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LIVERPOOL VS. GALATASARAY | Wednesday, March 18th | Champions League, Round of 16 | Anfield 8PM BST/4PM EST Galatasaray showed their highs and lows in the first leg, while Liverpool largely showed their lows. This opponent is a side that has a mistake in them, and one that can be pulled into disciplinary danger.

A better version of the Reds would have shown more defensive organization and taken their chances early all while tempting at-risk opponents into yellows, but do have the chance to rectify the situation in a way they could not rectify any previous slip-up. Liverpool’s opponents are without Davinson Sanchez and Metehan Baltaci through suspension, while Enes Buyuk (shoulder) remains sidelined. Given their strength domestically, they were much more able to rotate in their 3-0 win at the weekend (including giving some starters an extra 10-20 minutes on the bench).

Liverpool, in contrast, had much of their first team fighting and failing to defend a narrow lead. Galatasaray have won just one in their 12 away games in England, beating Manchester United in October 2023 — though for our purposes it’s also worth noting that they have drawn three, but none of Liverpool’s European matches have ended in a draw in the last 30 outings. Liverpool saw their opponents’ at their best in the first leg, and on paper have what it takes to make things right.

The challenge this season is less in the skillset of opponents, unfortunately, and much more so in Liverpool’s willingness to be at their best when it matters. Predicted Liverpool Lineup (4-3-3) Alisson; Frimpong, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Ekitiké, Wirtz Arne Slot has the same choices to make as ever, with a bit more pressure given the last two results. With the chance of extra time, choosing a starting XI with substitutions in mind make sense, and thus should Mohamed Salah be surprisingly benched at the start there may be less drama involved than you’d think.