Liverpool focus on Champions League trip to Galatasaray
Liverpool travel to Istanbul this week looking to regain momentum after the late heartbreak at Crystal Palace. Arne Slot’s team will want to show that defeat was nothing more than a blip, and the Champions League fixture at Galatasaray offers the chance to reassert authority on the European stage.
Recent form and European context
Liverpool’s Premier League campaign remains strong despite the weekend setback, with five wins from six matches leaving them top of the table. Their Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid underlined both their vulnerabilities and their resilience. After early goals from Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah, defensive lapses allowed Marcos Llorente to level. It took a stoppage-time header from Virgil van Dijk to secure the win, a reminder that Liverpool are never short of drama in Europe.
Galatasaray, by contrast, endured a humbling start, beaten 5-1 by Eintracht Frankfurt. That defeat has heightened the stakes for Tuesday’s clash at RAMS Park, where the Turkish side will rely on fervent home support to unsettle their visitors.
Key team news
Liverpool’s squad is largely at full strength, with Giovanni Leoni ruled out for the long term after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The absence is a setback but Slot has enough depth to cover, particularly with Federico Chiesa now available in Europe.
For Galatasaray, Victor Osimhen returned in their win over Alanyaspor after an ankle injury. Manager Okan Buruk admitted to taking risks with his star striker. “We may have changed our formation and had trouble covering the opposition,” he said. “However, we’re taking these risks to ensure he plays.” Buruk added that he wanted Osimhen to “play for 10 minutes and experience the pain,” underlining his importance to the side.
Prediction and expectations
If Osimhen is still short of full sharpness, Liverpool will sense an opportunity. Slot is expected to name a full-strength side, and with confidence still high from their domestic form, the Premier League champions should have enough quality to control the contest. The atmosphere in Istanbul will be hostile, but Liverpool’s experience in these environments makes them favourites to take all three points.
Head-to-head history offers little guidance, with one win apiece and two draws in previous meetings. What matters now is how Liverpool respond to adversity. A composed, professional performance in Turkey would restore momentum.
