Liverpool needed a bit of time (and 32 shots on the night), but eventually the Reds put four goals past Galatasaray to overturn their first-leg advantage and reach the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
MORE — Champions League bracket, schedule
Dominik Szoboszlai put the hosts ahead after 25 minutes with a cool finish from the edge of the box, deftly guiding Alexis Mac Allister’s low bouncer of a corner kick just inside the back post. Liverpool were stuck on that 1-0 (and 1-1 aggregate) scoreline for far too long after Mohamed Salah had a panenka penalty attempt saved by Ugurcan Cakir in first-half stoppage time.
Then they came back out for the second half and scored three goals in 17 minutes to put the tie to bed. Hugo Ekitike scored the winner after Salah found him with a ball around back of Galatasaray’s defense in the 51st. Two minutes later, Ryan Gravenberch hit a bouncer past Cakir after the initial save bounced out to him on the edge of the penalty area, and Salah got his goal in the 62nd as he curled a stunning strike with his wand of a left foot from outside the box.
Up next in the Champions League, Liverpool will face defending European champions PSG, who thrashed another Premier League side, Chelsea, 8-2 in their round of 16 tie.
Liverpool vs Galatasaray live updates - by Andy Edwards
Liverpool vs Galatasaray final score: 4-0 (3-1 agg.)
Goalscorers: Dominik Szoboszlai (25'), Hugo Ekitike (51'), Ryan Gravenberch (53'), Mohamed Salah (62')
First-leg goalscorers: Mario Lemina (7')
GOAL! Liverpool 4-0 (4-1 agg.) Galatasaray: Salah curls a beauty with his left wand foot (62')
MO SALAH GETS HIS 50TH UCL GOAL WITH AN ABSOLUTE STUNNER 🇪🇬👑 pic.twitter.com/fRSISZcaXi
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 18, 2026
GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 (3-1 agg.) Galatasaray: Gravenerch bounces home a rebound (53')
GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 (2-1 agg.) Galatasaray: Salah picks out Ekitike with a ball around the back (51')
TWO GOALS IN 115 seconds 🤯
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 18, 2026
Hugo Ekitike and Ryan Gravenberch go back to back to put Liverpool in control 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DXLCr4rPAj
PENALTY SAVED! Salah’s penenka stopped by Cakir’s trailing leg (45'+4)
Ugurcan Çakir keeps Galatasaray level in this tie at the end of a punishing first half 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/SEjenIJEVj
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 18, 2026
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 (1-1 agg.) Galatasaray: Szoboszlai runs on to a low corner and guides it home (25')
It had to be Dominik Szoboszlai 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TECXBaGmDk
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 18, 2026
Liverpool starting XI
Alisson - Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez - Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai - Salah, Wirtz, Ekitike
Galatasaray starting XI
Cakir - Boey, Singo, Bardakci, Jakobs - Torreira, Lemina, Sara - Sallai, Yilmaz, Osimhen
How to watch Liverpool vs Galatasaray live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 4 pm ET Wednesday (March 18)
Venue: Anfield — Liverpool
TV Channel/Streaming: Paramount+
The first leg in Istanbul went any way but according to plan, as former Wolves, Fulham and Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina put Galatasaray ahead from a corner kick after just seven minutes. At the other end of the field, Liverpool looked like a team short on creative ideas and even shorter on confidence — the same problems that plagued them in a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, when they conceded a late equalizer after leading for more than 70 minutes. Slot earned some serious goodwill with the Anfield faithful by winning the Premier League title in his first season taking over from Jurgen Klopp, but how much of it has he used up in year 2? In their next three games, Liverpool are effectively playing for their season in the Champions League, PL top-four/five race (at Brighton) and the FA Cup (quarterfinals, at Manchester City). These next three weeks will determine the direction of the club.
Liverpool team news, focus
OUT: Wataru Endo (ankle), Conor Bradley (knee), Alexander Isak (broken leg - MORE), Giovanni Leoni (knee - MORE)
Galatasaray team news, focus
OUT: Davinson Sanchez (suspension), Metehan Baltaci (suspension), Enes Buyuk (shoulder)
Liverpool vs Galatasaray prediction
Slot gambled by resting Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike against Spurs, and clearly it didn’t pay off. The flip side is that both with be fit and full of energy, which Liverpool desperately need at the moment. Liverpool 3-1 (3-2 agg.) Galatasaray.
