Arsenal legend criticises Osimhen’s selfishness in Galatasaray's win over Liverpool

Victor Osimhen secured a memorable 1-0 UEFA Champions League victory for Galatasaray over Premier League champions Liverpool on Tuesday night, but the Nigerian striker's overall performance drew mixed reviews from CBS Sports commentator and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.

While acknowledging Osimhen's decisive penalty and the collective effort of the Turkish side, Henry suggested that the Super Eagles star's tendency toward individual play prevented the hosts from running up a more comfortable scoreline at Rams Park.

The match’s only goal came from the penalty spot after a foul on Barış Alper Yılmaz, and Henry was quick to laud Osimhen for his composure under immense pressure against Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

"But he took the penalty really well," Henry stated in his post-match analysis, crediting the Nigerian for a well-taken strike that ultimately sealed the win for Arne Slot’s side.

Henry also extended praise to Galatasaray as a whole for their tactical approach and fighting spirit against the English giants.

“They really fought for every ball until the end. They played their best on the counter-attack,” the Frenchman observed.

He added that the victory, though a surprise to some, was a testament to the team's potential, especially on their home turf.

He said, “On a good day, Galatasaray can beat any team. When Galatasaray is on a good day and playing at home, they can beat any team in Europe.”

Despite the winning goal, the major point of contention in Henry’s analysis was Osimhen’s decision-making in the final third.

The CBS pundit felt that several potential goal-scoring opportunities were lost due to the striker attempting to finish moves himself rather than setting up a teammate.

He said, “If Osimhen had been a little less selfish at times, they could have scored a few more goals. A few times, he might have given the ball away to one of his teammates.”

Ultimately, Henry concluded that Galatasaray and their match-winner deserved full recognition for the upset victory against a team he acknowledged could be "bothered."

"We have to give them credit. Look at the players in the team,” Henry said.

The result secures a massive three points for Galatasaray in the group stage.