GALATASARAY VS. LIVERPOOL
| Tuesday, March 10th |
Champions League, Round of 16 | RAMS Park
3PM BST/10AM EST
Galatasaray come into this one on the back of three wins, and have beaten Liverpool already this season (albeit on the back of a dodgy penalty decision). In their last match they managed a victory against Beşiktaş, maintaining a 1-0 lead despite going a man down with a Leroy Sané red card. Though playing with 10 men does suggest a level of increased work for those on the pitch, a couple players were rested and the most
important were subbed off before full time.
Saturday’s goalscorer Victor Osimhen has been enjoying his football with Galatasaray, and has been especially dangerous in transition — a fact Arne Slot noted in his press conference ahead of this tie, highlighting the need for concentration and organization to get a favorable result. Osimhen has scored seven in eight appearances in the Champions League thus far this season. Barış Alper Yılmaz has been dangerous, and proved a major challenge for the Reds back in September as well.
The Turkish side have good form at home, and have lost just one of their last nine at home to English sides in all European competition (Arsenal in 2014), winning five of the nine. They are the oldest team based on average age of starting XIs thus far at 28y 273d, but in this case that might well translate as experience: Galatasaray have a number of players who have been here before, and though they are far from the toughest opponents Liverpool could have drawn for this fixture, they are a challenge befitting the competition nonetheless.
In his pre-match comments, Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk referenced Liverpool’s late goals earlier in the season, and is surely aware more broadly of the propensity for meaningful late goals in games Liverpool are a part of. His side will want to use the advantage of their challenging atmosphere to fight to the end of this one.
Predicted Liverpool Lineup (4-3-3)
Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Ekitiké, Wirtz
Both Alisson and Federico Chiesa are ruled out of this one, with the Brazilian having “felt something” at the end of training ahead of the tie. As previously reported, Georgi Mamardashvili has traveled with the side and will start Tuesday.
Should Jeremie Frimpong be fit enough for a start Arne Slot might be tempted to play him here, and the same goes for Florian Wirtz. Frimpong’s pace would be of use against the speedy transitions Galatasaray can throw at the Reds, and his presence would allow for more solidity in the spine of the team with Dominik Szoboszlai freed up to play his more natural position. Florian Wirtz could play in place of Alexis Mac Allister, but is perhaps more likely to float up front in place of Cody Gakpo, who has been a useful substitute for Liverpool as well. Hugo Ekitiké, who has played well on the ball under pressure in this competition, should start as well. Slot may well be tempted to play Rio Ngumoha, who showed his ability to make a difference from the start last time out. His age might bring caution, however, as might the temptation of seeing him come on against more tired legs.
Mohamed Salah will likely start, and in so doing will pass Jamie Carragher for the most appearances for Liverpool in UEFA competitions, with both retired and current players currently level on 80 games. Salah is also a goal away from becoming the first African player to reach 50 in European Cup competition, a record he would certainly love to reach — and perhaps his return to scoring last time out can carry over here.
The Reds have won just one of their five previous meetings with Galatasaray; indeed, Liverpool have never won away at Galatasaray, finding this trip and this stadium a challenging proposition. (This win percentage, level with the one against Chelsea, is as low as any versus European opposition Liverpool have faced five or more times — not ideal!)
Liverpool remain favorites here, though perhaps the most likely outcome is a draw. Given the record and uneven form, the Reds would certainly take a clean slate home to Anfield, but a statement of intent would not go amiss…particularly in the wake of the uneven performances against Wolves last week.
The Managers Have Their Say
Arne Slot: “There wasn’t a lot between us [back in September]. In open play we were quite similar, and ultimately it was 50/50 game that came down to a penalty. So we already knew them well, and since watching more of their games my respect for the manager has only grown. They played Beşiktaş [last] and beat them despite being down to ten men, which tells you everything about their fight.”
Okan Buruk: “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.”
The Officials
Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano ESP Assistants: Ángel Nevado ESP, Guadalupe Porras Ayuso ESP Fourth Official: Juan Martínez Munuera ESP VAR: Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez ESP Assistant VAR: Valentín Gómez ESP
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