Liverpool head to Istanbul for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Galatasaray, aiming to overturn a previous defeat this season. The Reds will be without goalkeeper Alisson due to a minor training injury, while Galatasaray rely on striker Victor Osimhen's form. Manager Arne Slot marks his 100th game in charge amid a challenging season.
Liverpool face a tough test in Istanbul on March 10, 2026, for the Champions League round-of-16 first leg against Galatasaray at RAMS Park, with kickoff at 5:45pm UK time. The teams met earlier in the league phase on September, where Galatasaray won 1-0 via a Victor Osimhen penalty, contributing to Liverpool's run of nine defeats in 12 games that derailed their season. Under Arne Slot, the Reds sit sixth in the Premier League, 19 points behind leaders Arsenal, with their title defense abandoned. The Champions League and FA Cup offer remaining hopes, though the draw places Liverpool in a difficult half alongside Real Madrid, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
Galatasaray, managed by Okan Buruk, top the Super Lig after a 1-0 win over Besiktas despite a red card. They boast a strong home record, losing just one of their last nine European games against English clubs and only two of 22 knockout-stage home matches. Liverpool have never won in three prior away Champions League visits to the Turkish side. Osimhen, with 11 league goals this season, poses a physical challenge for defenders Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, as Slot noted: “We know how good he is.” Buruk added: “Our opponents are very high quality... Our goal is to gain the advantage in the first match against Liverpool.”
Injuries hit Liverpool hard: Alisson felt discomfort in training and did not travel, with Giorgi Mamardashvili set to start—his first appearance since January. Federico Chiesa is also absent due to illness. Slot confirmed: “It wasn’t good enough to play tomorrow... There’s definitely a chance” for Alisson's return against Tottenham. Mohamed Salah could make history, tying Jamie Carragher's 80 Champions League appearances for Liverpool and nearing 50 goals in the competition as the first African to do so. Slot, in his 100th game, emphasized: “It’s never about the manager—it’s about the players.”
Galatasaray's squad includes former Premier League players like Davinson Sánchez, Mario Lemina, İlkay Gündoğan and Lucas Torreira. The atmosphere at RAMS Park, known for its noise, challenged Liverpool in September, with Slot recalling the loud whistling.
