Galatasaray vs Liverpool live: Latest score and updates as Hugo Ekitike starts Champions League clash – UK Times

Galatasaray are unbeaten in their last three games against English opponents in European competition (W2 D1), with wins over Manchester United (3-2) and Tottenham (3-2) in the UEFA Europa League in the last two campaigns. This is as many victories as they managed in the previous 12 combined (W2 D5 L5).

Liverpool have won 13 of their last 14 matches in the group/league phase of the UEFA Champions League (L1), while the last team to keep a clean sheet against the Reds in a non-knockout stage game in the competition was Atalanta in November 2020 (scored 56 goals in 23 such matches since then).

These two sides have faced off five times previously, with four coming in competitive fixtures.

Liverpool have won just one of these fixtures, with the Turkish side winning one and the other ending as a draw.

The last time they met competitively was in the group stages of the 06/07 Champions League, with both matches finishing 3-2 to the home side.

There was a time when Crystal Palace acquired the tag of ‘Crystanbul’; for Liverpool, anyway. A week that takes them from Crystal Palace to Istanbulis a reminder they have a monopoly on neither comebacks nor late goals. Istanbul may forever be Liverpool’s most celebrated Champions Leaguefinal, the three-goal response to trailing Carlo Ancelotti’s AC Milan 3-0 long a part of Anfield folklore.

Some nine years later, as Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool sought to end their 24-year wait for a league title, they led 3-0 at Selhurst Park. This time, the 3-3 scoreline felt deflating. A dream died.

As Liverpool can testify now, teams who rely on the remarkable can come unstuck. Live by the late goal, die by the late goal? Logic suggests as much but, in a heady start to the season, Liverpool only benefitted from them. Even when opponents scored late on, they scored later.

Galatasaray and Liverpool will meet for a fifth time in European competition, with both sides managing one victory apiece across the previous four (D2). This will be their first game against each other since a 3-2 win for Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League in December 2006.

Liverpool are winless in their previous two away trips to face Galatasaray, 1-1 in February 2002 and losing 3-2 in December 2006. The only teams they’ve faced away from home more often in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League without winning are Chelsea (5 – D3 L2) and Napoli (3 – L3).

Hugo Ekitike said it is a “good question” of how Liverpool use him and Alexander Isak after spending £200m on new strikers this summer but has insisted they can play together.

Manager Arne Slot has preferred to operate with one striker, flanked by two wingers, but Ekitike formed a prolific partnership with Omar Marmoush at Frankfurt in the first half of last season.

Arne Slot makes four changes to the side that lost to Palace at the weekend.

In defence, Jeremie Frimpong returns at right-back in place of Conor Bradley, while in midfield Curtis Jones comes in for Alexis Mac Allister.

Mo Salah is rested in place of Cody Gakpo, while Hugo Ekitike returns from suspension to start in place of Alexander Isak.

The latest from Richard Jolly at Rams Park:

“A star-studded bench for Liverpool tonight. It was expected Alexander Isak would be on it. The surprise is that Mohamed Salah is, too. Perhaps it is a recognition that Salah needs to be rested more than before and Liverpool do have Chelsea on Saturday.

“But it will be interesting to see who plays on the right; presumably Florian Wirtz but possibly Cody Gakpo or even Curtis Jones or Dominik Szoboszlai.”

Galatasaray XI: Cakir; Singo, Sanchez, Bardakci, Jakobs; Lemina, Torreira, Gundogan; Akgun; Osimhen, Yilmaz.

Subs: Gunay, Metehan, Sallai, Sara, Icardi, Sane, Eren, Berkan, Ahmed, Kaan, Yusuf, Arda.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Gomez, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai; Wirtz, Ekitike, Gakpo.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Gomez, Endo, Isak, Mac Allister, Salah, Bradley, Robertson, Ngumoha.

The latest from Richard Jolly at Rams Park:

“The Rams Park is still largely unoccupied but when Liverpool emerged for a stroll on the pitch, there were still deafening whistles from the home crowd.

“Arne Slot looked unperturbed, but it suggests Liverpool should prepare for something rather louder when the rest of the Galatasaray crowd get here.”