Florian Wirtz makes promise to Liverpool fans before Champions League second leg vs. Galatasaray

Florian Wirtz has made a promise to Liverpool fans before the Champions League second leg against Galatasaray, where the Reds will have to come from a goal down at Anfield

Liverpool attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.(Image: BSR Agency/Getty Images)

Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz says the Reds will bounce back from their 1-0 defeat at Galatasaray, with the second leg to come next week in the Champions League last-16 clash.

Wirtz was back in the starting XI after injury, but the German was unable to convert the chances that fell his way early on in the contest. Mario Lemina then punished that wastefulness by scoring the only goal of the game at the other end, but there is another 90 minutes for Liverpool to find the back of the net and turn things around.

"Very disappointing game and result, but it's not done yet and we will fight back at Anfield next week," Wirtz wrote on Instagram.

This is not the first time that Liverpool has lost to Galatasaray this season, and it should not have been taken aback by the intense atmosphere inside the stadium.

"I think we started the game really well, even better than three months ago," Arne Slot insisted. "We were having three or four great moments, with, of course, the biggest moment with Florian.

"I didn't see it back but it came across as almost an open goal where he could finish that ball. We weren't able to score. Like last time, when we had our chances they five seconds later got their first attack, led to a corner.

Arne Slot speaks to the media in his post-match press conference after his Liverpool side lost their Champions League round of 16 first leg 1-0 to Galatasaray at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on March 10, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey(Image: Burak Kara - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

"You have to give credit for the way when they get a chance they play as if it is the last chance of their lives. That is definitely something we can learn from them because we sometimes get our chances and it comes across as if we think we get 10 more.

"So we were 1-0 down and it's already a difficult place to go if you're 0-0, but if you are one goal down it makes it even harder for us, for everyone who's on the pitch, except for their own players. Yeah, a 1-0 loss."

Slot was also asked about the chances of his team coming from behind next week when the sides meet again.

"I don't think they had a lot of chances in the second half, did they? No. They have good players and they're a good team, so they will always create chances," he said.

Liverpool are still favored to advance past Galatasaray after losing 1-0 in the first leg(Image: Photo by Cem Tekkesinoglu/Anadolu via Getty Images)

"They scored five against Juventus here at home, so that tells you what they're capable of. We've had very good chances, one-on-one to the goalkeeper and unfortunately couldn't score.

"But again, as I have to give credit to how they scored their goal, I have to give credit to the way they defend as well because they keep on fighting, throwing themselves in front of the balls.

"And in that moment when Hugo [Ekitike] went one-v-one, it was the goalkeeper [there] to make a very important save.

"But what I do know is now it's half-time. We've lost here twice with 1-0 and the good thing is the next game is not played here. It is played at Anfield and our fans can create a similar atmosphere.

"I don't think it's possible that if I look at the last two games that so many things can go against us as happened in the last two games, although sometimes I question that if I look at this season.

"But I think things will be more normal in a home game for us. And I also think we can improve our performance and that, with the help of our fans, has to lead to a big game in a week."