Arne Slot’s side discovered their Champions League fate on Friday lunchtime, and while their Premier League campaign has been a sequence of frustrating bumps and bruises, Europe remains the Reds’ ultimate sanctuary.
A Round of 16 date with Galatasaray offers a shot at redemption, but as Slot has already learned this season, nothing is ever straightforward when Istanbul is involved
Indeed, come the end of the newly adapted league phase round, the Reds sat in a pretty third spot among all 36 teams, with six wins next to their name across eight mid-week outings.
The Reds capped off a great run of games in Europe’s elite competition with a 6-0 demolition job of Qarabag, with the knockout rounds now awaiting the reigning Premier League champions.
Who did Liverpool get in the next round?
Well, it’s a return to Istanbul for Slot and Co, as a formidable Galatasaray outfit was pulled out of the hat as their next opponents…
UCL Round of 16: English teams draw:
| Team | Opponent | First leg date | Second leg date |
| Arsenal | Bayer Leverkusen | March 10/11 | March 17/18 |
| Chelsea | Paris Saint-Germain | March 10/11 | March 17/18 |
| Liverpool | Galatasaray | March 10/11 | March 17/18 |
| Manchester City | Real Madrid | March 10/11 | March 17/18 |
| Newcastle United | Barcelona | March 10/11 | March 17/18 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | Atletico Madrid | March 10/11 | March 17/18 |
The details of Liverpool’s draw
There are many bumper ties involving the English contingent in the competition, as Manchester City battle with Real Madrid, while Newcastle United face the might of Barcelona.
Liverpool will be somewhat happy with their draw, considering they could have drawn Atletico Madrid instead, with the Reds set to face off against Okan Buruk’s men on either March 10th or 11th for the first leg, before the second leg arrives shortly after on either March 17th or 18th at Anfield.
The first tie will see Liverpool have to contend with the intense atmosphere of Rams Park, so it won’t be a comfortable walk in the park for Slot’s side.
Yet, the second leg will see Anfield host what could be another unforgettable night in Europe’s most prestigious competition, with this home advantage hopefully pushing the Reds over the line to the next round.
Liverpool will have to guard against complacency, however, with the Reds already stung by the Super Lig behemoth earlier in the season, when Galatasaray handed the visitors a rare defeat in the Champions League.
Liverpool will be seeking revenge
The backdrop of Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat against Galatasaray in September will certainly add more spice to a fascinating last 16 match-up.
This slim loss on the road really did begin the start of Liverpool’s early-season downfall under Slot, as Victor Osimhen scored the decisive penalty to hand the Lions a 1-0 win.
Noted as being a “disappointing” evening in Turkey by journalist James Pearce, Liverpool will be doing everything in their power to try and right the wrongs of that dismal night in mid-March, having become a well-oiled machine again under Slot.
Across their last five matches, the Reds have won four clashes, with three clean sheets picked up on the bounce, hopefully standing them in good stead to deal with the likes of Osimhen.
While their Premier League title hopes are non-existent, do not discount Liverpool going all the way in the Champions League.
Liverpool: potential path to the 2026 UCL final:
| Round | Opponent |
| Last 16 | Galatasaray |
| Quarter Final | PSG/Chelsea |
| Semi Final | Real Madrid/City/Atalanta/Bayern |
Still, they’ll have to get the better of a tricky opponent in Galatasaray before getting too carried away.
