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Szoboszlai is Gerrard reincarnate as Liverpool thrash Galatasaray

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Dominik Szoboszlai produced a powerhouse performance - Adam Vaughan/Shutterstock

Steven Gerrard was watching from the television studio in the corner of Anfield and he would have approved of this. Dominik Szoboszlai, wearing the No 8 like Gerrard, drove Liverpool forward from central midfield as they booked their place in the Champions League quarter-final.

It was Szoboszlai who urged fans this week to stay at Anfield rather than head for the pub when the going gets tough. He did his best here to make sure there was none of the restlessness from the stands felt in recent games.

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The Hungary international drilled in the opening goal in the style of Gerrard. Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah, who also missed a penalty, then scored in the second half to set up a clash against Paris St-Germain next month.

Liverpool have turned around bigger European deficits than this but it was still a memorable night for Arne Slot, arguably his best evening of this troubled season. It eases pressure on the Dutchman, who suggested on the eve of this match that he must have “done a lot of things wrong” for fans to turn on the team.

Here, fans stayed to the end, cheering on their team as they reached this stage of the Champions League for the first time in four years.

They will need to improve and raise standards further to get past PSG and avenge the defeat of last season against the French champions, who looked so potent against Chelsea this week. But this is a chance to salvage their season after putting their top-five place at risk with recent Premier League results.

The Champions League could be their saviour – like in 2005 when they finished fifth in the league – and their winter crisis will be forgotten. They at least have a chance with Szoboszlai playing in his central-midfield role, rather than helping out in other positions.

Salah is also in his best run of scoring of the season and is now in double figures. He also reached 50 goals in the Champions League with his second-half curler, joining the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in passing the milestone.

More to follow...

10:35pm

Dominik Szoboszlai speaking about Steven Gerrard

The current Liverpool number eight has been speaking to TNT Sports, whom Liverpool’s legendary number eight Steven Gerrard is working for tonight. This is what Szoboszlai had to say about comparisons between himself and Gerrard:

“It is a nice compliment to be compared to Steven Gerrard. I was a child watching him play, now I wear the No 8, it is an inspiration for all of us, from a club legend.”

10:31pm

More from Slot

“Last season against PSG we were completely outplayed away from home, we played a great game at Anfield but lost on penalties. To be fair, they have not dropped their standards. It was hardly possible for them to improve but they have been very impressive until now. 

“I do not think they will be that happy to play for us after seeing our performance tonight, and last season we were the only team who took them to extra-time and penalties.”

10:28pm

Arne Slot talking to TNT Sports

“I liked almost every single minute. I liked the way we played, the way we pressed, the reaction of the fans when Galatasaray were doing what I expected them to do. They were on the floor, waving, trying to kill our momentum, but the fans reacted straight away and so did our players.

“The only thing I could complain about was throughout this season we have created so many chances than we have scored, and even today we have underperformed against our xG! That is hardly possible [when you score four goals]. Just before half-time we had the penalty, and then we had a couple more chances.

“There were so many chances, and the good thing is we have had very good halves and then dropped our intensity for 10 or so minutes which is when the other team usually score. Today we did not drop our level at all. The other team did not have a chance, I think. We kept on creating our own chances, and it is a good win, a good performance.

“It says a lot about Mo’s [Salah] mentality that he missed a penalty which was a difficult moment, because it was ridiculous only being 1-0 up at that time. But then he came back and gave a great assist to Hugo [Ekitike], and the goal he scored was trademark. He has scored a lot like that. Credit to him and the whole team.

“The reception means a lot to me but also my players. We have played twice away from home in their [Galatasaray’s] atmosphere, and I think it is safe to say our fans showed Anfield can create an even bigger atmosphere. Theirs was already brilliant, but what we showed today was a combination of players giving everything and our fans recognising the moments to react and it helped a lot.”

10:19pm

Goal after goal after assist after assist

10:18pm

The quarter-finals lineup

PSG vs Liverpool
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich
Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona
Sporting vs Arsenal

Some mouthwatering contests in there. PSG and Liverpool met in the last 16 of the competition last season whilst there is an all-Spanish tie. 21 European Cups/ Champions League trophies between Real and Bayern.

10:15pm

Not a pretty sight for the English clubs

10:14pm

Post-match thoughts of Dominik Szoboszlai

The Hungarian has been speaking to TNT Sports, with the crew including Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard tonight. Liverpool’s current number eight speaking to a legendary Liverpool number eight:

10:09pm

Liverpool’s next five games

March 21: Brighton vs Liverpool (Premier League)
April 4: Manchester City vs Liverpool (FA Cup)
April 7/8: PSG vs Liverpool (Champions League)
April 11: Liverpool vs Fulham (Premier League)
April 14/15: Liverpool vs PSG (Champions League)

Liverpool will travel to Paris in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League and then will host PSG at Anfield in the second leg.

10:06pm

Tonight’s results

Barcelona 7 Newcastle 2 (8-3) 
Bayern Munich 4 Atalanta 1 (10-2) 
Liverpool 4 Galatasaray 0 (4-1) 
Tottenham 3 Atlético Madrid 2 (5-7) 

Like last night, one English club is going through and two are heading out. Newcastle and Tottenham are out but Liverpool move into the final eight.

10:04pm

Post-match thoughts of Hugo Ekitike

The Frenchman will be coming up against one of his former clubs, PSG, in the quarter-finals. He has been speaking to TNT Sports after the game:

10:00pm

FT stats

Possession: Liverpool 62%-38% Galatasaray
Shots: 32-4
Shots on target: 16-1
Corners: 6-2
Touches in opposition box: 58-5

Liverpool had 32 shots tonight, 32! 58 touches as well in the Galatasaray box. Liverpool won 4-0 but they could have had eight or nine, which would have been a fair reflection on the game.

09:57pm

Full time

There is the final whistle and Liverpool have cruised into the quarter-finals. Goals from Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Ekitike and Salah have led them to a 4-0 win on the night, 4-1 on aggregate. Liverpool completely and utterly dominated that game and should have scored a lot more in all honesty. They will take on PSG in the quarter-finals next month. The atmosphere is a little different at full time tonight at Anfield compared to Sunday.

09:56pm

90+5 mins: Liverpool 4 Galatasaray 0 (4-1)

Mac Allister’s shot from just inside the box is deflected and caught by Cakir.

09:54pm

90+3 mins: Liverpool 4 Galatasaray 0 (4-1)

Ngumoha finds Szoboszlai in space on the right and the latter drives the ball towards the far corner. The shot goes wide and Gakpo in the centre was wanting Szoboszlai to not hit that as hard as he would have had a simple tap-in but Szoboszlai was definitely shooting.

09:52pm

90 mins: Liverpool 4 Galatasaray 0 (4-1)

Six added minutes.

09:50pm

89 mins: Liverpool 4 Galatasaray 0 (4-1)

Mac Allister has the ball in the net but a free-kick has been given. That is one of the most ridiculous decisions you will see. Szoboszlai sends in a corner into the six-yard box and van Dijk gets up above Cakir. The ball falls to Mac Allister, who puts it in. The goal is ruled out and somehow that decision stands. That is an absolute joke as there was not even a hint of a foul. Van Dijk wins it and, if anything, Cakir makes contact with van Dijk rather than the other way around. Uefa are very lucky Liverpool are cruising into the next round and in the context of the tie that decision does not change anything.

09:49pm

88 mins: Liverpool 4 Galatasaray 0 (4-1)

Another chance for Liverpool as Ekitike plays it into Szoboszlai, who looks destined to score from around the penalty spot but Elmali slides in with a crucial block.

Arne Slot is making a triple change as Chiesa, Ngumoha and Nyoni replace Ekitike, Wirtz and Gravenberch.

09:47pm

87 mins: Liverpool 4 Galatasaray 0 (4-1)

Ekitike takes a touch on the edge of the box and shoots on the turn but it goes inches wide of the post.

09:47pm

86 mins: Liverpool 4 Galatasaray 0 (4-1)

Like there was at the end of the first half, there will be a substantial amount of added time at the end of the second.

09:46pm

85 mins: Liverpool 4 Galatasaray 0 (4-1)

Wirtz finds Kerkez on the left side of the box and the left-back should pick out either Szoboszlai or Ekitike at the back post. Instead the cross is intercepted and then the ball comes off Gakpo into the hands of Cakir.

09:44pm

83 mins: Liverpool 4 Galatasaray 0 (4-1)

Only two of the six English clubs in the last 16 of the Champions League will make it into the quarter-finals; Arsenal from last night and Liverpool tonight. Tottenham are heading out with Newcastle already dumped out tonight.

09:42pm

81 mins: Liverpool 4 Galatasaray 0 (4-1)

Icardi has come on for the stricken Lang. 

The TV cameras have picked out around 200 Galatasaray fans up in the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand, who are guests of the club despite the ban on travelling fans.

09:39pm

78 mins: Liverpool 4 Galatasaray 0 (4-1)

There is a delay as Lang has caught his hand on the advertising hoarding and is in some pain. A stretcher is now being brought on and Icardi is getting readied to come on.

09:35pm

74 mins: Liverpool 4 Galatasaray 0 (4-1)

This is a concern for Liverpool as Salah has gone down and has signalled to the bench that he needs to come off. He receives a standing ovation from all four stands inside Anfield and he does not look overly concerned as he heads off. Liverpool will be hoping that is minor as Salah heads off to the dressing room and that will be a concern. Gakpo comes on in his place.

09:29pm

68 mins: Liverpool 4 Galatasaray 0 (4-1)

Salah hits the bar and what a goal that would have been, potentially one of the goals of the season. Gravenberch plays a sensational diagonal from inside his own own half to pick out Ekitike, who does brilliantly to get past his marker and drive into the box. He cuts it back for Salah, whose strike thumps into the bar.

Moments later, Mac Allister is denied by another fine save tonight from Cakir and then Ekitike heads over.

Salah could have three or four goals tonight.

09:27pm

67 mins: Liverpool 4 Galatasaray 0 (4-1)

Liverpool’s first change of the night sees Jones replace Frimpong, who receives a standing ovation as he goes off. A sensible decision considering the muscle injuries Frimpong has picked up this season.

09:27pm

66 mins: Liverpool 4 Galatasaray 0 (4-1)

09:26pm

65 mins: Liverpool 4 Galatasaray 0 (4-1)

It has been a challenging season for Liverpool but they are purring right now; the scoreline could be anything. With an away trip to Brighton to come at lunchtime on Saturday, will Arne Slot start thinking about taking a few players off?

09:22pmKey moments ‱ Goals ‱ Video

GOAL! Salah stunner puts Liverpool 4-1 on aggregate

Liverpool’s night gets even better as Salah scores his 50th Champions League goal. On the edge of the Galatasaray box, Salah and Wirtz exchange a neat one-two before Salah cuts inside onto his left. The Egyptian curls one towards the far corner and not even the fingertips of Cakir can deny Salah. Liverpool fans have seen that Salah goal so many times down the years and there is another gem. There was a quick VAR check for a possible offside by Salah in the build-up but it is cleared.

09:21pm

60 mins: Liverpool 3 Galatasaray 0 (3-1)

The crowd are now singing to Steven Gerrard, who is in the TNT Sports studio tonight at Anfield.

09:21pm

59 mins: Liverpool 3 Galatasaray 0 (3-1)

Anfield is bouncing and Liverpool will feel that more goals are absolutely there for the taking. Had Liverpool taken more chances in the first half, they would be potentially 6-0 up.

Change for Galatasaray as Akgun replaces Torreira, who is booed off, not just because of his antics tonight but also the fact he used to play for Arsenal.

09:17pmKey moments

NO GOAL!

Liverpool thought they had their third goal in five minutes but it is ruled out. Frimpong’s cross is put into his own net by Singo but Frimpong was offside when the ball was played to him so the goal does not stand.

09:17pm

GOAL! Singo own goal gives Liverpool their fourth on the night

Anfield is rocking as Liverpool get a third goal in five minutes. But will this stand?

09:14pmKey moments ‱ Goals ‱ Video

GOAL! Gravenberch gets Liverpool’s third

Liverpool go bang bang and now lead 3-1 on aggregate. Wirtz plays a delightful ball into Salah inside the box and the Egyptian hits it first time. Cakir makes a good save to deny Salah but the ball comes out to Gravenberch, who hits it first time into the ground and the ball ends up in the net.

09:12pmKey moments ‱ Goals ‱ Video

GOAL! Ekitike puts Liverpool in front in the tie

A quite stunning assist from Salah. Liverpool should have scored a lot more tonight but they do now take the lead on aggregate. Mac Allister plays a lovely pass forward into the path of Salah on the right. The Egyptian spots the run of Ekitike at the back post and picks out the Frenchman with aplomb. The ball is so good that the finish for Ekitike is a simple tap-in. Salah wasted two glorious chances in the first half but that is a terrific assist.

09:11pm

50 mins: Liverpool 1 Galatasaray 0 (1-1)

Another chance for Liverpool and another save from Cakir. After good work from Ekitike, the Frenchman feeds a pass forward to pick out the run of Salah into the penalty area. Salah attempts to go through Cakir’s legs but the Galatasaray keeper makes another important save.

09:09pm

48 mins: Liverpool 1 Galatasaray 0 (1-1)

Liverpool attack down their left and Wirtz feeds a pass forward into Ekitike on the left side of the box. Ekitike should probably put his foot through it but his effort is saved by Cakir at his near post.

09:06pm

Second half

We are back under way at Anfield. Liverpool, as they like to do, will attack towards The Kop in the second half. Former Manchester City man Sane is on at the break for the visitors as is Lang. Osimhen has not come back out after half-time.

08:59pm

Tonight’s games

Barcelona 7 Newcastle 2 (8-3) FT
Bayern Munich 1 Atalanta 0 (7-1) HT
Liverpool 1 Galatasaray 0 (1-1) HT
Tottenham 1 Atlético Madrid 0 (3-5) HT

Tottenham have got a goal back at home against Atlético but are still two goals down on aggregate. Newcastle were knocked out after a thrashing at the hands of Barcelona earlier tonight.

08:55pm

HT stats

Possession: Liverpool 62%-38% Galatasaray
Shots: 15-3
Shots on target: 8-1
Corners: 3-1
Touches in opposition box: 28-4

The stats demonstrate the dominance Liverpool had in the first half and the regret they will have in only scoring one goal.

08:52pm

Half-time

Liverpool should have sewn this one up in this first half but instead are only level on aggregate. The half ends with two big chances for Liverpool, first for Salah and then for Wirtz, but Cakir makes two big saves to deny the hosts.

That is the final act of the half and Liverpool lead 1-0 on the night, with the tie level at 1-1 on aggregate. Arne Slot’s side should have scored at least three or four goals tonight but only have the one. Galatasaray will be mightily relieved with this scoreline at the break to be honest.

08:49pmKey moments ‱ Video

MISSED PENALTY!

It is a not a good effort from Salah at all, dreadful in fact. The Egyptian tries to clip it down the middle but Cakir is able to make the save with his legs. Two huge missed opportunities from Salah in this first half. Liverpool should be at least 3-0 up tonight and cruising but instead the tie is still level at 1-1.

08:47pm

PENALTY LIVERPOOL!

Szoboszlai is brought down and the referee has a long think before pointing to the spot. Jakobs got away with a potential penalty incident on Ekitike earlier but he does not get away with this one. Szoboszlai gets to it just ahead of Jakobs, who then catches Szoboszlai. The referee took his time and made the right call.

Salah to take...

08:45pm

45 mins: Liverpool 1 Galatasaray 0 (1-1)

There will be five added minutes at the end of this first half, due to that lengthy delay for the treatment for Osimhen. It looks like Arne Slot feels like there should be more than five minutes considering the Galatasaray antics in this first half.

08:42pm

41 mins: Liverpool 1 Galatasaray 0 (1-1)

Another corner for Liverpool as the hosts sniff another goal. Galatasaray are holding on.

It goes beyond the back post, where van Dijk heads it back across goal. The ball loops into the air and Cakir spills it but is awarded a free-kick after a foul from Mac Allister. Like the one a few minutes ago, you can put that into the category of very soft.

08:38pm

38 mins: Liverpool 1 Galatasaray 0 (1-1)

Galatasaray right now are praying for half-time. Liverpool are all over them but their only regret so far tonight will be that they have not scored more than once. As it stands, the tie is level at 1-1.

08:38pm

37 mins: Liverpool 1 Galatasaray 0 (1-1)

Galatasaray are potentially taking over the crown from Diego Simeone’s AtlĂ©tico Madrid tonight as the biggest culprit of antics. They have been considering taking off Osimhen for a little bit and Lang was getting ready to come on but for the time being the Nigerian striker will stay on.

08:33pmKey moments

33 mins: Liverpool 1 Galatasaray 0 (1-1)

It is all Liverpool and they should have more than one goal so far tonight. After great work from Wirtz on the edge of the box, the German lays it across to Szoboszlai, who hits it first time and a stunning effort is saved brilliantly by Cakir diving to his left.

08:33pm

32 mins: Liverpool 1 Galatasaray 0 (1-1)

Mac Allister hits the bar but the whistle has gone. The corner from the right is put beyond the far post, where van Dijk heads it back across goal. The ball comes to Mac Allister inside the six-yard box and his header comes back off the bar. Mac Allister though is penalised for a very soft foul on Cakir.

08:32pmVideo

31 mins: Liverpool 1 Galatasaray 0 (1-1)

That was such a crucial block to deny Liverpool a second. After a bit of a scramble inside the Galatasaray box, the ball falls to Wirtz eight yards out. The German looks like he will score but his shot is blocked. That ball was going in so that was crucial.

08:31pm

30 mins: Liverpool 1 Galatasaray 0 (1-1)

Should that have been a penalty for Liverpool? Ekitike drives forward through the Galatasaray half and moves into the penalty area. He goes between two defenders and is brought down but the appeals are waved away. Jakobs steps across Ekitike and Arne Slot cannot believe his side are not given a penalty. That could so easily have been a penalty.

08:29pmKey moments

29 mins: Liverpool 1 Galatasaray 0 (1-1)

Liverpool should hit the front in the tie but Salah wastes a golden chance. A header backwards from Galatasaray is woeful and it presents Salah with a fantastic one-on-one opportunity. Salah tries to chip it over Cakir but the Galatasaray keeper stays up enough to make the save. Salah will be frustrated he did not take that opportunity to put Liverpool 2-1 up on aggregate.

Big chance wasted by Mohamed Salah - Carl Recine/Getty Images08:25pmKey moments ‱ Goals ‱ Video

GOAL! Szoboszlai puts Liverpool level on aggregate

The Hungarian has had a great season and he can add another goal to his tally. Mac Allister’s corner from the left comes to Szoboszlai along the ground near the edge of the box. The Hungarian runs onto it and hits it first time, finding the bottom corner with a clinical finish. It has been a poor season for Liverpool but Szoboszlai has been fantastic. The tie is now level at 1-1.

08:25pm

24 mins: Liverpool 0 Galatasaray 0 (0-1)

Wirtz’s shot from the edge of the box is blocked and goes behind for a corner....

08:24pm

23 mins: Liverpool 0 Galatasaray 0 (0-1)

Osimhen does appear to still be in real pain with his wrist or forearm. It looked a rather innocuous incident with Konate but he does not look quite right.

08:21pm

20 mins: Liverpool 0 Galatasaray 0 (0-1)

Torreira is an absolute joke. Mac Allister fairly wins a challenge with Torreira and there is the smallest of contact on Torreira’s foot but nothing to justify the reaction, where Torreira rolls around like he has just broken his leg. That is disgraceful behaviour. Liverpool cannot get sucked into a game like that because that is exactly what Galatasaray want.

The home crowd belt out Diogo Jota’s song as we hit the 20-minute mark.

Huge frustration from Arne Slot - Carl Recine/Getty Images08:19pm

19 mins: Liverpool 0 Galatasaray 0 (0-1)

Despite being banned, some Galatasaray fans may have found a way into Anfield tonight:

08:18pm

17 mins: Liverpool 0 Galatasaray 0 (0-1)

Wirtz shows neat footwork to get to the byline before chipping it into the centre. He picks out Ekitike, who probably should take it first time, but he decides to chest it and the ball is then taken off him before he gets his shot away.

08:15pm

14 mins: Liverpool 0 Galatasaray 0 (0-1)

We are not even a quarter of an hour into this game and these Galatasaray antics are just ridiculous. They have not come to play, they are only interested in making this as stop-start a game as possible, which they did away at Juventus in the play-offs. The only person seemingly who cannot decipher what they are doing is the referee, who was supposed to be the fourth official tonight but has had to step in due to an injury.

08:12pm

12 mins: Liverpool 0 Galatasaray 0 (0-1)

Unsurprisingly, Osimhen is back on with some strapping on his arm. Not as hurt as he was portraying.

08:10pm

10 mins: Liverpool 0 Galatasaray 0 (0-1)

Osimhen seems to have recovered rather quickly as he is now back to his feet and is involved in some heated exchanges with the Liverpool players, notably Mac Allister and Szoboszlai.

08:09pm

8 mins: Liverpool 0 Galatasaray 0 (0-1)

Arne Slot’s prediction before the game was spot on; the Galatasaray players are already up to dirty tricks and it is so easy to see right through it. Arne Slot is furious and the Liverpool players are not too impressed with this.

Arne Slot not happy with the Galatasaray antics - Peter Byrne/PA08:06pm

5 mins: Liverpool 0 Galatasaray 0 (0-1)

Arne Slot, speaking to TNT Sports before the game, mentioned the number of times the Galatasaray players went down in the first half of their second leg at Juventus in the play-offs. There is an example of that as Yilmaz goes down and wins a free-kick. If anything it should have been a free-kick the other day. Like when playing against a team like Atlético Madrid, you have to be careful not to get sucked into those antics.

08:03pm

3 mins: Liverpool 0 Galatasaray 0 (0-1 on aggregate)

Moments after Salah went down inside the Galatasaray penalty area, Ekitike has the first effort of the night as he cuts inside onto his right on the edge of the box and tries to curl one towards the far corner but it goes wide.

08:00pm

Kick-off

We are under way at Anfield. Arsenal are so far the only English club into the quarter-finals; can Liverpool join them or will they join the list of Premier League teams to be dumped out?

Szoboszlai kicks it immediately deep into the Galatasaray half. We never used to see kick-offs like that but we are seeing more of those these days.

07:56pm

Nearly ready for action

After You’ll Never Walk Alone is belted out by the Anfield faithful, the two sides emerge and we are approaching kick-off. It is an Anfield solely packed with Liverpool fans with no Galatasaray fans allowed in tonight. Safe to say the Uefa anthem is resoundly booed by those inside Anfield. Here is a reminder of the two sides tonight:

Liverpool: Alisson, Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Salah, Ekitike, Wirtz.
Substitutes: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Gomez, Robertson, Nyoni, Nallo, Morrison, Jones, Ngumoha, Chiesa, Gakpo.

Galatasaray: Ugurcan, Boey, Singo, Bardakci, Jakobs, Torreira, Lemina, Yilmaz, Sara, Sallai, Osimhen.
Substitutes: Guvenc, Sen, Icardi, Sane, Akgun, Elmali, Gundogan, Kutucu, Asprilla, Ayhan, Gurpuz, Lang.

07:53pm

No team talk needed?

07:50pm

TNT crew on Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen

07:45pm

Another English club bites the dust

Manchester City and Chelsea were dumped out last night and you can now add Newcastle to that list after they were thrashed 8-3 on aggregate by Barcelona. A maximum now of three English clubs can now go through; Arsenal are already into the final eight but both Liverpool and Tottenham have to work to do to progress.

07:36pm

Galatasaray’s last five results

Galatasaray 3 Istanbul Basaksehir 0 (Turkish Super Lig)
Galatasaray 1 Liverpool 0 (Champions League)
Besiktas 0 Galatasaray 1 (Turkish Super Lig)
Alanyaspor 1 Galatasaray 2 (Turkish Cup)
Galatasaray 3 Alanyaspor 1 (Turkish Super Lig)

Following their win over Istanbul Basaksehir, Galatasaray sit atop the Turkish Super Lig, four points clear of Fenerbahce and they have a game in hand.

07:32pm

Added advantage

Not only are Liverpool at home for this second leg, there are also no Galatasaray fans allowed into Anfield tonight because of crowd disturbance in their last away game in this competition. That came at Juventus, where Galatasaray nearly blew it. They took a 5-2 lead into the second leg in Turin in the play-offs but Juventus took it to extra time before Galatasaray were able to just about get across the line.

07:25pmAnalysis

Focus on the Liverpool starting lineup

Arne Slot has made four changes from the team that drew against Spurs at the weekend. Andy Robertson, despite media duties, is on the bench and Milos Kerkez comes in. Ibrahima Konaté is fit after a hamstring problem and comes in for Joe Gomez, while the forward line is changed with Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike coming in. 

07:22pm

Liverpool’s last five results

Liverpool 1 Tottenham 1 (Premier League)
Galatasaray 1 Liverpool 0 (Champions League)
Wolves 1 Liverpool 3 (FA Cup)
Wolves 2 Liverpool 1 (Premier League)
Liverpool 5 West Ham 2 (Premier League)

After their draw against Tottenham on Sunday, Liverpool sit fifth in the Premier League, five points off Manchester United in third. Fifth place does look like it will be enough for a Champions League place for next season.

07:18pm

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard on TNT Sports

07:14pm

Tonight’s games

Barcelona 6 Newcastle 2 (7-3)
Bayern Munich (6) vs Atalanta (1) 8pm
Liverpool (0) vs Galatasaray (1) 8pm
Tottenham (2) vs Atletico Madrid (5) 8pm

Newcastle are heading out of the competition as they are currently on the receiving end of a thrashing over in Barcelona so they look like the third Premier League club to be heading out. There is work to do for the two other English clubs in action this evening. Liverpool are a goal behind against Galatasaray whilst Tottenham have a mountain to climb after a calamitous evening in Madrid last week.

07:10pmAnalysis

No away fans

Galatasaray fans are banned from attending tonight’s game as punishment for their behaviour against Juventus earlier in the competition. All eyes will be on whether any Turkish supporters make it into the stadium. It will be a strange atmosphere with no away support. Liverpool fans have not been happy with their own team recently and their feelings will be amplified without travelling support at Anfield. 

07:07pm

Arne Slot responds to Jamie Carragher’s criticism

“I agree with a lot of things Jamie has said throughout this season. This particular one I disagree with. I do not see this, as I said after we conceded the 1-1. After so many disappointments we have had this season. It would not have been completely strange or weird if the players had given up, but they did not. 

“But I can show you and you can find yourselves, that they had a counterattack where seven or eight of our players were back in the 18-yard box, which led to their corner, where we blocked that shot and that corner led to a transition all the way to the other side, where Hugo Ekitike had his big chance. 

“A team that has given up, a team of individuals a team that does not work together, does not show that resilience after our 120th setback this season. That is exaggerated but we have had many. I do not know why he said it or what he meant with it or what examples he used to say this. Again, he has said things this season that I agree with. I see similar things, I cannot always say them but I see similar things but this one I disagree with him.”

07:04pmAnalysis

“Our job is to use that frustration in a positive way”

Arne Slot has addressed fan unrest in his programme notes, insisting that he expects supporters to be upset when Liverpool fail to win.

His team were jeered off after the draw against Tottenham at the weekend and many fans are leaving Anfield early. 

“A lot has been said about the reaction of our fans to our draw against Tottenham and all I can say is I get it,” wrote Slot. “I get it from the point of view of disappointment at points being dropped, I get it in terms of frustration at conceding another late goal and I get it about elements of our performance in general.

“I would even go as far to say that it would not be normal if there was not frustration in a situation like this, particularly from those who care about our team and the club in general as much as our fans do.

“Our job now is to use that frustration in a positive way and for this reason it is clearly a good thing that not only do we have another home game so soon after but also that it is a home game of such crucial importance.”

07:01pm

Teams in full

Liverpool: Alisson, Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Salah, Ekitike, Wirtz.
Substitutes: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Gomez, Robertson, Nyoni, Nallo, Morrison, Jones, Ngumoha, Chiesa, Gakpo. 

Galatasaray: Ugurcan, Boey, Singo, Bardakci, Jakobs, Torreira, Lemina, Yilmaz, Sara, Sallai, Osimhen.
Substitutes: Guvenc, Sen, Icardi, Sane, Akgun, Elmali, Gundogan, Kutucu, Asprilla, Ayhan, Gurpuz, Lang.

06:57pm

Hosts arriving

A huge night for Liverpool. A good night will see them book a quarter-final meeting with PSG next month. A bad night and Liverpool’s Champions League campaign this season will come to an end. With the defence of their Premier League crown not going to plan whatsoever, this feels like a big night in Liverpool’s season.

06:53pm

Crazy game at Camp Nou

One English club is already playing tonight with Newcastle taking on Barcelona at Camp Nou. The tie was level at 1-1 coming into tonight and it has been a crazy first half over in Spain. Barcelona lead 3-2 on the night at half-time and therefore lead 4-3 on aggregate. You can follow all the events from that match right here.

06:47pmKey moments

Galatasaray team

06:45pmKey moments

Liverpool team

06:42pm

Beautiful evening for it

06:39pm

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06:34pmKey moments

Big night for Slot and Liverpool

Liverpool have work to do to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League as they host Galatasaray in the second leg of the last 16 at Anfield. Galatasaray take a one-goal advantage into this second leg, with Mario Lemina’s goal giving the Turkish outfit the lead halfway through the tie. Galatasaray have now won both meetings 1-0 between the two clubs this season, with the teams having met early during the league phase.

Liverpool stuttered again on the weekend, failing to see out the game against Tottenham in the league on Sunday, dropping two points in a 1-1 draw at Anfield. They were booed by their fans at full time and Arne Slot was asked about that reaction from his own fans ahead of a huge game tonight.

“It is never nice they are frustrated because usually fans are not frustrated after you win,” Slot said. “People told me when I came here that they will support the manager for such a long time, but (if) you are supposing something then I must have done a lot of things wrong.

“That is never a nice feeling to have because being in the club that is always so supportive for the manager, in good and bad times, then if they are not happy with me, then apparently I have done so many things wrong. I did something wrong in the season that we won the league and I definitely did maybe make a few decisions that were not perfect in hindsight.

The pressure is increasing on Arne Slot - Jon Super/AP

“But all the decisions I have made, I have always made for the same reason, for us trying to win the game. But I also know how the football industry works. Winning can change a lot. That is what we are trying to achieve tomorrow and we are completely ready for that.”

Liverpool’s Champions League campaign last season was ended at this stage as they were knocked out by eventual champions PSG. Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo remain out injured, although Isak is getting closer to a return. Joe Gomez is a doubt for tonight’s game.

In between these two legs, Galatasaray comfortably beat Istanbul Basaksehir 3-0, solidifying their lead at the top of the Turkish Super Lig, going seven points clear. They are aiming to make the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since the 2012/13 season, when they were beaten by Real Madrid in the final eight.

“I believe in my players,” Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk said. “I am imagining in my mind how we give the absolute most we can offer and why we would not advance to the next round. It is not just a very important night for Galatasaray, but for Turkish football as well.”

The winner of this tie will face PSG in the quarter-finals next month so will it be Liverpool or Galatasaray to make the final eight? Team news to follow shortly.

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