Galatasaray handed major boost ahead of Champions League tie vs Liverpool
Liverpool are preparing to take on Galatasaray in the Champions League.
Liverpool have made a perfect start to the new season, making it seven wins from seven with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Southampton at Anfield.
The Reds failed in their quest to win their seventh Champions League title last season, being knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain on penalties in the round of 16.
Liverpool are favourites to win the Champions League this season after spending over £400million this summer, and got off to the perfect start with a late 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid.
Galatasaray are the next test for the English Champions, and the Turkish giants have received a major boost ahead of the game.
Victor Osimhen returns to bench for Galatasaray
Victor Osimhen has missed the last three games after picking up an ankle injury while away with Nigeria on international duty.
Osimhen missed Galatasaray’s 5-1 thrashing to Eintracht Frankfurt on matchday one, and there was a worry that he could miss the crunch tie with Liverpool at RAMS Park.
However, the striker has recovered enough to return to the bench for the Turkish Champions for their clash with Alanyaspor on Friday, with Mauro Icardi taking up the starting spot up top.
It has been reported that Osimhen is using this league match to build up his fitness ahead of the clash with the Reds, with a win needed to give Okan Buruk’s side hope of qualifying for the knock-out stage.
Liverpool have to stop Victor Osimhen if they want to win in Turkey
Osimhen is by far Galatasaray’s best player, and has been a goal-scoring phenomenon since he arrived at Napoli in 2020.
The Reds themselves have been on the wrong end of the Nigerian’s impact in the past, losing 4-1 to the Italian side in 2022.
| Victor Osimhen | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Napoli | 133 | 76 | 18 |
| Galatasaray | 44 | 39 | 8 |
His most recent game against an English side saw him score twice against Tottenham Hotspur in last season’s Europa League, in which Galatasaray won 3-2.
With Liverpool still finding their feet defensively, Osimhen will be licking his lips at the thought of the Reds’ high line.
With two pure-bred goal scorers on show in the form of Osimhen and Alexander Isak, Tuesday’s clash could become a Champions League classic.
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