Liverpool manager Arne Slot will celebrate a significant personal milestone in one of European football’s most intimidating arenas on Tuesday, as his side face Galatasaray in Istanbul for a crucial Champions League round of 16 first-leg tie. The match will be Slot’s 100th in charge of the Reds, and a victory would see him break a club record held by Sir Kenny Dalglish for wins within that century of games.
Injury Update Offers Mixed News for Slot
Ahead of the clash at Rams Park, Slot delivered a mixed bag of team news. The most prominent concern is goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who suffered a minor injury in training on Monday morning and was subsequently left out of the travelling squad. Slot, however, played down the severity. “Ali was in the session but he felt something towards the end of the session,” the manager explained. “There’s definitely a chance for Sunday. It’s not a big thing but too much for tomorrow.”
This suggests Alisson could be fit for Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. The Brazilian has a history of injury issues this season, having already missed nine matches.
In his absence, Georgian international Giorgi Mamardashvili is set for his first start in two months. Mamardashvili, who has conceded 17 goals in 11 appearances this term, has prior experience in this fixture, having replaced an injured Alisson during Liverpool’s 1-0 league phase defeat at the same venue in September. His minutes-per-goal-conceded rate this season is 54.94, compared to Alisson’s 81.31.
Another absentee is forward Federico Chiesa, who fell ill on Sunday evening and did not travel. He has already missed five Champions League matches this campaign. They join longer-term casualties Alexander Isak and Conor Bradley on the sidelines. On a positive note, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, and Ibrahima Konate are all expected to return to the starting lineup after being benched for the weekend’s FA Cup win at Wolves. Alexis Mac Allister trained and travelled despite a minor knee issue.
Conquering the Rams Park Roar
Beyond personnel, Slot’s primary focus has been on preparing his team for the formidable atmosphere that awaits. He described the Galatasaray supporters as “very impressive” and recalled the “ear-splitting” noise from the 1-0 defeat in September, particularly the intense whistling when Liverpool had possession. “That was new for me and even for all of my experienced players,” Slot admitted.
He believes that prior experience, however painful, is now an advantage. “The good thing is we’ve experienced it already once now,” he said, while acknowledging the challenge extends beyond the stands to facing “11 very good players with a very good manager.”
The historical context is daunting for Liverpool: they have never won a competitive match in Turkey without recourse to penalties. Their sole victory in nine attempts was against Trabzonspor in 2010. Galatasaray, currently leading the Turkish Super Lig and fresh from a derby win over Besiktas, are in their first Champions League last-16 tie since 2014, having knocked out Juventus in the play-off round.
A Pivotal Moment in a Turbulent Season
This European tie arrives at a critical juncture in Liverpool’s season. Their Premier League title defence has faltered, leaving them sixth and in a battle for Champions League qualification for next year. The campaign has been marked by inconsistency; a recent 5-2 demolition of West Ham was followed by a loss to bottom-side Wolves, highlighting persistent frailties.
The club has invested heavily in attack but has struggled to establish dominance, with a home record at Anfield over the last 25 games showing 14 wins, six draws, and nine losses. Off the pitch, the season has been overshadowed by tragedy, with the club retiring the number 20 shirt in memory of Diogo Jota, who passed away in July 2025.
Looking ahead to Sunday, Liverpool’s opponents Tottenham Hotspur are in crisis, sitting 16th in the league with a poor record of seven wins, eight draws, and 14 losses. They recently changed managers and are characterised by defensive errors, having lost 4-1 to Arsenal in their last outing.
For now, Slot’s attention is fixed on Istanbul. With a deeper squad at his disposal compared to earlier in the season, he feels better equipped. “Having more players available now provides me with more choices,” he said, noting the increased potential to impact games from the bench. He knows his team must be “so, so, so good” to overturn their Turkish fortunes and take a decisive step towards the Champions League quarter-finals.
