Galatasaray will host Liverpool in the Champions League for the second time this season next week.
Galatasaray will host Liverpool in the Champions League for the second time this season next week.
The Reds have been drawn against the Turkish giants after facing them in the league phase earlier in the season.
Liverpool’s form took a nosedive around the time this game was played back in September, and a 1-0 loss seemed kind to them on the night.
Now, the Reds have found some stability and will be looking to avenge that result with a statement victory in the first leg of their round of sixteen tie against Galatasaray next Tuesday.
However, it is sure to be a tough fixture once again, with the Turkish side full of confidence after securing an important victory over title rivals Besiktas in the Turkish Super Lig on Saturday.
Victor Osimhen scored the decisive goal, similar to the game against Liverpool, and will no doubt be a player the Reds will look to contain on Tuesday.
The result massively strengthened their position at the top of the Turkish Super Lig table and will have provided a much-needed morale boost ahead of Liverpool’s visit.
Despite a night of positivity, Leroy Sane was sent off for the away side.
It was an offence that was a surprising one, especially given it was the forward’s first red card of his professional league career.
A match report from Turkiye Today read: “The match shifted in the 62nd minute when Galatasaray were reduced to 10 players after Leroy Sane received a direct red card for a hard challenge on Ridvan Yilmaz in midfield. The dismissal marked the first red card of the German winger’s professional league career.”
“Despite the setback, Galatasaray held onto its lead. Besiktas pressed for an equalizer until the final whistle, which came after 11 minutes of stoppage time, but goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir denied their attempts and secured the away victory.”
The suspension will not affect Leroy Sane’s participation against Liverpool but will affect how Galatasaray lineup in their league fixtures over the coming weeks.
Galatasaray’s stadium is renowned as having one of the most fearful atmospheres in European football, but they won’t have that same support at Anfield, after UEFA banned fans from attending the second leg after the disruptions they caused in their last Champions League fixture against Juventus.
Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.