Liverpool vs Galatasaray Tips

Turkish club Galatasaray have a rich history of being involved in explosive matches with English clubs in the Champions League. However, Erik Gerets' charges have failed to secure a solitary victory in the six games they have played on English soil and I doubt that they will buck that trend against Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday when they clash in this Group C fixture. Liverpool, winners of the penultimate season's renewal of this glittering competition, have met Galatasaray twice, during their 2001/02 Champions League campaign, and the two sides were deadlocked in both legs of the tie, the first finishing goalless and the second a goal apiece. Galatasaray's best placing in ten attempts at this competition was the quarter-finals in 2000/01. Since then, however, they seem to have regressed, and currently lie sixth in the Turkish league, which, with all due respect, is pretty poor show considering the lack of strength in depth in that league compared to the likes of the Premiership, La Liga and Serie A. The Reds have failed to win one of, or score in, their last five Champions League ties at group or knockout stage. This may seem disconcerting but I am not remotely concerned about this stat as they are going into this match with a full head of steam following clear-cut victories over both Newcastle and Spurs respectively in front of the Kop in their last two Premiership matches. Since being dished up a huge slice of humble pie when beaten 3-0 by Merseyside foes Everton, Rafa Benitez's men have raised their game - they have seemingly been galvanised by that reverse, and have subsequently been playing like a team that mean business. The Spanish coach fielded an under-strength squad for their opening match in this Group away to PSV Eindhoven and they emerged from the game with a creditable goalless draw. Galatasaray boast a squad strong in numbers and in midfielder Junichi Inamoto and striker Hasan Sas, they do possess goalscoring potential. But Liverpool have one of the strongest defences in club football and are starting to become equally as strong in attack. The Turkish side's defence looks shaky and they will have major problems dealing with the sort of pace that Arne Riise and Pennant will be displaying down the flanks, while Benitez has the enviable problem of deciding which strikers to pair together up front from the trio of Bellamy, Crouch and the impressive Kuyt. One suspects that Rafa will opt to start Peter Crouch in any case, as his aerial threat will be particularly difficult for Galatasaray to contain. At 11/8 with Betfred, it's tempting to get stuck into the tall guy in the anytime goalscorer market. But, although it's an unlikely scenario, I am reluctant to risk my hard-earned on this, just in case he doesn't step into the breach during the match. I simply cannot envisage Galatasaray scoring against Pool, but backing Liverpool to win to nil at 4/5 with Paddy Power makes limited appeal from a value perspective, With this in mind, the way to go is to back Liverpool to win 2-0 and 3-0 in the correct score market at 11/2 and 9/1 with Betfred and expekt respectively. Having drawn their first Group C match, Pool's desire to collect three points from this home match will be strong and they should prove far too good for the visitors. Verdict - 1pt Liverpool to win 2-0 in the correct score market @ 11/2 (Betfred) & 1pt Liverpool to win 3-0 in the correct score market @ 9/1 (expekt)