Galatasaray vs Liverpool:...

Liverpool travels to Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 matchup this Tuesday. Arne Slot’s squad has already faced Galatasaray once this season, suffering a 1-0 defeat, which highlights the challenge they face ahead.

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The reigning Turkish champions secured their spot in the last 16 after a thrilling playoff victory over Juventus. With players like Victor Osimhen, Noah Lang, Leroy Sané, and Baris Yilmaz in their lineup, Galatasaray boasts significant attacking talent capable of striking on the counter. They also feature seasoned professionals such as Ilkay Gundogan, Davinson Sanchez, Lucas Torreira, Mario Lemina, and Mauro Icardi.

Liverpool hopes to regain momentum in both the Premier League and the Champions League, despite a surprising defeat at Wolves that showcased their inconsistencies. They continue to concede significant chances on the break, which is exactly what Galatasaray will aim to exploit. Nonetheless, a draw or a narrow loss in this first leg in Istanbul would set them up well for the return match at Anfield.

For live updates and highlights of the Galatasaray vs Liverpool match, check out PST’s live blog coverage below.

How to watch Galatasaray vs Liverpool live, streaming info, and kick-off time

Kick-off time: 1:45 PM ET on Tuesday (March 10)
Venue: RAMS Park — Istanbul, Turkey
TV Channel/Streaming: Paramount+

Galatasaray team news and focus

Manager Okan Buruk has molded this Galatasaray squad into a team that is defensively sturdy yet lethal on the counter. Osimhen is pivotal to their attacking strategy, supported by players like Lang and Yilmaz who are crucial for executing swift counterattacks. The team will thrive off the enthusiastic atmosphere of their home crowd in Istanbul. However, their fans won’t be able to join them at Anfield due to a UEFA ban. Securing a significant lead in this first leg, similar to their previous win against Juventus, is essential for Galatasaray to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2013.

Liverpool team news and focus

After last week’s setback in the Premier League, Slot’s team did manage to secure a victory against Wolves in the FA Cup, advancing to the competition’s quarter-finals. However, Liverpool’s squad is stretched thin, particularly defensively. Joe Gomez is likely to fill in at right back, with a more defensive midfield lineup including Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Dominik Szoboszlai anticipated. Liverpool will need to remain solid at the back, possibly opting for a deeper defensive position to draw Galatasaray forward, allowing their attackers like Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike to exploit spaces.