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Galatasaray defending home record

Galatasaray SK, unbeaten at home in Europe since 1999, face Liverpool FC in the UEFA Champions League tonight.

Galatasaray SK will be hoping to make home advantage count when they face Liverpool FC in tonight's UEFA Champions League Group B match at the Ali Sami Yen stadium. Unbeaten in Istanbul in European action since 1999, the current Turkish 1. Lig leaders will be confident of success, despite missing several key players.

Injuries and suspensions
Romanian coach Mircea Lucescu was dealt a major blow in last weekend's 3-1 win over Gençlerbirligi SK when midfield player Bülent Akin was carried off with a knee injury that could end his season. At the back, Brazilian Capone and Emre Asik are both suspended and Lucescu opts to use Bülent Korkmaz and Andres Fleurquin as his centre-back pairing. In midfield, Sergen Yalçin is a long-term injury absentee, while striker Ümit Karan is suspended and Murat Sözkesen is injured. Lucescu recalls top scorer Arif Erdem to the staring eleven but is forced to partner him with untried new Romanian signing Radu Horia Niculescu, loaned from FC Steaua Bucuresti until April 2002.

Gerrard missing
Liverpool, currently bottom of a group that also contains AS Roma and FC Barcelona, know that only a win will do following a goalless stalemate between the two sides at Anfield six days ago. Talismanic midfield player Stephen Gerrard was injured during that match and is missing from the Merseysiders' starting lineup tonight. Danny Murphy moves into the centre to partner Dietmar Hamann, giving Vladimír Šmicer the chance to impress on the right flank. Polish international goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek is still missing with a troublesome groin strain, leaving youngster Chris Kirkland to make only his second appearance in European competition.

'We can beat them'
Galatasaray goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon will be keen to emulate his performance last week, as he made a string of telling saves that enabled his side to emerge with a valuable point. Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson was in confident mood ahead of the match and is looking for his troops to continue the form that has seen them win in Kyiv and draw in Porto against Boavista and Rome this season. "It is important that our away form in Europe comes to the fore now," Thompson said. "We have done really well in away ties and need the same from this one. We played them last week and saw enough to know we can beat them. Galatasaray know that as well."

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