Liverpool will take on Galatasaray at RAMS Park in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night, eager to bounce back from the disappointing defeat against Crystal Palace.

Liverpool managed to beat Atletico Madrid at home in their opening game of the UEFA Champions League campaign, and they will certainly fancy their chances vs Turkish Super Lig champions Galatasaray away from home at RAMS Park.

Meanwhile, Galatasaray are no pushovers, and Liverpool will need to improve their recent performances to get all three points here. The Turkish outfit have managed to beat Liverpool in the last two meetings. They will look to make it three wins in a row against the English club.

Liverpool have been inconsistent in recent outings despite managing to win five of their six Premier League matches thus far. Meanwhile, Galatasaray are coming into this game on the back of five wins from their last six matches in all competitions.

Cimbom suffered a heavy defeat in the opening game of the UEFA Champions League campaign against Eintracht Frankfurt, and they will be desperate to bounce back here. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the upcoming meeting between UEFA Champions League Galatasaray and Liverpool.

Team News & Tactics

Galatasaray

Okan Buruk no injury concerns going into this game against Liverpool, and they will be able to field a full-strength lineup. Galatasaray are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Liverpool, with Ugurcan Cakir in goal.

Roland Sallai and Eren Elmali will start as the full-backs here. They will look to keep things tight at the back and hit Liverpool on the break. Davinson Sanchez will start alongside Wilfried Singo at the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, Lucas Torreira will start alongside Mario Lemina in the double pivot. Torreira will look to break up the opposition attack and protect the defensive unit. On the other hand, Lemina will add drive and physicality to the side.

Ilkay Gundogan will operate as the advanced midfielder here, and he will look to create opportunities for his teammates with his passing, technical ability, and vision. He will look to link the midfield with the attack.

Leroy Sane and Yunus Akgun will support him from the flanks. They will look to add pace and unpredictability in the final third. Finally, Victor Osimhen will lead the line for Galatasaray vs Liverpool on Tuesday.

Galatasaray (4-2-3-1): Cakir, Sallai, Sanchez, Singo, Elmali; Lemina, Torreira; Sane, Gundogan, Akgun; Osimhen

Liverpool

Arne Slot will be without Giovanni Leoni due to an injury. Liverpool are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Galatasaray, with Alisson Becker in goal.

Jeremie Frimpong and Andrew Robertson will start as the full-backs. They will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Joe Gomez will form the central defensive partnership alongside Virgil van Dijk.

As for the midfield unit, Alexis Mac Allister looked unfit against Crystal Palace, and Curtis Jones could be given a start in the double pivot. The homegrown midfielder will look to control the tempo of the game alongside Ryan Gravenberch.

Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo will start on the flanks here. They will look to add goals and creativity from the wide areas. Florian Wirtz was very impressive in his last UEFA Champions League outing against Atletico Madrid, and he will look to open up opportunities for his teammates and score his first goal for the club.

Hugo Ekitike was suspended for the game against Crystal Palace, and the French striker is likely to be handed a start here ahead of Alexander Isak. Isak and Federico Chiesa will be backup options on the bench for the away side.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson, Frimpong, van Dijk, Gomez, Robertson; Jones, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike

Key Stats

• Liverpool have picked up five wins from their last six matches in all competitions.
• Galatasaray have picked up five wins from their last six matches in all competitions.
• Galatasaray have scored at least two goals in their last three matches against Liverpool in all competitions.
• Galatasaray are unbeaten in four of the last five matches vs Liverpool.
• Galatasaray have only won one of their last 18 games in the UEFA Champions League (D5 L12), while they lost their opening game in the competition this season by four goals (1-5 vs Eintracht Frankfurt). They have not lost their first two games in a UEFA Champions League campaign since 2012/13.

Player to Watch

Victor Osimhen

Embed from Getty Images

The Galatasaray striker is our key player to watch out for here. Liverpool have been quite vulnerable defensively this season, and the Nigerian international could cause all sorts of problems with his physicality, movement, and finishing ability. He is excellent in the air, and Liverpool could struggle against him.

Osimhen will look to find the back of the net and help his side grind out all three points. The Turkish outfit will need him to step up and produce a strong performance if they want to get a victory here.

Prediction

Galatasaray 2-1 Liverpool

This is likely to be a cracking contest between two teams packed with attacking talent. Neither side is expected to sit back and defend. This will be an open game with a fair few chances. Both teams are likely to get on the scoresheet here, but Galatasaray are likely to edge this one.

Liverpool have been unconvincing with their performances, and the Turkish outfit have the attacking quality to punish them. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 2-1 victory for Okan Buruk and his charges.