—it’s about cohesion.”
For Galatasaray, the result was redemption after their 5-1 thrashing by Eintracht Frankfurt. Osimhen, celebrating with teammate Mauro Icardi and even donning a Superman cape in the tunnel, declared: “This one’s for the fans who chanted my name non-stop.”
The victory vaulted Galatasaray to fourth in the league phase, while Liverpool, who opened with a 3-2 win over Atlético Madrid, now face mounting pressure ahead of a daunting trip to Manchester City.
Osimhen’s loan deal includes a €75 million buy option, and performances like this have reignited Premier League interest. Arsenal and Chelsea are monitoring the situation closely, while whispers of a Liverpool rethink refuse to fade.
“I want a team that challenges me,” Osimhen teased. “Liverpool? Maybe next time—but only if they fix that backline.”
For Slot, the defeat was damaging. For Liverpool fans, Osimhen’s words hurt more than the scoreline.
