He turned down Jurgen Klopp – now he’s an unexpected headache for Arne Slot at Liverpool

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Liverpool will face a player Jurgen Klopp tried to sign in 2016 when they travel to face Galatasaray in the Champions League.

Arne Slot saw his side’s perfect record across all competitions wiped away when the Reds conceded a 97th-minute match-winner against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

In a twist of irony, Federico Chiesa scored what appeared to be the equaliser in the 87th minute, marking the Reds’ eighth goal scored in the final ten minutes of a match this season.

Virgil van Dijk scored the last stoppage-time winner during the 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid to kick off the Champions League campaign.

Slot will now embark on two tough away matches in Europe, starting with a trip to Istanbul to face a former Klopp transfer target who excelled in the Champions League last time out.

Ilkay Gundogan will be a problem for Liverpool

According to BBC Sport, former Manchester City man Ilkay Gundogan created four chances for Galatasaray during the 5-1 loss against Eintracht Frankfurt, the joint-most of any debutant for the Super Lig giants.

Gundogan admitted he rejected Klopp’s advances prior to his move to the Etihad in 2016 – the pair spent four years together with Borussia Dortmund, winning the Bundesliga title in 2012.

Although Liverpool conceded only one big chance last time out, midfielder Marcos Llorente was able to repeat his feat on his last trip to Anfield in 2020 and score a brace.

Jamie Carragher has been critical of Liverpool’s defending since the Community Shield loss against Palace, and the ex-Red’s concerns have been proven correct as Slot’s men have conceded ten goals in their opening eight matches.

RAMS Park is a notorious stadium to visit, and with question marks lingering on the mentality of the players who have let a two-goal lead slip on three occasions already this season, it remains to be seen whether the Reds will be able to handle what will undoubtedly be a volatile atmosphere.

While the five-time Premier League champion is in form heading into the clash, he boasts an undesirable record against Liverpool, which will give the supporters hope: he has lost nine of his 16 outings, scoring four goals.

Ilkay Gundogan will be out to break Liverpool hearts once again

Gundogan’s record against the Reds will breed optimism, but it is his goals against other opposition that will bring the most pain for the supporters.

Aston Villa led Man City by two goals heading into the final 20 minutes on the last day of the 2021/22 campaign, meaning Liverpool needed to find a goal against Wolves to be crowned league champions.

However, when Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson eventually found the back of the net, it was in vain as City managed to overturn the deficit with three goals in five minutes.

Gundogan scored two of the goals at the Etihad and single-handedly snatched the Premier League title away from Anfield in a week wherein the Reds also lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid.

Although the stakes are not as high on Tuesday, the supporters will be wary of history repeating itself in Istanbul.