Galatasaray handed injury boost ahead of Liverpool clash

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Galatasaray have received a sizeable injury boost ahead of the second leg vs Liverpool at Anfield next week Wednesday. Image Credits: Imago Images Liverpool’s Champions League last‑16 tie with Galatasaray is finely poised heading into the second leg at Anfield, with Arne Slot’s side needing a response after a bruising 1-0 defeat in Istanbul.

Galatasaray have been banned from bringing supporters to Merseyside after UEFA sanctioned the club for crowd trouble away to Juventus earlier in the competition, meaning the away end will be completely empty when the tie resumes on March 18 On the pitch, however, Okan Buruk has been handed a major boost over one of the key figures from the first leg. Galatasaray winger Baris Alper Yilmaz was forced off in Istanbul after a typically all‑action display in which he pressed Liverpool’s back line relentlessly and drew a string of heavy challenges, prompting fears that he had picked up a serious knock.

Images shared by Galatasaray Turkey showed the winger’s shin covered in cuts and bruises: YILMAZ! #NeverGiveUp 💛❤️ pic.twitter.com/EkqU20qivJ — Galatasaray SK (@GalatasaraySK) March 11, 2026 The absence of Gala’s away support will make Anfield feel even more like a one‑club stage, but Yilmaz’s likely involvement is a reminder that they will still be facing a side full of belief, energy and attacking threat. If Slot’s team are to turn the tie around, they will need to handle the Turkish international far better than they managed in that bruising first leg – even if this time, he won’t have a wall of yellow and red roaring him on.