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There have been many famous nights of European football at Anfield over the years, with the home side able to battle back from seemingly hopeless positions to claim victory.
Liverpool are in a far from hopeless position in this tie, of course, but they will have to improve upon their performance in the first leg, where they matched – if not bested – by Galatasaray at RAMS Park.
It had looked as if the Reds had turned the corner in recent times, with big home wins over the likes of Newcastle, Brighton and West Ham setting them up for a strong end to the season.
However, defeats against the Premier League’s bottom side Wolves, plus the loss in Turkey, have once again put a question mark against the name of Arne Slot’s side.
As for Galatasaray, they’ve now won five games in a row in all competitions, with three consecutive clean sheets into the bargain.
Okan Buruk will instruct his side to sit deep and protect their first leg lead, you suspect, while being aware that in Noa Lang, Baris Yilmaz and Victor Osimhen, they boast explosive power on the counterattack.
Liverpool v Galatasaray key information
Date: Wednesday, March 18
Kick-off time: 8.00pm GMT
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
Referee: N/A
VAR: N/A
TV channels: TNT Sports (UK)
Odds: LIV (1/4) - DRAW (5/1) - GALA (10/1)
Liverpool team news
Slot rested the likes of Mo Salah and Hugo Ekitike for his side’s Premier League game against Tottenham on Sunday – a move that badly backfired as the Reds could only muster a 1-1 draw.
The upside, of course, is that his key attacking players will be fresher for this contest with Galatasaray, a game which, in some ways, is the most important of Liverpool’s season so far.
Alexander Isak and Conor Bradley are the main long-term absentees, but Alisson returned against Spurs while the likes of Salah, Ekitike and Ibrahima Konate will surely return to the starting eleven on Wednesday.
Liverpool predicted lineup v Galatasaray, (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Arne Slot
Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Ekitike.
Galatasaray team news
Only one enforced change will have to be made by Okan Buruk from the first leg: Davinson Sanchez will miss this game through suspension after picking up his third yellow card of the Champions League in the first leg.
Otherwise, Galatasaray have a full deck to pick from, aside from long-term absentees Metehan Baltaci and Enes Buyuk.
Buruk was able to rotate his squad in their 3-0 lead over Basaksehir on Saturday, so he can now press on and pick his strongest 11 for this crunch clash.
Galatasaray predicted lineup v Galatasaray, (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Okan Buruk
Cakir; Sallai, Bardakci, Singo, Jakobs; Torreira, Lemina; Lang, Sara, Yilmaz; Osimhen.
Where to watch on TV or live stream?
You can watch this crucial Champions League clash via TNT Sports 1, which is available via subscription packages from the likes of Discovery+, Sky, Virgin Media, BT and EE.
Alternatively, you can stream the action live on the Discovery+ app.
Head-to-head record
Liverpool and Galatasaray are no strangers to one another, having met last week and then in September 2025 as well.
The Turkish side won both of those meetings 1-0 at their RAMS Park home, which suggests they have found something of an edge over the Reds since Arne Slot took charge.
That will be a source of much frustration for the Dutchman, who probably won’t be aware that the last time Liverpool played Galatasaray at Anfield, the Reds came out on top 3-2 in September 2006 – the likeable giant Peter Crouch bagging a brace.
However, fans of such omens will be aware that that’s the only time Liverpool have beaten Galatasaray in their last six meetings dating back to 2002 (W1 D2 L3).
Odds for Liverpool v Galatasaray
Liverpool are red-hot favourites for this one on home soil at 1/4 on bet365. A draw can be backed at 5/1, with a Galatasaray victory a longshot at 10/1.
Odds correct at time of writing, subject to change.