Liverpool head to Istanbul for the second time this season as they face Galatasaray in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
Galatasaray vs. Liverpool
Champions League last 16 (1st leg) | RAMS Park
March 10, 2026 | 5.45pm (GMT)
With a Premier League triumph out of the question, there is now extra pressure on Liverpool in the Champions League as Arne Slot hopes to save the season and, quite possibly, his job.
Watch out for the early kick-off!
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - Tuesday, September 30, 2025: Liverpool and Galatasaray players lined up before the UEFA Champions League match between Galatasaray and Liverpool FC at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Make sure you know that Liverpool are kicking off at 5.45pm (GMT) which is 8.45pm in Istanbul – a late night for the travelling fans.
This is the Reds’ first early midweek kick-off this season, and it meant that they travelled to Turkiye early, at lunchtime on Monday, rather than taking their usual evening flight on the day before an away game.
It shouldn’t affect the Reds thankfully, but if you can’t get out of work early then remember you can stay up to date with events at RAMS Park thanks to This Is Anfield‘s live coverage!
Alisson and Chiesa have not travelled
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - Wednesday, January 21, 2026: Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the pre-match warm-up before the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC at the Stade Vélodrome. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
All seemed well when Alisson ran out to train on Monday morning in front of the media.
Unfortunately, once the cameras had stopped rolling, he picked up an injury so hasn’t travelled to Turkiye. Also staying at home is Federico Chiesa, who missed training.
With Alisson out, it is a chance for Giorgi Mamardashvili to step up having played just once since November, the FA Cup third-round win over Barnsley.
Liverpool team news vs. Galatasaray
Liverpool’s travelling squad vs. Galatasaray
Goalkeepers: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Misciur
Defenders: Gomez, Van Dijk, Konate, Nallo, Robertson, Kerkez, Frimpong
Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Gravenberch, Nyoni
Forwards: Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike, Ngumoha, Morrison
As mentioned, there will be no Alisson or Chiesa, which has left gaps in the squad.
Kornel Misciur has therefore been called up as the third-choice goalkeeper, while Kieran Morrison, Trey Nyoni and Amara Nallo have also been included.
In addition to Alisson and Chiesa, the Reds continue to be without Alexander Isak, too, who isn’t expected back until April due to his broken leg sustained in December.
Jayden Danns is closer to a return and back in academy training, but he isn’t deemed yet fit enough to play.
Liverpool starting XI prediction
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, March 9, 2026: Liverpool's Curtis Jones during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Galatasaray and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
Having made four changes for the FA Cup tie on Friday, we expect Slot to revert back to a lineup that is more familiar.
Cody Gakpo should move out to the left as Hugo Ekitike returns up front, while Dominik Szoboszlai returns to the midfield and Curtis Jones drops out.
Joe Gomez or Jeremie Frimpong should play at right-back, with Ibrahima Konate coming back in to partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-half.
Mamardashvili is set to start for the fourth time in the Champions League this season due to Alisson‘s injury.
Possible LFC XI: Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike
Galatasaray’s weekend win
Abdulkerim Bardakci Galatasaray PA
Galatasaray enjoyed a confidence-boosting 1-0 win on Saturday as they beat city rivals Besiktas 1-0 away, despite Leroy Sane being sent off in the second half.
Besiktas were unbeaten in their previous 18 games heading into the fixture, but saw their run ended by a single strike from Victor Osimhen in the first half.
Okan Buruk’s side had less possession and managed four shots on target compared to Besiktas’ seven, but they did not allow the hosts to create a single big chance, as per FotMob.
8 players at risk of suspension
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, March 9, 2026: Liverpool's Curtis Jones during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Galatasaray and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
Curtis Jones is Liverpool’s only suspension risk for the second leg, with the midfielder needing just one yellow to be suspended for the Anfield game.
Galatasaray are in a much worse position, though, with seven players at risk of missing the return leg.
Goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir, the whole back four of Ismail Jakobs, Davinson Sanchez, Abdulkerim Bardakci and Roland Sallai, as well as striker Osimhen, are all just one yellow card away from a ban.
As is Dutch left-winger Noa Lang, who signed on loan in January having picked up two bookings in the league phase for his parent club, Napoli.
We meet again
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - Tuesday, September 30, 2025: Galatasaray's Victor Osimhen scores his side's first goal through a penalty kick as goalkeeper Alisson Becker dives the wrong way during the UEFA Champions League match between Galatasaray and Liverpool FC at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The Reds have already played Galatasaray away this season, losing 1-0 to a controversial Osimhen penalty at the end of September in the league phase.
This will be the second time that Liverpool have faced the same opponent in two different phases of European competition in the same season, following PSV in the group and knockout stages of the 2006/07 Champions League.
That season, they also met Galatasaray and went on to reach the final.
They have won nine of the last 11 away European fixtures, losing at Galatasaray in September and at PSV in a dead rubber last season.
Who is the referee for Galatasaray vs. Liverpool?
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Tuesday, April 11, 2023: Referee Jesús Gil Manzano during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Manchester City FC and FC Bayern Munich at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
There is an all-Spanish officiating team in place for Galatasaray vs. Liverpool, with referee Jesus Gil Manzano taking charge in the middle.
He will be assisted by Angel Nevado, Gudalupe Porras and fourth official Juan Martinez in Istanbul. Meanwhile, Guillermo Cuadra is the lead video assistant referee and will be helped by assistant Valentin Pizzaro.
Manzano has taken charge of five Champions League games this season, awarding 14 yellow cards, three red cards and issuing four penalties in the process.
The Champions League last 16
Due to the new way of drawing the Champions League, we know that if Liverpool were to progress past Galatasaray, they would face Paris Saint-Germain or Chelsea.
They meet each other on Wednesday night, with the first leg at the Parc des Princes broadcast in the UK on TNT Sports 2.
Other notable ties from the last 16 include: Real Madrid vs. Man City, Newcastle vs. Barcelona and Atletico Madrid vs. Tottenham.
Follow the match with TIA
Galatasaray vs. Liverpool is live on TNT Sports 1 with kickoff at 5.45pm (GMT).
TIA’s matchday live blog will be up and running from 5pm, with Henry Jackson tasked with keeping you entertained and up-to-date.
Come on you Reds!