2025/26 Champions League: Galatasaray vs Liverpool predictions & betting tips

• Hugo Ekitike to score his first Champions League goal

• Mauro Icardi to test the Liverpool goalkeeper

• Liverpool to come out on top in a feisty affair

Ahead of the Reds' Champions League trip to Turkey, Ladbrokes shares its expert predictions and betting tips for Galatasaray vs Liverpool, with Hugo Ekitike backed to score.

After being handed their first defeat of the season by Crystal Palace on Saturday, Arne Slot's side will be keen to bounce back immediately with another strong performance in Europe, in the city that delivered one of the most famous nights in the club's history.

Liverpool are currently joint-favourites to win the Champions League this season, and we're expecting them to make it two wins from two in Istanbul this week.

Having served a suspension at the weekend, missing Liverpool's defeat to Crystal Palace, Hugo Ekitike will be raring to get back into the team and show everyone what he's capable of, building on his strong start to life on Merseyside.

The Frenchman has already scored five goals in Liverpool red, and while he grabbed plenty of Europa League goals for Frankfurt last season, he is still awaiting his first Champions League goal - but we're predicting that he'll break his duck here. Galatasaray lost 5-1 to Frankfurt in their opening Champions League game, which bodes well for a Liverpool side - and a certain French striker - who certainly know where the net is. Ladbrokes is backing Hugo Ekitike to score anytime, maintaining his record of scoring in every competition for Liverpool.

Turkish teams often have a reputation of being reckless, driven by their fiery atmospheres, and Ladbrokes is expecting Galatasaray to make this match a real battle - so we think backing 2+ cards for each team could be the way to go.

Liverpool had three players booked in the game against Palace at the weekend, with the frustration of being behind not something they've had to deal with too often this season. And the same goes for their hosts, with Galatasaray registering seven wins from seven in the league so far, and boasting an average of over 60% possession. We expect Liverpool to have most of the ball and dominate the game, so the Turkish side could easily grow agitated, committing fouls and turning the game into a feisty affair - with 2+ cards apiece.

One of Galatasaray's more familiar names is Mauro Icardi, with the 32-year-old Argentine having plenty of Champions League pedigree already. He has a handful of UCL goals to his name across spells at Inter and PSG, and will look to cause Liverpool's slightly bruised defence some trouble in Istanbul.

We're backing the striker to have a couple of shots on target on Tuesday night, testing Alisson (or Mamardashvili) in the Liverpool goal. Icardi already has five league goals this season, including four in his last four, so Liverpool's defence will have to be prepared to face an in-form, confident striker. 2+ shots on target seems a good bet for the proven goalscorer, who will be Galatasaray's main threat.

Rounding off our Champions League predictions & betting tips for Galatasaray vs Liverpool, we're expecting Liverpool to maintain their perfect start to the Champions League and win in Istanbul.

Despite facing a team who are still perfect in their league having scored 19 goals in seven matches, Liverpool have proven time and time again why they are considered one of the favourites to lift this season's trophy in May 2026. With the likes of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk still performing to the highest standard, plus the acquisition of new signings like Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and the aforementioned Ekitike, there aren't many teams who can compete on paper. They have the experience of winning, quality all over the pitch, and the hunger to put a disappointing weekend behind them - so we can only see one winner.

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.