Champions League: Liverpool gear up for Turkish encounter

Liverpool are back in Champions League action in Turkey this evening and badly need a win if they are to stand a chance of progressing to the last eight of the competition.

Phil Thompson takes the Reds to the Ali Sami Yen stadium to face the wrath of Galatasaray in a bid to lift them from the bottom of Group B.

The Reds drew 0-0 with tonight’s opponents at Anfield a week ago, but Galatasaray are a different proposition in Istanbul where they haven’t lost a European tie in front of their partisan supporters in 19 games.

Chelsea were the last team to inflict a home defeat when they hammered them 5-0 in 1999.

While Thompson’s charges will do well to get a result, they will seek consolation in memory of last season’s victory in Kiev.

Tonight a massive security operation is underway to ensure the match passes off without violent incident.

Fears are especially high, given that Liverpool are the first English side to visit the city since two Leeds fans were stabbed to death there before the UEFA Cup semi-final in 2000.