Liverpool need to end concerning trend in Champions League clash vs Galatasaray
Liverpool are preparing to travel to Galatasaray in the Champions League.
After failing to win the biggest European honour last season following Liverpool’s loss to Paris Saint-Germain, the Reds got their Champions League campaign off to the perfect start with a 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid.
Liverpool were defeated 2-1 by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park last time out, though, as Federico Chiesa’s late equaliser wasn’t enough, with Eddie Nketiah scoring a 97th-minute winner.
Liverpool are looking to get back on track with a win against Galatasaray on Tuesday, but they will need to break an awful trend to do so.
Liverpool have only ever won once on Turkish soil
The Reds have been good travellers in Europe over recent seasons, losing just four times away from home in the last four seasons.
However, their record in Turkey is less than impressive, with the Anfield outfit only ever winning once on Turkish soil outside of European finals.
That victory came in 2010, as a Remzi Kacar own goal and a Dirk Kuyt strike saw Liverpool come back in the final ten minutes to steal a 2-1 win at Trabzonspor in a Europa League play-off.
| Opponent | Date | Result |
| Trabzonspor | 20 October 1976 | L 1-0 |
| Galatasaray | 26 February 2002 | D 1-1 |
| Galatasaray | 5 December 2006 | L 3-2 |
| Besiktas | 24 October 2007 | L 2-1 |
| Trabzonspor | 26 August 2010 | W 2-1 |
| Besiktas | 26 February 2015 | L 1-0 |
Ryan Babel’s first-half winner had given the Reds a 1-0 victory in the first leg, before the late comeback in Turkey saw Roy Hodgson’s side sneak into the group stages.
Liverpool have failed to win on five other occasions in Turkey, with the most recent being a 1-0 defeat to Besiktas at the Ataturk Stadium in the Europa League round of 32 in 2015, to draw 1-1 on aggregate, before the Reds lost on penalties.
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Liverpool need to summon the spirit of Istanbul
The Merseysiders may not have the greatest record in Turkey, but they have experienced some unbelievable memories in the nation’s capital of Istanbul.
The greatest night in the Reds’ illustrious history happened in the Turkish capital in May 2005, as Rafa Benitez’s men came back from 3-0 down to win the Champions League against AC Milan at the Ataturk Stadium.
It’s a night that lives long in the memory of Liverpool fans across the globe, and is the first thing most think of when the Reds make their travels to Turkey.
Jürgen Klopp also led his side to a UEFA Super Cup victory over Chelsea in Istanbul in 2019, with back-up goalkeeper Adrian becoming the hero in the penalty shootout.
Liverpool need a result in Turkey to get back on track this season, and they can achieve so if they summon the spirit of 2005, as they look to go all the way 21 seasons on.
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