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Liverpool seek Gala performance

Liverpool FC travel to face Galatasaray SK knowing it is imperative for them to win.

Only Liverpool FC have experienced defeat in a tightly contested Group B of the UEFA Champions League and they travel to face Galatasaray SK on Tuesday knowing that it has become imperative for them to post a victory. On the other hand the Turkish side believe that three points would give them a considerable push towards the quarter-finals.

Unbeaten run
Liverpool's best work on their return to European football's premier club competition has often come on foreign soil and they are undefeated after four away games. It is a pattern that mirrors recent fixtures in the FA Premiership and there was more disappointment at the weekend as a 4-0 win at Leeds United AFC and a 6-0 win at Ipswich Town FC were followed by a 1-1 draw at Anfield with Everton FC.

Defensive record
However, Galatasaray boast a formidable record at home. In 19 games dating back to autumn 1997 they have encountered only one reverse - when Chelsea FC won 5-0 in the 1999/2000 campaign in what was one of the biggest away victories in the history of the Champions League. None of their three visitors in the first group stage managed to score in Istanbul and only an injury-time equalising goal by AS Roma has blemished that defensive record in the Ali Sami Yen stadium.

Goalless encounter
Last week's goalless encounter on Merseyside was not wholly unexpected given that both defences have been less than generous to the opposition since the start of this season's competition, Liverpool conceding just six goals in nine games and Galatasaray seven. At the weekend Liverpool were reliant on Nicolas Anelka to earn a point from their neighbourly skirmish with Everton but he is ineligible for Europe and so Emile Heskey and Michael Owen look certain to lead the offensive on Tuesday. Their major absentee is England midfield player Steven Gerrard; a groin injury in the first game will keep him out for three weeks.

Injury problems
Galatasaray would be forgiven for thinking that the fates were conspiring against them as they contemplate a serious injury list. Midfield player Sergen Yalçin underwent surgery two weeks ago on a ruptured knee ligament injury and is expected to be out for four months. A similar injury means Murat Sözkesen has kicked his last ball of the campaign as has Bülent Akin following an injury he sustained in the 3-1 weekend victory over Gençlerbirligi SK that keeps them at the head of the league table.

'Very tired'
Coach Mircea Lucescu admitted to reporters afterwards that Bülent Akin's injury was his fault, saying: "Before the match, Bülent said to me that he was very tired. I replied that he should start the game and I that I would substitute him as soon as he felt bad. He was injured almost immediately. I feel very sad because of it".

Suspensions
Lucescu's options have been further diminished by the sale of Hakan Ünsal to Blackburn Rovers FC while Brazilian defender Capone completes his two-match suspension. Emre Asik is also banned, as is Ümit Karan.

Key players
The weekend win was achieved without the services of seven key players. Arif Erdem scored early with Ümit Karan and Serkan sealing victory late on. Bülent Korkmaz, Emre, Hasan Sas and Batista all missed the match through suspensions incurred against Fenerbahçe SK in the previous outing.

'Finish the job'
About this week's challenge Korkmaz said: "Should we win this game, we are 80-90 per cent in the quarter-finals. We could not finish the job at Anfield, so now we will finish it in Istanbul."

'Tough matches'
Liverpool captain Sami Hyypiä is under no illusions of the task his side face as they try to reach the knockout stages. "It isn't going to be easy for us now," he said. "We have two points from three games and we'll need at least eight to go through. That means a minimum of two wins from three very tough matches. We knew it would be a tough group and that's how it's proved. However we're still confident. We showed last season that anything is possible. It is a fact that we have been particularly impressive on our travels in Europe."

'Terrific record'
In fact Liverpool have not lost in their last 13 away games in Europe since Spanish side RC Celta de Vigo overcame them in November 1998. "We've gone to places like Rome and Kiev and won," added Hyypiä. "We've returned from Dortmund and Barcelona unbeaten which is a terrific record so we'll fancy our chances in Istanbul."

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