In the Champions League Round of 16 on March 10, 2026, Galatasaray and Liverpool will play their first leg. The visitors will try to show that they will not repeat past mistakes.
The Turkish side remains a flagship of national football. Last season, they won all the domestic trophies. However, this year, they lost to Fenerbahce in the Super Cup final. In the league, their local rivals are also trying to challenge them. At Anfield, Slot even managed to win the Premier League on his first attempt. Now, though, the best they can aim for is fourth place, and the titleholder is by no means a favorite in the battle to stay among the league’s top four.
In the Champions League, Okan Buruk’s team pleasantly surprised. Yes, all three group stage wins came back in September and October. But most importantly, with ten points, they made it to the playoffs. After a 5-2 home win against Juventus, they lost to the Italians in regulation, even though their opponents were down to ten men. However, in extra time, they managed to score twice more.
The English side lost at this very stadium in the autumn. Besides that, they had only one setback, but it was significant: a 1-4 home defeat to PSV. Still, by winning all their other matches—including against Real Madrid and Inter—they confidently progressed to the knockout stage.
Galatasaray vs Liverpool: Key Statistics and Trends
Galatasaray have lost four of their last six matches
The team scores and concedes an average of 1.60 goals per match
Liverpool have won three matches in a row
The club scores an average of 2.5 goals per match here, conceding one
Galatasaray vs Liverpool: Probable Starting Lineups
Galatasaray (probable lineup): Cakir – Jakobs, Bardakci, Sanchez, Szalai – Lemina, Torreira, Lang, Sara, Yilmaz – Osimhen
Liverpool (probable lineup): Alisson – Kerkez, van Dijk, Konate, Szoboszlai – Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones, Gakpo, Salah – Ekitike
Previous Matches: Galatasaray vs Liverpool
The Turkish side has now pulled ahead in their European rivalry. Previously, both teams had one win each in four head-to-head encounters.
