UCL 2025-26: Liverpool dismantle Galatasaray at home to secure quarter-final place

Liverpool put their indifferent form behind them to reach the quarter-finals of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League when they defeated Galatasaray 4-0 at Anfield on Wednesday for a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Galatasaray had beaten the Premier League champions twice at home this season, including last week’s 1-0 win in the first leg, but were no match for Liverpool who played with a determination and energy rarely seen this season.

Dominik Szoboszlai put Liverpool ahead in the 25th minute and they could have been ahead before half-time, but Mohamed Salah had a penalty saved. The hosts rebelled after the break, with goals from Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch and Salah.

Liverpool will play Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals, who easily defeated Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate.

Liverpool looked comfortable from the start, going in front from a well-worked set-piece.

Szoboszlai raced unmarked into the area to power home a side-foot shot from Alexis Mac Allister’s corner, and Liverpool’s energy levels rose even further after the goal.

Salah should probably have doubled the lead a few minutes later when he played one-on-one with the keeper, but his lob attempt was saved by Ugurcan Cakir.

Florian Wirtz had a shot deflected as Liverpool continued to pile forward and Cakir parried a powerful effort from Szoboszlai.

The visitor was under extreme pressure to maintain the level score when Ismail ‌Jakobs fouled Szoboszlai in the area.

READ ALSO | UCL 2025-26: Barcelona smashes seven goals past Newcastle United to roar into the quarter-finals

Salah stepped up, but his tame penalty in the middle gave Cakir time to make the stop with his back leg, and the keeper was called upon again just before the half-time whistle, allowing Salah and Wirtz to make a double save in quick succession.

SECOND HALF STORM

Liverpool came roaring out of the blocks after the break, Salah rolling a pass across the penalty area for Ekitike to score in the 51st minute, and two minutes later Cakir denied Salah again, only for Gravenberch to score the rebound.

Galatasaray defender Wilfried Singo put the ball in his own goal but the goal was disallowed due to Jeremy Frimpong’s offside, but Liverpool broke the tie in the 62nd minute.

Salah compensated for his penalty miss with a lush curling shot from outside the penalty area to score his 50th Champions League goal. The Egyptian striker later hit the crossbar as Liverpool continued to show no mercy.

There was a very different atmosphere at Anfield than in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur, when the final whistle was greeted with boos from the Liverpool fans who had not yet left.

Salah drew applause and cheers from the pitch when he was replaced, before a long stoppage took the sting out of the match when Galatasaray’s Noa Lang injured his hand colliding with the advertising hoardings behind the goal.

PSG eliminated Liverpool on penalties in the last 16 last season as Slot’s side were comfortably on course to win the Premier League.

This time, Liverpool are battling to secure a place in next season’s Champions League, where they sit fifth in the Premier League standings, 21 points behind leaders Arsenal, but this performance against Galatasaray will restore some much-needed confidence kshk.

Published on March 19, 2026