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Liverpool return to Champions League action and the Galatasaray manager is far from happy with UEFA.
Liverpool have travelled to Turkey knowing that the Champions League is their only real hope of salvation.
Liverpool players close to Champions League suspension
Slot still has injuries and fitness issues to contend with and recent team selections have reflected this with options limited, especially in the forward line. Thankfully for Slot, Liverpool have behaved themselves throughout the league phase with only Curtis Jones and Conor Bradley walking a suspension tightrope. Both players are currently on two yellow cards with Jones the only one of the two available to face the Turks.
Good players, however, Liverpool could cope without them and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a tactical foul or two by Jones if the visitors are able to get the sort of lead that suggests the second leg could be more comfortable with more difficult tests on the horizon.
Galatasaray players face Anfield sweat
For Galatasaray, there is a bit more peril with their top goalscorer and talisman Victor Osimhen one match away from a suspension with Noa Lang, Davinson Sanchez and Roland Sallai also close to potentially missing out on the away trip to Anfield. A situation that Galatasaray manager Okan Boruk isn’t happy with and has demanded that UEFA do something about: “There could have been a reduction regarding yellow cards for 10 matches,” he said at the pre-match press conference.
“As it stands, yellow cards will be wiped clean in the semi-finals. UEFA absolutely needs to change this after the number of matches increases. Seven of our players are on the verge of suspension.
“The most difficult part for us is that four of our most frequently playing players in the same position in defense, our goalkeeper, and two attackers are on the verge. While playing this match in the best way possible, we will also do our best to avoid getting cards unnecessarily.”
“We have a very strong squad. I'm having difficulty putting together the squad. I'm thinking about the players who are on the verge of receiving yellow cards, how I can reduce the risk.”
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