Dominik Szoboszlai has revealed that Liverpool used Galatasaray players' celebrations as motivation to complete a second-leg comeback. After losing 1-0 in the first leg, the Reds turned the tie around at Anfield with a 4-0 win to book their place in the quarter-final.
Second-half goals from Szoboszlai, Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah ensured it was an easy passage in the end. Liverpool did, however, suffer a setback last week, with Mario Lemina's goal giving Galatasaray the advantage going into the clash at Anfield.
That win prompted celebrations from the Turkish side, something that Arne Slot's men were able to use as extra motivation in the reverse leg. Speaking to TNT Sport, Szboszlai revealed: "From the first minute, we were on that.
"Last game, during I was giving an interview, I heard them celebrating. I speak with a couple of guys in Turkey and this is usual after games you celebrate, there doesn't matter if there's a second leg and I took a little personally, you know, and I think a couple of us did as well.
"I'm still in the mind, you never celebrate too early. Maybe they didn't mean it but that gave us a little push and I think from the first second, it was just all in."
The win means that Liverpool will face reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals of the competition next month. The clash is a re-match of the fixture last season, which PSG won on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate draw.
The dates are yet to be confirmed, but it's likely that the first leg will be played on Wednesday, April 8, with the return leg just under a week later on Tuesday, April 14.
Szoboszlai has been a key player for Liverpool so far this season and will hope to have a big say on the outcome of the game, just as he did against Galatasaray. In the second leg, he scored the opening goal as well as winning first half penalty that was missed by Salah.
The Liverpool star made up for his mistake in the second half by smashing in Liverpool's fourth goal of the game to make sure of the result.
There is, however, now an injury concern over the Egyptian, who was forced off with 15 minutes of the match left to play. Slot will be hoping the problem is not too serious and that he will be available for the weekend's Premier League clash against Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
The match could be crucial in deciding if Liverpool will be playing Champions League football again next season. The Reds currently sit in fifth place in the table, two points behind Aston Villa in fourth.
If a fifth-place finish will be enough for a place in the competition next season is in doubt, with it decided by the Premier League's European Coefficient.
Liverpool have reached the UEFA Champions League round of 16 where they face Galatasaray on March 18. Fans can watch the game on the TNT Sports Prime Video channel.
