Next up for Liverpool is a trip to Istanbul to face Galatasaray in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie.
Ahead of that all-important road-trip, Arne Slot sat down with Owen Hargreaves to discuss the upcoming European clash.
Liverpool’s road to Budapest will require them to topple some of the best teams in the competition after landing on the tough side of the bracket, and that starts with a league phase rematch against the Super Lig leaders.
Slot explained that this is a unique challenge for him, citing the Galatasaray atmosphere as a potential stumbling block for the Reds.
What does a successful result actually look like for Liverpool on Tuesday night? đź‘€
Play to win, or play not to lose?
Arne Slot in the Champions League
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Arne Slot on the unique challenge of Galatasaray (A)
Liverpool’s first meeting with Galatasaray this season came at a time when the team was in freefall.
Hopefully, they will be more up for this game, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that they have to travel to RAMS Park — as intense an atmosphere as you’ll find anywhere in Europe.
Hargreaves interviewed Slot for TNT Sports, honing in on Tuesday’s clash and the challenge that faces his side.
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He says: “That is what you expect if you play the last 16 [a difficult game]. You know, every team you’re going to face is difficult because they’re there for a reason. And what makes it even more for us to know that it’s difficult is that we’ve already played there and we’ve lost. It’s a very good team.
“We have good players as you just mentioned. But the whole atmosphere makes it completely different from any other away game I’ve ever played. So it’s every time when we had the ball, the noise, the whistling is that hard that sometimes you wonder if it is if this could be done by human people.
Liverpool FC coach Arne Slot disappointed during the UEFA Champions League match between Galatasaray v Liverpool at the Rams Park
Photo by Gerrit van Keulen/Soccrates/Getty Images
“It’s so hard it’s from the start till the end. The noise is even harder than when they score a goal.”
It was way back in September when Liverpool last entered the melting pot that is Galatasaray’s home ground, but the atmosphere has stuck with Slot. If you tuned into that 1-0 loss, you might remember turning down your TV.
It’s not going to be easy to get past the Turkish giants, but Slot reminds us of an edge that Liverpool still have in the Champions League.
Arne Slot reminds everyone that Galatasaray have to come to Anfield
An obvious statement, but it’s important to remember that this game will be played over two legs.
Sure, the challenge on Tuesday will be to cope with the atmosphere. That will also be a challenge for Galatasaray next week.
Anfield hasn’t been the impenetrable fortress we have grown used to in the Premier League, but a European night under the lights still has magic to it.
Slot points out: “It’s a challenging environment to play in, but the good thing is that we play at home as well and that’s going to be a challenging environment for Galatasaray to play in.”
Liverpool are going to have to change this to make it to the UCL quarter-finals…
Give us your early predictions for the last-16 clash with Galatasaray
Victor Osimhen warms up for Galatasaray (Credit: Getty Images/Gerrit van Keulen/Soccrates).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Gerrit van Keulen/Soccrates
This first leg has to be about putting the Reds in a good position for the return leg. That doesn’t necessarily mean we have to park the bus, but Slot has to be careful not to let them stretch out a huge lead, leaving Liverpool with a mountain to climb.
Then, the second leg is where we can put this tie to bed.
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