GROUP B/Liverpool v Galatasaray: Phil Thompson insists it is not make or break, but a touch of Turkish delight over the next week could effectively secure Liverpool's passage into the knockout phase of the Champions League.
The Reds and Galatasaray, UEFA Cup winners in the last two seasons, go head-to-head at Anfield tonight with Liverpool languishing at the foot of a tight Group B.
After two games in the first phase the Merseysiders were third, before back-to-back wins over Dynamo Kiev virtually assured progress; similar success against the Turks would haul the quarter-finals within sight.
"We want to win this one desperately," admitted the caretaker manager. "But it's going to be so tight. The last few games will be intriguing, but we have to take the initiative at home. Our aim is to be in a healthy position when Gerard returns next month."
Michael Owen may be fit, but the Polish goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek's probable absence with a groin strain - "It'll be a late decision," said Thompson - will not make their task any easier, though the Turks have never won on English soil and arrive in some disarray.
Their best midfielder, Sergen Yalcin, is sidelined with a knee-ligament injury, Hakan Unsal is suspended and a quartet of Galatasaray players were dismissed in Saturday's derby defeat to Fenerbahce.
Afterwards their chairman claimed his side were "too dirty", but his coach, Mircea Lucescu, pleaded innocence and pointed an accusing finger at the officials.
"The Turkish players are passionate and can lose their tempers," said Liverpool's Finnish centre-half Sami Hyypia, who has more to worry about than Galatasaray's hot-heads. "Diving is part of their game. They are willing to do anything to win the match, so it's possible we will have to combat that."
Guardian Service
LIVERPOOL (probable): Kirkland; Xavier, Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher; Gerrard, Murphy, Hamann, Riise; Heskey, Owen.
GALATASARAY (probable): Mondragon; Bulent Korkmaz, Emre, Jersson, Perez; Ergun, Baptista, Fleurquin, Berkant; Umit Karan, Sozkesen.
Referee: V Perreira (Portugal).
Group B: How they stand
... P W D L F A P
Barcelona 2 1 1 0 5 3 4
AS Roma 2 0 2 0 1 1 2
Galatasaray 2 0 2 0 3 3 2
Liverpool 2 0 1 1 1 3 1
Previous results Galatasaray 1 AS Roma1; Liverpool 1 Barcelona 3; Barcelona 2 Galatasaray 2, AS Roma 0, Liverpool 0.
Remaining fixtures: Tonight - Barcelona v AS Roma; Liverpool v Galatasaray; Tue, Feb 26th:>Galatasaray v Liverpool; AS Roma v Barcelona; Wed, Mar 13th:Barcelona v Liverpool; AS Roma v Galatasaray; Tue, Mar 19th: Galatasaray v Barcelona; Liverpool v AS Roma
