Arne Slot prepares Liverpool for intense Galatasaray atmosphere

Arne Slot is confident that Liverpool can handle the fierce Champions League vibe at Galatasaray on Tuesday, following their surprise reaction to the noisy supporters in Istanbul at the start of the season.

Liverpool lost 1-0 to Galatasaray at Rams Park during the group phase in September, in a deafening setting that had a lasting impact on his squad.

The Turkish outfit is well known for its fervent and sometimes daunting supporters, who once welcomed Manchester United with a 'welcome to hell' sign at the airport before a 1993 European Cup encounter.

Liverpool are set to enter a charged stadium as Galatasaray compete in their first Champions League knockout round of 16 since 2014.

Galatasaray secured a strong play-off win over Juventus to advance to this stage, and Slot recognises that the Reds will encounter pressure from the crowd as much as from the opposition on the field.

"The supporters here are truly remarkable," Slot mentioned to journalists on Monday.

"We saw that during our previous visit," he added.

"The advantage is that we have already faced it once. That helps us, even though the Galatasaray team deals with it in every home fixture.

"It was a fresh experience for us. The booing gets incredibly intense when you possess the ball, extremely loud! That caught me off guard, and even my seasoned players.

"The plus side is our prior exposure, yet we are not just up against the crowd, but against 11 skilled opponents led by an excellent coach."

The victors of this round of 16 matchup will face either Chelsea or the defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, with Tuesday's opening leg being Slot's 100th game in charge of Liverpool.

The Dutch coach could surpass Kenny Dalglish's record for most wins in a manager's initial 100 matches if he guides the Reds to their inaugural triumph at Galatasaray.

"I feel immensely proud to have taken on the Liverpool role and to reach my 100th match," Slot stated.

"My record so far is solid, despite occasional differing opinions from what I hear!

"Reaching 100 in a Champions League last-16 away game against Galatasaray is special.

"However, as always, the focus is on the players, not the coach. I aim to ready them just like in the previous 99 games, but their performance is what counts.

"I have been fortunate with a strong squad last year and this one, and I fully believe these players will deliver the high standards expected of a Liverpool side."

Slot has made the trip to Turkey without the services of injured goalkeeper Alisson Becker and forward Federico Chiesa, who is unwell.