Liverpool to Face Galatasaray on March 10 at Rams Park.
Liverpool will visit Istanbul for the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16, seeking redemption after their 1-0 loss at the same location in September. The Reds were defeated by a penalty from Victor Osimhen but have bounced back in Europe, winning their last three Champions League matches without allowing any goals.
After a 3-1 victory over Wolves in the FA Cup, Liverpool is currently sixth in the Premier League with 48 points from 29 matches. They trail Manchester United and Aston Villa by three points, who are both in third and fourth place. The team finished third in the Champions League group stage with 18 points from six wins and two losses, scoring 20 goals and conceding only eight.
Galatasaray, on the other hand, finished the group stage in 20th place with 10 points and advanced to this round by defeating Juventus 7-5 on aggregate in the playoffs, winning 5-2 at home and losing 3-2 in Turin. They are performing well in the Super Lig, leading the table with a four-point lead over Fenerbahce. They secured a 1-0 win against Besiktas in the Istanbul Derby on Sunday and are on a three-match winning streak.
Here’s a look at how Liverpool might line up against Galatasaray.
Predicted Liverpool lineup vs. Galatasaray
Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker
Alisson, the Brazilian captain, will remain in goal. He has kept four clean sheets in Liverpool’s last five Champions League matches and will aim for another strong performance at Rams Park.
Defence: Jeremie Frimpong, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez
Frimpong returns from injury to start at right-back, with Kerkez on the left. Van Dijk and Konate will maintain their partnership at centre-back, having played all Champions League matches this season. Joe Gomez is available from the bench, while Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are out with long-term injuries.
Midfield: Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister
Szoboszlai has been impressive in the Champions League this season, contributing four goals and four assists in eight games, scoring in the last three away matches. He will play in the attacking midfield position. Gravenberch and Mac Allister will provide defensive support and help in ball progression, with Curtis Jones as an alternative. Wataru Endo is unavailable due to an ankle injury sustained in early December.
Attack: Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz
If Salah plays in this match, he will achieve the record for the most Champions League appearances for Liverpool. He has scored 49 goals in the competition and could become the first African player to reach 50 if he finds the net. Ekitike will lead the attack with 15 goals and four assists across all competitions. Wirtz, returning from injury, will play on the left wing. Alexander Isak and Stefan Bajcetic remain sidelined due to injuries.