WHO: Liverpool vs Galatasaray
What: UEFA Champions League last 16, second leg
Where: Anfield in Liverpool, England
When: Wednesday at 8pm (20:00 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT ahead of our live text commentary stream.
Liverpool’s English Premier League (EPL) title defense may be left in tatters this season, but the football club still have a shot at the UEFA Champions League if they can produce another memorable Anfield night.
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Turkiye’s Galatasaray lead 1-0 after the first leg, although given the Reds’ struggles this season, a comeback on home soil is far from guaranteed.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at a big night for Liverpool and their under-fire manager Arne Slott.
Liverpool’s EPL chase for the Champions League continues to falter
Dominik Szoboszlai believes Liverpool are “running out of time” in their bid to secure Champions League qualification via their Premier League spot after dropping points late in the game.
The Hungary captain said he understood why many fans left Anfield early – some did before Richarlison scored in the 90th minute to rob struggling Tottenham of a 1-1 Premier League draw on Sunday – but urged them to stand on the sidelines.
Many inside shouted at the final whistle after Premier League champions Liverpool missed the chance to move up to fourth ahead of Aston Villa.
They earned a place and a point against Chelsea, but conceding a goal in the 90th minute or later for the eighth time this season proved costly.
“It’s a good question. If I knew the answer, I’d be the first to go and tell the team,” Sjoboszlai said when asked why Liverpool have continued to drop points of late.
“A couple of weeks ago, we were talking to each other, guys, we don’t have enough time to do this, so we have to wake up and start going the way we want to play the Champions League next season,” said the Hungary captain, whose first-half free kick gave Liverpool the lead against Spurs.
“It’s a little sad when I say this, but we still have to find a solution because we’re running out of time.”
Liverpool fans need a lift from their team
Szoboszlai admitted Liverpool didn’t give much of a chance to excite the crowd in the Spurs game after scoring his fourth free kick of the season. But as the players noticed the early exits, he urged them to watch the games.
“I am not saying that they have no right to leave the stadium. They can leave if they want,” he said. “We need them, and they must know this, without them we are less.
“It should be normal for us to stick together more during difficult times because we need that, we need each other.
“We want to make them happy; we’re not doing it on purpose. Last year, it was enjoyable to watch all the games. But this year, maybe it’s not enjoyable, for sure, I can imagine.
“I don’t think it’s going to help us get people going home after 80 minutes; it’s not going to help us. Stick with us.”
What happened in the first leg between Liverpool and Galatasaray?
Galatasaray’s 1-0 win was ensured by Mario Lemina’s early header, which saw neither team concede late goals.
Despite early pressure from Liverpool, Lemina put the Turkish side ahead after seven minutes, diving to head home after Victor Osimhen turned a corner across goal.
The hosts kept the momentum going after the opening goal, with Giorgi Mamardashvili making several brilliant saves in the Liverpool goal.
Just after the hour mark, Osimhen struck the ball into an open net, but Baris Alper Yilmaz was ruled offside in the build-up to Liverpool.
Liverpool scored in the 70th minute after a goalmouth scramble forced the ball over the line. But the effort was ruled out after a VAR review, with the ball appearing to hit Ibrahima Konate’s hand.
head-to-head
This is the seventh meeting between the two sides and Galatasaray have won three.
Liverpool have won just one of the encounters.
Liverpool team news
Liverpool are still without Alexander Isak, Giovanni Leone, Connor Bradley and Wataru Endo, all struggling with injuries.
Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitke and Ibrahima Konate were on the bench for the game against Tottenham, but are expected to return to the squad.
Galatasaray team news
Enes Buyuk is still absent through injury, while Metehan Baltasi, Gokdeniz Gurpuz and Renato Naga are all ineligible after being left out of the club’s Champions League squad.
Defender Davinson Sanchez is suspended.
Predicted Liverpool starting line-up
Alison; Frimpong, Conate, van Dijk, Kerkez; McAllister, Gravenbirch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; unity
Galatasaray predicted starting line-up
Kakir; Sallai, Singo, Bardacci, Jacobs; Torreira, Lemina; Yilmaz, Sarah, Lang; Osimhen
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