Victor Osimhen: 2 Liverpool problems Nigerian striker would have solved in Man City loss

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen just returned from a groin problem to provide an assist in Galatasaray’s 3-1 win over Kasimpasa last Friday.

Liverpool went into the clash against Manchester City with two of their main men in attack – Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike injured, while Dominik Szoboszlai missed the match with a hamstring complaint. Andoni Iraola handed young Welsh striker Lewis Koumas a rare start.

However, Liverpool’s struggles against Enzo Maresca’s side showed why a striker with Victor Osimhen’s qualities could have made a difference at Anfield

The Reds suffered a 3-0 defeat to City on Sunday, October 11, after Ryan Gravenberch’s 62nd-minute red card changed the complexion of a closely contested match.

Erling Haaland, Jérémy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored in the second half, but Liverpool had already struggled to turn their intensity into clear opportunities before going down to 10 men.

Osimhen, who plays for Galatasaray, was not a realistic Liverpool replacement for that particular match. However, several of his qualities offer a useful way to examine two problems that hurt the Reds against City.

2 Victor Osimhen qualities that would’ve solved Liverpool’s problems

1. Osimhen could have given Liverpool a reliable attacking outlet

Liverpool’s first problem was their difficulty connecting their possession to chance creation.

Koumas worked hard, but City’s defenders were able to limit Liverpool’s central attacking options. The Reds often looked to progress through their wingers or use combinations around Florian Wirtz, Bradley Barcola and Víctor Muñoz.

The result saw Liverpool struggle to create enough clear-cut chances.

Osimhen’s ability to run behind defensive lines, compete physically with centre-backs and protect the ball could have given Liverpool another route forward.

The Nigerian striker is not simply a penalty-box finisher. He can stretch a defence with runs into space, challenge for long passes and hold off defenders while teammates move up to support him.

That would have been useful when City pressed Liverpool’s build-up. Rather than trying to progress through midfield or rely on their wingers to beat their markers, Liverpool could have played into Osimhen and built around his ability to bring others into the attack.

It would not have completely solved Liverpool’s creative problems, but it could have made their forward play less predictable.

2. Osimhen could have forced City defenders back

The Reds had promising moments, especially early in the second half, when Gianluigi Donnarumma denied Koumas and Gravenberch before Alexis Mac Allister fired wide.

However, Liverpool could not sustain that threat close to goal. Their movement around the penalty area did not create the space needed for a strong finish.

Osimhen’s instincts inside the box would have offered something different that would have benefited Wirtz and Liverpool’s wingers, who needed more effective combinations in the final third.

Would Osimhen have changed the result?

Osimhen might have helped Liverpool address their lack of a central outlet and improve their penalty-box threat, but the defeat cannot be explained by their striker situation alone.

The match remained goalless until Gravenberch was dismissed. City then took advantage of their numerical advantage, scoring three times in the space of 13 minutes.

Liverpool’s defensive structure, decision-making under pressure and ability to respond after the red card were also key to the result.

Osimhen could have given Iraola a reliable option up-front. Whether that would have been enough to change the outcome is impossible to know, but the Nigerian’s profile highlights two areas where Liverpool needed more from their attack.