Predicted XI, Injury News & TV Info

March 17, 2026

in Liverpool

Reading Time: 7 mins read

Liverpool host Galatasaray within the Champions League, needing to overturn the 1-0 defeat they suffered within the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Liverpool vs. Galatasaray

Champions League final 16 (2nd leg) | AnfieldMarch 18, 2026 | 8pm (GMT)

The strain is de facto on Liverpool after failing to win any of their final three matches. With Arne Slot‘s job probably on the road, it is a season-defining sport.

Coming from behind

Liverpool are famed for his or her capability to supply unlikely ends in at Anfield in European second legs.

On eight events Liverpool have misplaced the away first leg of a knockout tie within the European Cup by a one-goal margin. In 5 of these they’ve come again to win the tie, defeating Trabzonspor and St. Etienne (1976/77), Borussia Moenchengladbach (1977/78), HJK Helsinki (1982/83) and Chelsea (2006/07).

Nonetheless, their current report isn’t truly notably fearsome. Because the 4-0 victory over Barcelona in 2019, Liverpool have received solely two of 9 knockout matches performed at Anfield in Europe.

They misplaced every of the final two, to Paris Saint-Germain final season and Atalanta within the 2023/24 Europa League.

3 Liverpool gamers liable to suspension

Curtis Jones, Virgil van Dijk, and Ryan Gravenberch would miss a possible first leg of the quarter-final in the event that they have been to be booked in opposition to Galatasaray.

As well as, the guests have their very own suspension worries, with Abdulkerim Bardakci, Ismail Jakobs, Noa Lang, Victor Osimhen and Roland Sallai all one reserving away from suspension.

Davinson Sanchez will miss the match at Anfield as a result of yellow he picked up within the first leg.

Liverpool staff information

Joe Gomez is a doubt for the match after not coaching on Tuesday, with Slot explaining: “Joe, we’ll resolve that tomorrow.

“He wasn’t prepared to coach as we speak, he had too many points after our final sport. “He had these points already after the Galatasaray sport, wasn’t deliberate to play in opposition to Tottenham, however sadly Ibou (Konate) acquired discomfort in his hamstring.

“So we couldn’t take the chance of taking part in him, that’s why Joe needed to play.

“That has constructed up a lot that now he’s a little bit of a doubt tomorrow. He’s going to attempt tomorrow, to see if he’s out there.”

Liverpool beginning XI prediction vs. Galatasaray

Mo Salah ought to come again in on the suitable wing, that means Jeremie Frimpong strikes to right-back as Liverpool go for it from the beginning.

Ibrahima Konate can be anticipated to return at centre-back, as is Milos Kerkez at left-back. In the meantime, Rio Ngumoha will most likely drop out to make approach for Hugo Ekitike who will begin by the center, as Cody Gakpo strikes huge.

Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekiti

Galatasaray preparation has been higher than Liverpool’s

Galatasaray ready for the second leg with a 3-0 win over Istanbul Basaksehir on Saturday, as objectives from Wilfried Singo, Osimhen and Renato Nhaga put them seven factors clear in of Fenerbahce on the prime in Turkiye.

Basaksehir had misplaced solely twice of their earlier 12 matches, however have been outdone by Okan Buruk’s males, who conceded simply three photographs on track and had 67 p.c possession, as per FotMob.

Galatasaray made three modifications from their midweek win over the Reds – Liverpool made 5 – and did need to develop into the match, solely scoring after the half-time break.

Galatasaray staff information

Barring Sanchez, who will likely be lacking by suspension, we’d anticipate Galatasaray to line up with the same beginning XI to the one which received the primary leg.

There could possibly be a change at right-back, although, with Wilfried Singo changing Sanchez at centre-half whereas Roland Sallai begins to his proper.

The entrance 4 will probably stay the identical, Osimhen main the road and trying to cement himself as a prime European striker within the eyes of the general public.

Attainable Galatasaray XI: Cakir; Sallai, Lion, Bardakci, Jacobs; Torreira, Lemina; Yilmaz, Sarah, Lang; Osimhen

Do you know?

For less than the second time of their historical past, Liverpool have conceded two penalties in the identical European season – the opposite was in 1976/77, a season during which they received the European Cup.

Additionally that season was the final time Liverpool misplaced the away first leg of a tie to a Turkish facet. They defeated Trabzonspor 3-0 within the Anfield return.

Mo Salah’s subsequent objective will see him develop into the primary African ever to attain 50 objectives within the Champions League.

Ought to he play, Salah will transfer into joint third place on the membership’s all-time record of appearances in Europe, becoming a member of Sami Hyypia on 94.

No away followers at Anfield

UEFA have dominated that there will likely be no away finish at Anfield due violent scenes round Galatasaray’s play-off conflict away at Juventus, with expenses imposed for the throwing of objects, lighting of fireworks and crowd disturbances.

The Turkish facet lodged an attraction, however this was rejected and the seats will likely be stuffed by Liverpool supporters as an alternative.

It ought to imply that there will likely be 61,000 Liverpool supporters in attendance. Whether or not having no visiting followers on the match truly helps the environment, although, is up for debate!

Who’s the referee for Liverpool vs. Galatasaray?

Szymon Marciniak is the referee for Liverpool vs. Galatasaray and heads up an-all Polish officiating staff at Anfield.

He comes with a wealth of expertise having refereed Liverpool seven occasions in addition to the 2022 World Cup closing and 2023 Champions League closing.

Tomasz Listkiewicz and Adam Kupsik are his assistants on the touchlines, with Pawel Raczkowski appearing as fourth official.

Within the VAR sales space, Italian official Marco Di Bello is the video assistant referee and Daniele Chiffi is available to help.