The Reds face Galatasaray in the last-16, with the first leg in Istanbul next month, before the sides meet at Anfield the following week; UEFA has now announced when those games will be played
14:46, 27 Feb 2026Updated 15:29, 27 Feb 2026
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The time and date of Liverpool's Champions League last-16 tie against Galatasaray have been confirmed(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool has discovered the time and date it will face Galatasaray in the Champions League last-16.
Uefa confirmed after Friday's draw, which paired the English and Turkish champions together in the knockout stages, that the exact schedule would follow shortly, and an update emerged around three hours later.
Uefa has confirmed Liverpool will travel to Galatasaray on March 10, with a kick-off time of 17:45 GMT (10:45 ET, 07:45 PT). The second leg will be played at Anfield on March 18, with a kick-off time of 20:00 GMT (15:00 ET, 10:00 PT).
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The earlier kick-off in the first leg is not a surprise, with matches in Turkey and eastern Europe typically moved forward due to the time delay. Liverpool's first leg in Istanbul will kick off at 7:45pm local time.
The Reds have already played in the Turkish capital before this season, and lost 1-0 at Rams Park in September.
That result came in a run of six losses in seven, and Arne Slot will hope that given the improvements since then, his side can return with a better result this time around.
Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, gives instructions to Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch of Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between Galatasaray A.S. and Liverpool FC at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi
Liverpool's previous trip to Istanbul this season proved hugely frustrating(Image: Getty Images)
"We know in the away leg we will have to perform better than the last time we were in Istanbul back in September," Slot told Liverpool's website after the draw was made.
"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."
Okan Buruk's side progressed to the last-16 in unconvincing circumstances. Galatasaray beat Liverpool, Bodo/Glimt and Ajax in the Champions League league phase but lost to Eintracht Frankfurt, Union Saint-Gilloise, Monaco and Manchester City.
That earned a spot in the play-off and a two-legged tie against Juventus. Again, Galatasaray did not underline its European credentials across that two-legged tie.
Davinson Sanchez of Galatasaray A.S. celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Galatasaray A.S. and Juventus at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey
Galatasaray progressed to the Champions League last-16 in unspectacular fashion(Image: Getty Images)
After winning the first leg 5-2 in Turkey, it then lost the reverse leg 3-0 at Juventus, despite the Serie A giants playing the majority of the second half with 10 men.
The 5-5 aggregate score required extra-time, where Galatasaray's man advantage proved decisive. Victor Osimhen and Baris Alper Yilmaz both netted to secure a spot in Friday's knockout draw.
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The winner of the last-16 tie will face either Chelsea or Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals.
Should Liverpool make it to the semi-finals, it will play one of Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich or Atalanta, with the Reds certainly finding themselves in the tougher side of the draw.
In the other bracket, Arsenal has been paired with Bayer Leverkusen and could face Bodo/Glimt or Sporting Lisbon in the quarter-finals. Newcastle United will face Barcelona, while Tottenham Hotspur was drawn against Atletico Madrid.