Liverpool have been given a tough task if they are to claim the European Cup for a seventh time
ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach of Liverpool Arne Slot follows the UEFA Champions League week 2 match between Galatasaray and Liverpool at RAMS Park in Istanbul, Turkiye, on September 30, 2025. (Photo by Abdulhamid Hosbas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Arne Slot reacts during the Champions League between Galatasaray and Liverpool at RAMS Park in Istanbul earlier this season
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(Image: Abdulhamid Hosbas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Istanbul has become synonymous with European success for Liverpool. And the Reds must successfully negotiate another trip to the Asian border if they are to maintain hopes of a seventh European Cup triumph.
For the second time this season, Galatasaray stand in the way of Arne Slot's side in the Champions League after the duo were paired together in the round of 16.
Back in September, the Turkish side earned a contentious 1-0 victory in the second matchday of the league stage thanks to a disputed penalty at a noisy Ali Sami Yen Stadium.
Coming in between the dramatic late Premier League losses at Crystal Palace and Chelsea, it was the second of nine defeats in 12 games that effectively ended Liverpool's title defence and, with a 4-1 loss at home to PSV Eindhoven on Champions League matchday five, called into question the future of Slot as Reds boss.
Of course, the landscape has changed significantly since then. With just two narrow defeats in their last 20 games in all competitions, Liverpool have steadied their ship and ultimately finished in fourth place in the final Champions League standings on the back of impressive wins at Marseille and Inter.
Indeed, the loss in Istanbul is the only time the Reds have failed to win an away game of any note in the competition under Slot, with the 3-2 defeat at PSV Eindhoven last season coming in what a second-string Liverpool regarded as a dead rubber.
While a 7-5 aggregate success over Juventus in the play-off round suggests comfortable progress for Galatasaray, it was anything but. Despite holding a 5-2 first-leg lead and playing most of the second half of the return game in Turin against 10 men, the Turkish outfit were 3-0 down at the end of 90 minutes and only won through with two goals in extra time against the tiring Italians.
Slot, though, knows what to expect. “Given the possibilities of the draw we got exactly what we anticipated and that is a tough last-16 draw against an opponent we have faced once already this season,” said the Liverpool boss.
“We know in the away leg we will have to perform better than the last time we were in Istanbul back in September. That is our immediate challenge in this tie, especially as we know Galatasaray had such a positive result against Juventus to reach the last 16.
“But the main feeling is excitement because this is what we worked so hard for in the league stage. We wanted to be here and now we want to make the most of being here.
“We have important games in other competitions before the Champions League comes back around of course, so hopefully when the tie arrives we will be as ready for it as we can be.”
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While Liverpool won both the Champions League in 2005 and the UEFA Super Cup in 2019 when the finals were held in Istanbul, their record away from home against Turkish teams is poor.
They lost and drew their first two trips to Galatasaray, were beaten by Besiktas in 2007 and 2015, and were shocked by Trabzonspor in 1977 before earning their solitary victory against the same opposition under Roy Hodgson in the Europa League in 2010.
And any relief at avoiding the perceived more difficult opponent in Atletico Madrid was soon banished by Liverpool being placed in the tougher half of the draw.
Paris Saint-Germain - the Reds' conquerors last season - or Chelsea lay in wait in a possible quarter-final with the second leg at Anfield. And then it would be one of Real Madrid, Manchester City, Atalanta or Bayern Munich in the semi-final with the first leg at home.
Liverpool record goalscorer Ian Rush, who represented the club at the draw in Nyon, said: "At this stage, every game is difficult. Galatasaray had a good win against Juventus.
"They scored seven goals in two games and I can see there being plenty of goals in the game. I think our advantage is that the second leg is at home. Fantastic atmosphere, and it depends on the result in the first game.
"I think the atmosphere at Anfield is second to none and, hopefully, that will come into act as well.
"You have PSG, Chelsea, Man City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich - that side of the draw is hardest, but if you are going to win it, you have got to beat them all on the way."
Of the 16 teams to have made it through to the knockout stages, the Reds have faced all bar Bodo/Glimt and Sporting Lisbon in the last seven years.
Liverpool might well reflect on how Arsenal have what appears a much easier passage to at least the semi-final as reward for finishing top of the table. That wasn't the case last season when the Reds were rewarded for finishing top by being paired with the eventual winners.
But the most immediate task will be progressing beyond the round of 16 for the first time since reaching the final in 2022. And that will mean improving on their Istanbul record outside of such showpiece occasions.
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