Two Liverpool players set to miss Galatasaray clash after new injury blow as key man has to ‘experience the pain

Two Liverpool players are set to miss the clash against Galatasaray due to a new injury setback, as a key player must ‘experience the pain’.

Liverpool’s team news ahead of the Champions League match against Galatasaray.

Liverpool is looking to recover after their first defeat of the season as they head to Galatasaray for the Champions League.

The Reds’ flawless start to the 2025-26 season ended with a 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace last weekend. Arne Slot’s team was rightly defeated at Selhurst Park, with the Anfield manager acknowledging that Palace deserved all three points.

Now, they face a quick turnaround as they shift their focus to Europa, taking on Galatasaray.

The Reds have a long journey to the Turkish capital before another away match against Chelsea on Saturday. Slot hopes to keep his squad fresh for both encounters.

Hugo Ekitike will return for Liverpool after serving a one-match suspension against Palace. The striker received a red card in last week’s 2-1 victory over Southampton in the Carabao Cup. Ekitike may start ahead of Alexander Isak, who played for 84 minutes at Palace. Isak is still working on his fitness following his transfer to Merseyside.

Federico Chiesa has been included in Liverpool’s Champions League squad. He was initially omitted from Slot’s lineup for the league phase, with Rio Ngumoha taking his place on List A. However, with Giovanni Leoni suffering an ACL injury against Southampton and expected to be out for about a year, Chiesa has stepped in to replace the 18-year-old defender.

Nevertheless, Liverpool has encountered another fitness issue. Jayden Danns was on the bench for the 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid earlier this month. The forward also impressed when he came off the bench against Southampton.

However, Danns had to leave the field in the 31st minute during the Reds’ under-21s 3-2 defeat at Ipswich Town on Sunday. While there is no update on the 19-year-old’s status, it is highly likely that he will be unable to play just over two days after experiencing this setback.

Galatasaray Team Update

In the latest news, Galatasaray welcomed back their star striker Victor Osimhen, who returned to the field during a 1-0 victory against Alanyaspor last Friday. Osimhen scored an impressive 37 goals across all competitions last season, helping Cimbom secure their third consecutive Turkish title.

This match marked Osimhen’s first appearance since he played for Nigeria during the international break, where he suffered an ankle injury in a 1-0 win over Rwanda.

Galatasaray’s head coach Okan Buruk commented: “We intended to have Osimhen play for 10 minutes. We wanted him to feel the pain. At times, experiencing pain is crucial, and playing through it is significant. We will evaluate his discomfort and physical state before considering the next game.

“We might have altered our formation and faced challenges in covering the opponents. Nevertheless, we are willing to take these risks to ensure he gets to play.”