Galatasaray vs Liverpool Champions League preview: Where to watch, predicted line-ups, form, coaches' thoughts

Galatasaray welcome Liverpool to Istanbul as the curtain raises on the UEFA Champions League round of 16.

Where to watch the game on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.

What you need to know

Victor Osimhen's first-half penalty inspired Galatasaray to victory when these sides met in Istanbul on Matchday 2 and stopping the free-scoring Nigerian forward will be high on Liverpool's priority list in this round of 16 tie. Osimhen's total of seven goals – including the extra-time winner against Juventus in the play-offs – is only bettered by Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon and Kylian Mbappé.

"We didn't create enough," Arne Slot lamented after that league phase defeat, but his team have since responded. The Reds rampaged to five wins from their six remaining league phase games, a run that included a 5-1 win at Frankfurt and a 6-0 home rout of Qarabağ. Dominik Szoboszlai impressed on an individual level, finishing with four goals and four assists.

Possible line-ups

Galatasaray: Uğurcan Çakır; Boey, Sánchez, Abdülkerim Bardakçı, Jakobs; Torreira, Lemina; Barış Alper Yılmaz, Gabriel Sara, Lang; Osimhen

Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitiké

Form guide

Galatasaray

Form: WWWLLW (most recent result first)
Latest: Beşiktaş 0-1 Galatasaray, 07/03, Turkish Super League

Liverpool

Form: WLWWWW
Latest: Wolves 1-3 Liverpool, 06/03, FA Cup

Views from the camps

Okan Buruk, Galatasaray coach: "The first leg is the most important one. Our goal is to gain the advantage. The teams know each other. I think Liverpool will come into this match with a very different mindset than they did to our encounter in the league phase."

Arne Slot, Liverpool coach: "Galatasaray have a lot of weapons; the transition is one of them. Osimhen is a great striker who can score in multiple ways and they have a lot of offensive threat and pace – [Barış Alper] Yılmaz was too fast for us twice in the first half [when the sides met in the league phase]. We need to be wary of that and we will be, but knowing a strength does not necessarily mean you can prevent it."

Reporter's view

Eren Ötken, match reporter

Galatasaray have been making plenty of headlines this season with a series of thrilling matches, their superstar striker Osimhen standing out with his tireless energy. The hosts reached this stage by eliminating Juventus, matches that will no doubt go down in the club's history. Liverpool finished third in the league phase with six wins and two losses, with their 20 goals shared out across almost the entire team. The Reds, who suffered one of their two defeats this season against Galatasaray, have played intriguing matches against the Turkish team in the past.