The squad, announced by Arne Slot’s staff, comprises goalkeepers Alisson Becker, Mamardashvili, and Woodman; defenders Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, Milos Kerkez, Andy Robertson, and Jeremie Frimpong; midfielders Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Conor Bradley, and Curtis Jones; and forwards Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak, Keyrol Figueroa, and Trey Mingi.
A predicted starting XI includes Alisson; Frimpong, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, and Isak, with Wirtz offering flexibility on the left. This selection reflects rotation needs with Chelsea looming on October 4, but the omission of Federico Chiesa has sparked outrage.
Chiesa, the £10m summer signing from Juventus, was a late addition to Liverpool’s UCL List A on September 26, replacing the injured Giovanni Leoni (ACL tear from the Carabao Cup win over Southampton). Despite training on Monday, Chiesa was ruled out with a minor “injury niggle” from the 2-1 Premier League loss to Crystal Palace on September 28. Slot explained, “Federico felt discomfort against Palace. It’s not worth risking him here.”
Fans, however, are livid. Chiesa’s goal against Bournemouth and assists against Southampton had raised hopes for a starring role in Istanbul. Social media erupted, with posts like, “No Chiesa for Galatasaray? Slot’s throwing away our attack!” and “Why sign him if he’s benched for a UCL night?” Some fans even referenced the post-Klopp rebuild, blaming “FSG’s cautious approach” for squad depth issues. The hashtag #ChiesaOut trended briefly, capturing the discontent.
Other absences include Leoni, sidelined for a year, Jayden Danns (hamstring from U21s action), and Trey Nyoni (diverted to U19s UEFA Youth League). No other major surprises emerged—Salah, Van Dijk, and Alisson are fit—but the Chiesa snub overshadows the buildup.
Liverpool, top of the Premier League despite the Palace slip, need a response after a mixed UCL start (3-2 win over Atletico Madrid). Galatasaray, unbeaten domestically but humbled 5-1 by Eintracht Frankfurt in MD1, are a threat.
Their star striker Victor Osimhen, recovering from an ankle injury, played 10 minutes against Alanyaspor to “experience the pain,” per manager Okan Buruk. His potential return could exploit Liverpool’s depleted defense, especially after Konaté’s recent errors.
The hostile Rams Park atmosphere, with fans reportedly lighting flares near Liverpool’s hotel, adds pressure. Slot demands “character” to counter Galatasaray’s intensity and secure vital UCL points before facing Real Madrid next.
Supporters, though, feel shortchanged by Chiesa’s absence, fearing a lack of creativity against a side likely to defend deep. Live coverage is available on TNT Sports or the LFC app. How do you see this squad performing under the spotlight? Can they overcome the injury setbacks and fan frustration to deliver in Istanbul?
