Liverpool vs. Galatasaray: Another Anfield UCL Comeback? A Defining Night for the Reds’ Season
by Devesh Jaganath | by Cydias Aujard
Arne Slot's future on the line in tonight’s Champions League RO16 clash?
A record-breaking six English teams entered the Round of 16 in this season’s Champions League, but two have already fallen, with Manchester City and Chelsea bowing out of the competition last night to Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively.
Arsenal confirmed our Champions League predictions by downing Bayer Leverkusen to become the first Premier League representative to book their ticket to the last eight, and Liverpool will be hoping to follow suit tonight when they host Galatasaray in the second leg of their RO16 tie at Anfield.
Following an incredible first season in England’s top flight, Arne Slot is under serious pressure to pull off a comeback in this match after his side lost to Cimbom 1-0 in the first leg at Rams Park last week - the second time they suffered defeat to the Istanbul giants this season.
Slot’s side are currently in fifth place in the Premier League standings, 21 points adrift of the Gunners. Indeed, the Reds are still in the running for the FA Cup, but UCL qualification remains the club’s top priority, and failure to do so may spell the end for the Dutchman, with Xabi Alonso waiting in the wings.
Things aren’t exactly rosy behind the scenes at Anfield either, with Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes reportedly agreeing to join Al-Hilal, while Dominik Szoboszlai claimed that the side needs to “wake up” or be happy to feature in the Conference League next season after the Reds’ disappointing draw against Spurs last weekend.
However, our experts have not ruled out a comeback for the Reds tonight, according to our Liverpool vs. Galatasaray prediction. Anfield has witnessed several remarkable European comebacks in the past, and the red half of Merseyside will be in full voice in L4 come kickoff.
History also favours tonight’s hosts in some regards, as Gala have only won one of their 12 previous away games against English opposition in European competition. Additionally, Liverpool have never lost to Cimbom when playing outside of Istanbul.
The one stat playing against the Merseysiders, though, is that Liverpool have only twice progressed from a Champions League knockout tie after losing the first leg. Those wins came against Chelsea in 2006-07 and Barcelona in the 2018-19 editions of the competition.
Salah, Ekitike to return: Key players in Liverpool’s comeback charge
Given the importance of this fixture, Slot opted to make wholesale changes to his starting lineup against Tottenham over the weekend, with the Dutchman leaving the likes of Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Milos Kerkez on the bench while handing a rare start to teenage starlet Rio Ngumoha.
However, Salah and Ekitike are expected to return to the starting 11 tonight, with the Egyptian King eyeing up what could be a record-breaking outing. Salah is currently on 49 UCL career goals (46 for Liverpool) and could become the first African player to score 50 in this competition if he finds the target in this match.
Beyond the Reds’ third-highest goal scorer of all time, Ekitike, who has 16 goals in all competitions, will also have a massive role to play, as he has been thrust into leading the line for the team this season following the injury setbacks to the club’s record signing, Alexander Isak.
Joe Gomez’s injury against the Lilywhites has limited Slot’s flexibility at right-back for this fixture. Szoboszlai has been forced to fill in at full-back several times already this season, but he has been the team’s best player in Europe this term, notching up eight goal contributions in nine Champions League appearances.
Jeremie Frimpong is the most likely to take up the role if Slot opts to deploy Szoboszlai in a more advanced position. However, given Frimpong’s injury issues this term, along with Ibrahima Konate just returning from a knock, the right-hand side of Liverpool’s defence could be vulnerable.
Undoubtedly, one man who will be searching for those vulnerabilities in the Reds’ back line is Victor Osimhen, who is the joint-fifth highest scorer in the competition with seven goals, including the winner against this opponent when they met during the League Phase back in September.
The Nigerian international has been in scintillating form since making his move to Rams Park from Napoli permanent last summer. He has 26 goal contributions in 28 Super Lig and UCL games combined this term and was on the scoresheet in Cimbom’s 3-0 victory over Istanbul Basaksehir this past weekend.
