Liverpool will meet Turkish side Galatasaray on September 30th in the Champions League at Rams Park Stadium in Turkey. The Reds are 1-0 in Champions League play, but they are coming off their first loss of the season, so it will be interesting to see how the club reacts.

Availability

Hugo Ekitiké is available after serving a one-match red card suspension, but Federico Chiesa picked up a minor injury and did not make the trip. This could be big as Chiesa has provided a spark off the bench and banged in a couple of late goals already this season.

“He got a little niggle, I think it is the word you use here in England, in the last game against Palace,” Arne Slot said. "He tried it today, he was on the pitch in the beginning, but he couldn't end the session, so we decided not to take him because in a few days it's Chelsea again."

Galatasaray's Game

Galatasaray are the Turkish Super Lig Champions from a year ago, and it looks as if they might repeat in 2025-26. They are off to a 7-0 start in the Super Lig. The only loss they have suffered this season is to Eintracht Frankfurt in Champions League play. Galatasaray's leading scorer is Mauro Icardi, who has scored  5 times. The Rams are tough to play on their home pitch as they are currently on a 19-match unbeaten streak at Rams' Park. Galatasaray's manager, Okan Buruk, scored against Liverpool in a Champions League match in 2006.

The Other Side Of The Coin

We always hear what Arne Slot thinks of an opponent, but this time I thought it might be fun to see how an opposing coach assesses Liverpool.

"It's important not to show fear, to show this unity, and to think the same way when we have the ball and when the opponent has the ball, Buruk said. "They're especially good with the ball, but they're incredibly quick in transition. We'll consider all of this, as well as our opponent's attacking strengths, and take precautions against them. We'll give it our all and try to put the opponent in a difficult situation."

LFC Globe Verdict

This will be a tough match. Liverpool and Galatasaray remind me a lot of one another as far as the club culture. They are both defending champions in their respective leagues and, like Anfield, Rams' Park is a tough place to play. I expect Liverpool to pull out another late win, though, 3-2.

Where To Watch

Kickoff is set for 20:00 BST from Istanbul and can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video. In the United States, the game can be streamed on Paramount+ at 3 pm.