Liverpool were beaten 1-0 in the first leg of the knockout rounds away from home, and it will be interesting to see if they can overturn the deficit vs Galatasaray at Anfield on Wednesday night.
This has been a disappointing season for Liverpool so far, and progressing in the UEFA Champions League will give them some much-needed relief. It remains to be seen whether they can step up their performance levels and get a job done against the Turkish outfit.
Liverpool have picked up just one win from their last four matches in all competitions, and this will be a difficult game for them. On the other hand, Galatasaray have won five consecutive matches across all competitions, and four in a row against Liverpool. It remains to be seen whether they pile further misery on the Premier League champions. The Hard Tackle takes a closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
The home team will be without Giovanni Leoni (knee), Conor Bradley (knee), Wataru Endo (ankle), and Alexander Isak (leg) this week. Liverpool are likely to start in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Galatasaray, with Alisson Becker in goal.
Jeremie Frimpong and Andy Robertson will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk will form the central defensive partnership.
As for the midfield unit, Ryan Gravenberch will start alongside Dominik Szoboszlai in the double pivot, aiming to add control and composure to the team. Alexis Mac Allister will look to create opportunities for teammates in the final third.
Finally, Hugo Ekitike will lead the line for Liverpool vs Galatasaray, with Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah on either side of him. So, Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha will be among the backup options on the bench for the home side.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Salah, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Ekitike
Okan Buruk will be without Davinson Sanchez and Metehan Baltaci due to suspension. Enes Buyuk is ruled out with a shoulder injury. Galatasaray are likely to play in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Liverpool, with Ugurcan Cakir in goal.
Roland Sallai and Ismail Jakobs will be deployed as full-backs, and they will look to protect the defensive unit and hit Liverpool on the break. Wilfried Singo and Abdulkerim Bardakci will pair up at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Lucas Torreira and Mario Lemina will add physicality and defensive cover in the middle of the park. They will look to win the ball back for their team and break up the opposition’s attacking moves.
Gabriel Sara will reprise the attacking midfield role and look to create opportunities for his teammates in the final third. Baris Alper Yilmaz and Leroy Sane will be deployed on the flanks, and they will look to open up the Liverpool defence with their pace and flair. Finally, Victor Osimhen will lead the line for Galatasaray vs Liverpool on Wednesday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Cakır; Sallai, Singo, Bardakci, Jakobs; Lemina, Torreira; Sane, Gabriel Sara, Yilmaz; Osimhen
The Nigerian International caused all sorts of problems for Liverpool in the first leg, and he is likely to trouble them in the return leg as well. Osimhen’s assist for Galatasaray’s winner against Liverpool in the first leg was his first ever UEFA Champions League assist (16 goals).
A goal or assist in this match will see him become the Nigerian player with the outmost goal involvements in the competition’s history (currently level with Kanu on 17). Liverpool have been quite vulnerable defensively, and Osimhen will look to create opportunities for his teammates and add to his goal tally for the season.
Liverpool struggled to deal with him in the last meeting, and it remains to be seen whether they can keep him quiet here. Galatasaray will certainly depend on him to make a defining impact in the final third.
Liverpool will be desperate for a victory here and under pressure to put in a strong performance. They were held to a draw against Tottenham this past weekend, and the North London club had the majority of their first-team players missing. It is clear that Liverpool are struggling right now, and they have no form or confidence.
The home side will look to put up a fight here, but they are likely to come up short against Galatasaray. The Turkish outfit are full of confidence and momentum, and they will look to get the job done here. The two teams should cancel each other out in a draw, sending Liverpool out of the UEFA Champions League.
