Liverpool are gearing up for a pivotal UEFA Champions League showdown against Galatasaray on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, with anticipation and intrigue swirling around Arne Slot’s squad selection and tactical approach. The match, scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off at RAMS Park in Istanbul, promises to be a stern test for the Reds as they look to build on their dramatic 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid on matchday one. But as the team boarded their flight to Turkey, a handful of notable selection questions and historical narratives loomed large.
Monday morning saw the Reds put through their paces at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby, with media in attendance for an open session prior to departure. Among those on the training pitch were Hugo Ekitike—back from a one-match domestic suspension—and Federico Chiesa, who had been added to the Champions League squad following Giovanni Leoni’s season-ending knee injury. Yet, despite his involvement in training, Chiesa did not travel with the team to Istanbul. According to reporting from This Is Anfield, his absence is not related to injury or UEFA registration, leaving fans and pundits awaiting clarification from manager Arne Slot’s pre-match press conference.
Chiesa’s omission is just one of several selection puzzles facing Slot ahead of his 70th career European match, and his first ever against Turkish opposition. Ekitike, meanwhile, is expected to compete with Alexander Isak for a starting berth up front. Ekitike’s return to the squad after suspension adds a fresh dimension to Liverpool’s attack, and his versatility could see him deployed either from the outset or as a dynamic late-game substitute. Youngsters Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni also featured in training, though only Ngumoha is expected to be on the bench after Nyoni was redirected to the UEFA Youth League squad.
Jayden Danns, a promising 19-year-old striker, misses out due to a hamstring injury picked up with the under-21s, further narrowing Liverpool’s attacking options. The absence of both Danns and Chiesa means that depth from the bench could be tested, especially if the contest turns into a war of attrition in the second half.
Historically, Liverpool’s encounters with Galatasaray have been as unpredictable as they are intense. The two clubs have met four times previously in European competition, with each side recording home victories in the 2006-07 group stage and sharing draws in the 2001-02 edition. The Reds have only managed one win on Turkish soil—a 2-1 triumph over Trabzonspor in the 2010-11 Europa League play-off—and are still in search of their first clean sheet in Turkey. Their overall record against Turkish opponents stands at 12 matches played, six wins, two draws, and four defeats.
Slot’s Liverpool side, however, are riding a wave of European form, having won six of their last seven away matches on the continent. Galatasaray, for their part, have lost only three of their previous 19 home games in European competition, but they’re mired in a seven-match winless run in Europe, including a humbling 5-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on matchday one. That result came despite Galatasaray taking an early lead through Yunus Akgun, only to be undone by defensive lapses.
Galatasaray’s domestic dominance is beyond question—they’ve secured the Turkish top flight title for three consecutive seasons, amassing 95 points last year from an eye-popping 30 wins, five draws, and just a single defeat. Yet, that success hasn’t translated to the European stage, where the club has won only one of its last 18 Champions League group or league phase games. Their coach, Okan Buruk, is intimately familiar with Liverpool, having scored against them in Galatasaray’s 3-2 home win in December 2006, and now seeking to mastermind another famous result from the touchline.
Liverpool’s likely starting XI is expected to reflect both continuity and calculated risk. In a 4-3-3 formation, Alisson Becker will take his place between the posts, shielded by a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, and Andrew Robertson. Van Dijk’s leadership and aerial prowess will be vital in a hostile atmosphere, while Alexander-Arnold and Robertson’s attacking forays could stretch Galatasaray’s defense.
The midfield trio is set to feature Fabinho as the anchor, with Thiago Alcântara and Alexis Mac Allister providing creativity and industry. Thiago’s ability to dictate tempo and Mac Allister’s versatility could be crucial in breaking down a Galatasaray side that will look to exploit set pieces and counter-attacks.
Up front, Mohamed Salah headlines the attack, just two goals shy of a remarkable 250 for Liverpool in all competitions. He’ll be joined by Darwin Núñez—whose physicality and finishing will test Galatasaray’s center-backs—and Luis Díaz, whose pace and trickery on the left could create openings. The possible inclusion of Ekitike, whether from the start or off the bench, adds another layer of unpredictability. Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo also offer potent options for late-game impact as substitutes.
Slot’s tactical blueprint is expected to emphasize high pressing and quick transitions, hallmarks of Liverpool’s recent success. "We want to win the ball back early and attack with speed," Slot has said in the past, a mantra that could serve the Reds well against a Galatasaray side vulnerable on the break. Maintaining defensive solidity will be paramount, especially given Liverpool’s historical struggles to keep clean sheets in Turkey.
On the statistical front, the Reds need just one goal to reach 300 as the away team in all European competitions—a milestone within touching distance. Only Milos Kerkez has featured in all nine of Liverpool’s matches so far this season, underlining the squad rotation and depth that Slot has at his disposal. The stakes are high: a positive result in Istanbul would not only cement Liverpool’s position atop their Champions League group but also send a statement to the rest of Europe about their intent.
While the absence of Chiesa remains a talking point, the focus now shifts to those who will take the field in Istanbul. The cauldron of RAMS Park awaits, with Galatasaray’s passionate support sure to test Liverpool’s composure. As the Reds look to shake off their domestic setback at Crystal Palace and continue their European charge, all eyes will be on Salah, Ekitike, and company to see if they can rise to the occasion.
With kickoff fast approaching, the sense of anticipation is palpable. Will Liverpool’s blend of experience, youth, and tactical nous be enough to overcome Galatasaray’s home fortress? The answer will unfold under the lights in Istanbul, as the Champions League delivers another night of drama.
