Galatasaray vs Liverpool Preview & Tips – Galatasaray backed for important Champions League first-leg win over Liverpool

By Ben Darvill

08 Mar 2026

Ben Darvill 08 Mar 2026

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Galatasaray have won their last three matches against Liverpool
Galatasaray have seen both sides score in their last two European games
Preview, stats & head to head

Cody Gakpo (R) of Liverpool and Lucas Torreira of Galatasaray (Getty Images)

Galatasaray vs Liverpool Preview & Tips
Head To Head
Galatasaray Form
Liverpool Form

Galatasaray vs Liverpool Preview & Tips

Galatasaray are looking to build on their stunning 7-5 aggregate win over Juventus in the last round in Europe.

Liverpool may have won their last three Champions League games, but their first defeat in Europe this season came against Galatasaray in a 1-0 loss back in September.

Galatasaray have only lost one of their five home matches in Europe (W3, D1)
The home side have seen both teams score in three of their last four home matches in the competition

Head To Head

The pair have met a total of seven times, with Galatasaray winning four matches, Liverpool winning once and two games ending as draws.

Galatasaray Form

Galatasaray may arrive for this one as the underdogs, but they will be quietly confident in their ability to stun the big names in the tournament.

Indeed, they have already beaten Liverpool at home this term, while they took a point from Atletico Madrid before stunning Juventus in a big 5-2 win in the first-leg of their playoff clash. While Galatasaray were beaten 3-0 after 90 minutes by Juve in the second-leg, they held their nerve as they scored twice in extra time to go through 7-5 on aggregate.

Galatasaray’s ability to make it into the quarter-finals of the competition likely hinge on their performance in the first-leg. On the road, Galatasaray have lost four of their five outings, while they were comfortably beaten by Juve after 90 minutes. Arriving at Anfield for the second-leg level against Liverpool is crucial, and I predict that they will secure a big result

Liverpool Form

Liverpool were excellent in the latter-stages of their Champions League group-stage campaign as they stormed to three wins to nil over Inter Milan, Marseille and Qarabag.

Their trio of wins ensured the Reds ended in third in the group-stage with 18 points, eight clear of Galatasaray in 20th. While Liverpool finished clear of the likes of Barcelona, Manchester City, Real Madrid and PSG, they have frustrated at times, with two poor results against their next opponents and PSV seeing them drop points.

The worry for the Reds will be that they have lost their last three against their opponents, while they have been beaten in four of their seven previous meetings. While I back the Reds to come through over the course of two legs, I predict they will have to do it the hard way after losing the first-leg.

Verdict

Galatasaray v Liverpool

I am backing Liverpool to slip to a defeat at the hands of Galatasaray as they give themselves a lot of work to do in the second-leg.

BTTS Yes

Both Teams To Score

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Galatasaray

Match Winner

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