Former Liverpool and Galatasaray striker Dean Saunders has cautioned that the referee could be influenced by the intimidating atmosphere in Istanbul ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League meeting. Arne Slot's side travel to Turkey following a 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid in their opening group game, but are seeking a response after Saturday's 2-1 Premier League defeat to Crystal Palace.
Saunders, who played for Galatasaray in the mid-1990s, knows the impact of the club's boisterous supporters. He told BestBettingSites.com: 'The fans are in the stadium by midday for a 7pm kick-off, banging drums with red and yellow smoke everywhere. I played there sometimes and we couldn't see the pitch.' He added that Liverpool's experienced squad should cope, but voiced concerns about the officials.
'The only worry is the referee getting wrapped up in the atmosphere and having a bad game,' Saunders said. 'That's the only way it can get to you in a way you can't control.' He believes a draw would be a commendable result, despite insisting that none of Galatasaray's players would make Liverpool's starting XI.
Slot is expected to rotate his squad once again, with Hugo Ekitike available after suspension and Federico Chiesa now eligible for the Champions League squad. Saunders highlighted the importance of attacking options: 'Arne Slot will tell players to move the ball quickly, and we have the strikers who can finish moves off, whatever the crowd does.'
