Galatasaray vs Liverpool Prediction (00:45, March 11). Forecast, expected lineup, expert analysis for the Galatasaray vs Liverpool UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match.
Galatasaray endured a tense playoff against Juventus. They won 7-5 overall after two matches, but faced significant difficulties. Galatasaray trailed 3-0 in the second leg despite the opponent having 10 men for most of the second half. That thrilling victory demonstrates Galatasaray's strong fighting spirit. However, the next challenge for coach Okan Buruk's team will be much greater. It is Liverpool, one of the top contenders for the UEFA Champions League title this season.
Galatasaray will not have fan support in the return leg at Anfield due to a penalty following incidents in the stands during the Juventus match. Therefore, the Turkish representative must aim for a favorable result in the home first leg. In fact, Galatasaray previously shocked Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League group stage this season. They played very disciplined and significantly limited the opponent's dangerous opportunities.
Galatasaray's recent form is also quite impressive. They are aiming for a fourth consecutive victory across all competitions. If they defeat Liverpool, it will be this team's sixth consecutive home win. RAMS Park has long been famous as one of Europe's most intimidating stadiums. Galatasaray scored at least 3 goals in 8 of their last 13 home matches in European competitions, showing a formidable attacking capability.
Nevertheless, the Turkish team's weakness lies in defense, as they kept only one clean sheet in their last 8 home European matches.

Galatasaray vs Liverpool
On the other side, Liverpool travels to Turkey after playing two consecutive matches against Wolves. They surprisingly lost 1-2 in the Premier League on March 3rd but quickly recovered with a 3-1 victory in the FA Cup a few days later.
Overall, manager Arne Slot's team maintains fairly stable results, losing only one of their last 6 matches across all competitions. However, Liverpool's performance is not always convincing, even in matches they win. Another concerning point is Liverpool's defense showing signs of distraction. They conceded 5 goals in their last 3 matches, more than the total conceded in the previous 6 matches.
Despite this, Liverpool's away record in the UEFA Champions League this season is very impressive. The "Red Brigade" conceded only 2 goals in 4 away matches, while scoring 9 goals – a statistic highlighting their efficiency when playing away.
Galatasaray: No major squad issues. Victor Osimhen is likely to start as the main striker. Lucas Torreira and Mario Lemina will handle the defensive midfield duties.
Liverpool: Alexander Isak and Conor Bradley are injured. Hugo Ekitike is expected to replace Isak as the central striker. Jeremie Frimpong is likely to replace Bradley at the right-back position.
Galatasaray (4-2-3-1): Cakir; Sallai, Sanchez, Bardakci, Jakobs; Torreira, Lemina; Yilmaz, Akgun, Lang; Osimhen
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Ekitike
View UEFA Champions League Schedule HERE
02/03/26: Galatasaray 3-1 Trabzonspor (Super Lig)
27/02/26: Juventus 3-4 Galatasaray (UEFA Champions League)
22/02/26: Galatasaray 2-0 Besiktas (Super Lig)
18/02/26: Galatasaray 3-2 Juventus (UEFA Champions League)
14/02/26: Galatasaray 4-1 Antalyaspor (Super Lig)
07/03/26: Liverpool 3-1 Wolves (FA Cup)
03/03/26: Wolves 2-1 Liverpool (Premier League)
26/02/26: Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham (Premier League)
22/02/26: Liverpool 3-0 Aston Villa (Premier League)
18/02/26: Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool (Premier League)
24/10/25: Liverpool 0-1 Galatasaray (UEFA Champions League)
27/02/02: Liverpool 1-1 Galatasaray (UEFA Champions League)
20/02/02: Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool (UEFA Champions League)
08/11/01: Liverpool 3-2 Galatasaray (UEFA Champions League)
18/10/01: Galatasaray 2-1 Liverpool (UEFA Champions League)
Galatasaray previously surprised Liverpool in the group stage, and they will again rely on home advantage to create an uncomfortable situation. However, Liverpool has a very good away record in the UEFA Champions League this season.
Given their squad quality and European experience, Liverpool is likely to aim for a safe result before returning to Anfield for the second leg.