Liverpool Seek Redemption in Istanbul as Slot Stands by Konaté
Fresh from the heartbreak of a 97th-minute defeat at Selhurst Park—a 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace that snapped an eight-game unbeaten run and highlighted defensive lapses—Arne Slot has made his first bold move: Ibrahima Konaté will partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back. The Dutch coach dismissed speculation of a benching, backing the Frenchman despite his error in Palace’s late winner. “Ibra’s a warrior—mistakes happen, but his quality’s undeniable,” Slot insisted at Liverpool’s Istanbul base, sparking debate online under the #KeepIbraIn tag.
The squad, traveling without Federico Chiesa (rested for the weekend), arrived to a fiery Galatasaray welcome. The near-confirmed XI—revealed through Liverpool’s official release and Slot’s hints—reflects a balance of rotation and resolve: fresh legs, defensive steel, and Mohamed Salah’s brilliance to guide them through the storm.
Form and Stakes
Turkish media have hyped Victor Osimhen’s possible return from injury as a “nightmare matchup” for Van Dijk, while Slot frames the tie as an opportunity: “perfect pressure” to rebound after Palace’s sting. Liverpool sit top of the Premier League with 18 points from eight matches, three clear of Arsenal after Manchester City’s slip. Their European campaign began with a pulsating 3-2 win over Atlético Madrid, capped by Van Dijk’s late header. Galatasaray, meanwhile, were thrashed 5-1 in Frankfurt but remain formidable at home, unbeaten in three domestic outings with Mauro Icardi scoring six. Historically, the sides are level: one win each and two draws across four Champions League meetings, the last a 2006 stalemate when current Gala boss Okan Buruk was among the scorers.
Konaté in the Spotlight
Slot’s key gamble lies in keeping faith with Konaté. Criticised after failing to track Eddie Nketiah for Palace’s winner, the defender had previously been rotated under Klopp. Still, Slot emphasised his aerial strength and ball distribution as vital against Icardi. Van Dijk, fresh from his Atleti heroics, provides the anchor alongside him. Joe Gomez offers cover, while Trent Alexander-Arnold’s hamstring injury opens the door for Jeremie Frimpong’s starting debut, with Conor Bradley on the bench. On the left, Andy Robertson retains his place over Kostas Tsimikas.
Midfield and Attack
In midfield, Ryan Gravenberch anchors with his tidy passing and strong tackling, paired with Dominik Szoboszlai’s box-to-box energy. Curtis Jones is rested after criticism, while Alexis Mac Allister returns as an option from the bench. Salah, with four goals in seven games, leads from the right, brushing off controversy over his Palace handball incident. Cody Gakpo returns on the left to provide aerial strength, Florian Wirtz operates as playmaker, and Hugo Ekitike spearheads the attack after his brace against Nottingham Forest. Diogo Jota and Darwin Núñez wait among the substitutes.
The XI (4-2-3-1)
Alisson Becker; Jeremie Frimpong, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai; Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo; Hugo Ekitike.
Bench: Kelleher, Quansah, Gomez, Mac Allister, Jones, Jota, Núñez, Díaz, Bradley.
Galatasaray’s Challenge
Buruk’s side are expected to mirror Liverpool’s shape: Muslera in goal, Sánchez and Bardakcı in central defence, Köhn and Jelert as full-backs. Torreira and Demirbay patrol midfield, with Mertens, Yılmaz, and Akgün supporting Icardi—or Osimhen if fit. Gala’s intimidating record at RAMS Park—winning 85% of European ties since 2023—adds to the test, though their 5-1 collapse to Frankfurt exposed defensive cracks.
The Bigger Picture
Liverpool enter as betting favourites, with Salah tipped to score. But the real battle lies in mentality: bouncing back from Selhurst Park and proving Slot’s trust in Konaté is well placed. A win would strengthen their Champions League group position and ease domestic pressure ahead of key fixtures.
As kickoff nears at the 52,000-seat RAMS Park, the stage is set: hostile atmosphere, high stakes, and a manager backing his under-fire defender. For Liverpool, this is about more than points—it’s about redemption, resilience, and restoring.
