Galatasaray vs Liverpool preview

Posted on | December 5, 2006 | No Comments

5 time European champs Liverpool will hope to finish things on a winning note when they travel to Istanbul to meet Galatasaray in their last game of the Group stages.

Liverpool are assured of a spot in the knockout stages and Galatasaray will finish bottom, irregardless of the result here. The Reds will be visiting Istanbul for the first time since that incredible comeback win against AC Milan in the final in 2005. Benitez has chose to leave several first team players back home. Steven Gerrard, Jose Reina, Sami Hyypia and Steve Finnan will stay back. This means Jerzy Dudek makes a rare appearance in goal. Xabi Alonso may play, given the Reds are a bit thin in the centre of the park. Lee Peltier could make his European debut at right back. Danny Guthrie may play in the middle. Gabriel Pelletta may be on the bench. Fowler and Crouch will play upfront.

Liverpool have only conceded twice in the Champions League this season, and both have been from Umit Karan. The Galatasaray forward is expected to shoulder much of the burden upfront with Hakan Sukur ruled out of this one. Liverpool should also watch out for the trickery of Hasan Sas. The Turkish giants have won the 99-00 Uefa Cup by beating Arsenal on penalties and have an enviable record at the Ali Sami Yen stadium. They haven’t been in the best of form domestically, but that goes for Rafa’s side too. Premiership reject Junichi Inamoto will play in the centre, and defender Rigobert Song played for a brief while at Anfield. Arda Turan is suspended for this game after receiving marching orders in the last game against Bordeaux.

Galatasaray will be playing for pride, and at home. they do play well. I’ll for them to edge this 2-1.

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