Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
One of Tuesday’s standout fixtures sees Galatasaray host Liverpool in Istanbul. The Turkish champions are desperate to bounce back after a disastrous start to their European campaign, while Liverpool arrive with renewed motivation following a rare setback at the weekend.
Galatasaray
Galatasaray were humiliated in Frankfurt, suffering a 1:5 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in which every shot on target from the Germans ended up in the net. The absence of injured striker Victor Osimhen is glaring at this level, even if it hasn’t stopped them from dominating in the Süper Lig with seven straight wins. Mauro Icardi remains a reliable veteran presence, but he lacks the explosiveness needed to trouble Champions League defences on his own.
Liverpool
Liverpool suffered their first loss of the season against Crystal Palace (1:2), ending a run of seven straight wins in all competitions. It followed their penalty shootout defeat to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield (2:3). Between those setbacks, however, Liverpool looked ruthless, regularly scoring two or more goals. In their Champions League opener, they edged Atlético Madrid (3:2) thanks to Virgil van Dijk’s late header, with the team dominant throughout, posting a 2.71 xG to 0.61.
Galatasaray vs Liverpool Prediction
Galatasaray will again be without Victor Osimhen, and relying solely on Mauro Icardi up front looks a stretch against one of Europe’s most complete sides. Liverpool’s variety and attacking depth make them heavy favourites to come away with three points.
