Galatasaray v Liverpool: Line-ups, stats and preview for Champions League clash

Liverpool head to Istanbul hoping for a different outcome than their last visit when they went down 1-0 in the league phase in September.

That was an early-season indicator that all was not well with Arne Slot’s side despite a bright start to the season. The Merseysiders have underwhelmed in recent months although the players have had a lot to deal with following the death of Diogo Jota in July.

Performances have been patchy throughout although results have been largely satisfactory. They sit sixth in the Premier League, 19 points behind leaders Arsenal, with their title defence long since evaporating.

The Champions League and FA Cup remain their only chances of silverware with the former looking tougher following the draw that placed them in the same half as Real Madrid, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.

Getting past Galatasaray will be no easy task in itself with Okan Buruk’s men top of the Super Lig following the weekend win at neighbours Besiktas.

The Istanbul giants have a squad laden with former Premier League players, including Davinson Sanchez, Mario Lemina, Ilkay Gundogan and Lucas Torreira.

Buruk remains wary of Liverpool, though, and hopes his team can conjure up a win to take back to Anfield next week.

“Our opponents are very high quality,” he said. “At the start of the season, they won a lot of matches with last-minute goals. We have two matches against them and both results are important. It is important that we finish the first match in the best position possible.

“The first leg is the most important one. There are big teams – 16 big teams – on the same path as us and we all have a chance to progress. Our goal is to gain the advantage in the first match against Liverpool.”

Buruk does not believe the game earlier this season will have any bearing on tomorrow’s encounter, adding: “The teams know each other. I think Liverpool will come into this match with a very different mindset than they did to our encounter in the group stage.”

Team news for Galatasaray v Liverpool

Liverpool will be without goalkeeper Alisson, after he sustained an injury in training. Giorgi Mamardashvili will deputise. Federico Chiesa is also absent from the travelling party.

Joe Gomez or Jeremie Frimpong will come in at right-back, allowing Dominik Szoboszlai to move back into his usual midfield spot.

Galatasaray are at full strength with striker Victor Osimhen the man to watch. It was Osimhen’s penalty that separated the sides in September.

Predicted line-ups for Galatasaray v Liverpool

Galatasaray: Uğurcan Çakır; Boey, Sánchez, Abdülkerim Bardakçı, Jakobs; Torreira, Lemina; Barış Alper Yılmaz, Gabriel Sara, Lang; Osimhen

Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Gomez, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitiké

Where to watch Galatasaray v Liverpool: TV and online streams

Galatasaray versus Liverpool is the early kick off tomorrow night with a start time of 5.45pm in the UK.

You can watch it on TNT Sports and stream via the discovery+ app.

To watch elsewhere in the world, click HERE to find your local rights holder.

Stats for Galatasaray v Liverpool

• Galatasaray have only lost one of their last nine home games against English clubs in all European competition
• Galatasaray have only lost two of their 22 home matches in the knockout stages of the European Cup/Champions League (W13 D7)
• Liverpool have never won in three previous away games at Galatasaray in the Champions League

Prediction for Galatasaray v Liverpool