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Could Liverpool salvage their season by winning the Champions League?
By Liverpool’s lofty standards, this season has so far fallen way short of expectations for the six-times champions of Europe.
After winning the Premier League last term, Arne Slot’s men have looked anything but title aspirants this time around, yet their hopes of winning the Champions League remain alive.
As the Reds prepare for Tuesday’s Last 16 first-leg tie away to Galatasaray, DAZN News reporter Ross Heppenstall analyses whether they could go all the way and be crowned champions of Europe for a seventh time.
Domestic struggles to thriving in Europe
Much has been made of Liverpool’s inconsistency in the Premier League following last season’s title success.
The root causes of their problems have been well documented, with some questionable recruitment, the tragic death of Diogo Jota, and decline of ageing stars such as Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah all cited as factors.
The Reds’ title defence was effectively over before the Christmas decorations went up, with the low point being successive home defeats at the end of November.
Premier League strugglers Nottingham Forest won 3-0 at Anfield before PSV Eindhoven cantered to a 4-1 success there four days later.
As depressing as those results were for Liverpool supporters, their Champions League campaign was progressing just fine.
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Saving their best for the European stage
Although the home reverse to PSV shockingly marked a ninth defeat in 12 games, Liverpool’s bid to automatically qualify for the Last 16 of the Champions League was actually bubbling along quite nicely.
They embarked on a 13-match unbeaten run in all competitions between late November and late January, which included European away victories at Inter Milan and Marseille.
On Matchday 8 of the Champions League, Liverpool hammered Qarabag 6-0 to reach the Last 16 without the need for a play-off.
They ended the league phase with an impressive six wins from eight games to finish third in the table and set up a two-legged tie against Galatasaray.
The Turkish giants will be no pushovers, however, having dumped Italian giants Juventus out in their dramatic Last-16 play-off.
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Testing tie in Turkey awaits Slot’s men
Galatasaray finished as low as 20th in the league phase of this season’s competition, seven places below Juventus.
But the champions of Turkey thumped the Italian giants 5-2 in Istanbul during the first leg of their recent play-off.
They trailed 2-1 at half-time before Noa Lang (two), Davinson Sanchez and Sacha Boey added to Gabriel Sara’s opener to put Okan Buruk's side in firm control of the tie.
Although they were pushed every inch of the way in Turin, trailing 3-0 at the end of 90 minutes, goals in extra-time from Victor Osimhen and Baris Yilmaz sealed a stunning 7-5 aggregate victory.
That set up a mouthwatering tie with Liverpool, European royalty who famously won the biggest prize in club football in 2005 when beating AC Milan on penalties at Istanbul’s Ataturk Stadium.
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How could this Last-16 clash be decided?
Hugo Ekitike has been a big hit for Liverpool this season since his summer arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt in a £69million transfer.
The France striker, 23, has scored goals in the Premier League and Champions League to emerge as the Reds’ greatest goal threat.
He has thrived on the responsibility with Alexander Isak out injured for long spells and will be keen to find the net against Galatasaray having drawn a blank against them earlier this season.
Liverpool lost 1-0 to them in Istanbul in the league phase of the Champions League back in September.
The Reds will also hope to have Florian Wirtz available after he was recently sidelined by a back injury, while Alexander Isak is expected to return in early April.
Galatasaray have a huge goal threat in Nigerian frontman Osimhen, who scored the winner against Liverpool in the autumn and has been prolific all season for club and country.
Where would progress leave Liverpool’s bid for European glory?
Should the Reds negotiate a safe passage into the quarter-finals, a mouthwatering tie awaits against holders Paris Saint-Germain or Premier League rivals Chelsea.
Liverpool lost to PSG on penalties in the last-16 a year ago and famously beat Chelsea in the semi-final in 2005 en-route to overcoming AC Milan in that remarkable final in Istanbul.
There is a possibility that Liverpool meet Real Madrid in the semi-final.
The Spanish giants, Manchester City, Atalanta and Bayern Munich are the four potential opponents, as City head to Spain once again and Bayern will be expected to eliminate Italy’s last representative in the competition.
If Liverpool were to reach the 2026 Champions League final, they could face one of Arsenal, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid at the Puskas Arena, in Budapest on Saturday, May 30.
They have reached the FA Cup quarter-finals and only a fool would write off the Reds' hopes of going all the way in the Champions League.
They are, after all, a club synonymous with European Cup glory as their previous successes have showed.
It is in their DNA and getting past Galatasaray would encourage hopes of the greatest prize in club football once again returning to the Anfield trophy cabinet.
Full Champions League fixture list for the last 16
Tuesday, 10 March
- Galatasaray vs Liverpool
- Atalanta vs Bayern Munich
- Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham
- Newcastle United vs Barcelona
Wednesday, 11 March
- Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal
- Bode/Glimt vs Sporting
- Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea
- Real Madrid vs Manchester City
How to watch Atletico Madrid vs. Tottenham in the USA on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham in the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
An annual upfront payment is $224.99 , while paying monthly for 12 months is $19.99 and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.
Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
Every Champions League game during the 2025-26 season is streamed in high definition and comes as part of a DAZN subscription.
An annual subscription costs $14.99 per month for 12 months and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, each offering a different selection of sports. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
