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And the Reds must successfully negotiate another trip to the Asian border if they are to maintain hopes of a seventh European Cup triumph.For the second time this season, Galatasaray stand in the way of Arne Slot's side in the Champions League after the duo were paired together in the round of 16.Back in September, the Turkish side earned a contentious 1-0 victory in the second matchday of the league stage thanks to a disputed penalty at a noisy Ali Sami Yen Stadium.READ MORE: Liverpool Champions League rematch confirmed as difficult path to final emergesREAD MORE: Arne Slot gives unexpected Florian Wirtz Liverpool injury update - 'I honestly don't know'Coming in between the dramatic late Premier League losses at Crystal Palace and Chelsea, it was the second of nine defeats in 12 games that effectively ended Liverpool's title defence and, with a 4-1 loss at home to PSV Eindhoven on Champions League matchday five, called into question the future of Slot as Reds boss.Of course, the landscape has changed significantly since then. With just two narrow defeats in their last 20 games in all competitions, Liverpool have steadied their ship and ultimately finished in fourth place in the final Champions League standings on the back of impressive wins at Marseille and Inter.Indeed, the loss in Istanbul is the only time the Reds have failed to win an away game of any note in the competition under Slot, with the 3-2 defeat at PSV Eindhoven last season coming in what a second-string Liverpool regarded as a dead rubber.While a 7-5 aggregate success over Juventus in the play-off round suggests comfortable progress for Galatasaray, it was anything but.
“Given the possibilities of the draw we got exactly what we anticipated and that is a tough last-16 draw against an opponent we have faced once already this season,” said the Liverpool boss.“We know in the away leg we will have to perform better than the last time we were in Istanbul back in September. That is our immediate challenge in this tie, especially as we know Galatasaray had such a positive result against Juventus to reach the last 16.“But the main feeling is excitement because this is what we worked so hard for in the league stage.
All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageWhile Liverpool won both the Champions League in 2005 and the UEFA Super Cup in 2019 when the finals were held in Istanbul, their record away from home against Turkish teams is poor.They lost and drew their first two trips to Galatasaray, were beaten by Besiktas in 2007 and 2015, and were shocked by Trabzonspor in 1977 before earning their solitary victory against the same opposition under Roy Hodgson in the Europa League in 2010.And any relief at avoiding the perceived more difficult opponent in Atletico Madrid was soon banished by Liverpool being placed in the tougher half of the draw.Paris Saint-Germain - the Reds' conquerors last season - or Chelsea lay in wait in a possible quarter-final with the second leg at Anfield. Fantastic atmosphere, and it depends on the result in the first game."I think the atmosphere at Anfield is second to none and, hopefully, that will come into act as well."You have PSG, Chelsea, Man City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich - that side of the draw is hardest, but if you are going to win it, you have got to beat them all on the way."Of the 16 teams to have made it through to the knockout stages, the Reds have faced all bar Bodo/Glimt and Sporting Lisbon in the last seven years.Liverpool might well reflect on how Arsenal have what appears a much easier passage to at least the semi-final as reward for finishing top of the table.
