Head of Turkish FA takes swipe at Liverpool with bold claim after Reds were drawn against Galatasaray in Champions League

The head of the Turkish Football Federation has boldly claimed that Arne Slot 's side are not the ' Liverpool of old' ahead of Galatasaray's clash with the Reds in the Champions League .

The draw for Europe's premium competition took place last Thursday in Monaco with, as ever, a number of mouth-watering fixtures pulled out of the hat.

Newcastle will host Barcelona , Man City are set to travel to Real Madrid and Trent Alexander-Arnold will make an emotional, and perhaps controversial, return to Anfield as a Galactico.

Indeed, the Reds have been handed a particularly tough draw all-round as they look to win their seventh European Cup.

They face Atletico Madrid at home, Inter Milan away, Eintracht Frankfurt away and, in a notoriously difficult fixture, Galatasaray at RAMS Park.

The Reds travel to Istanbul to face the Turkish champions on September 30 in a fixture which is always a potential banana skin given the raucous atmosphere at The Lions' stadium.

Liverpool have been dealt a tough Champions League draw this season against the likes of Inter Milan and Real Madrid

They will also face Galatasaray in a potential banana skin at RAMS Park in Istanbul

And ahead of the fixture, Turkish Football Federation president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu has claimed Arne Slot's side are 'not the Liverpool of old'

But if the whistles of the Turkish fans aren't enough to get Slot's sides going on the night, they've just been handed further motivation by Turkish FA president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu.

Speaking to Turkish media about Galatasaray's draw, he explained: 'Galatasaray had a good draw. I believe they will qualify from the group.

'If you look at the teams that will come from the first pot, there are teams that are like camels' teeth, but none of them made it.

'There is Liverpool, but Liverpool is not the Liverpool of the past. In my opinion, they had a good draw.

'Of course, it hurts to see Turkish teams in Pot 4, but when you look at it, Galatasaray is better than the teams in Pots 2 and 3.

'I believe Galatasaray will make it to the Top 16. Of course, it doesn't matter if they make it to the Top 16; they need to do well in the Top 16 with the squad they've built. I wish them success.'

It's a bold statement given Liverpool have just spent a whopping £450m improving their Premier League winning squad.

Slot has brought in Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Giovanni Leoni, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, who signed for a whopping £125m.

Steve McManaman has meanwhile agreed that the Turkish away-day will come as a 'difficult' test for Liverpool

Former Liverpool and Real Madrid star Steve McManaman has nevertheless affirmed that Galatasaray away will come as a 'very difficult' test for the Reds.

He told Daily Mail Sport last week: 'I remember playing in the old stadium, the very famous "welcome to hell" pictures with Man United, but I went there with Real Madrid.

'It was an incredibly hostile atmosphere - amazing to play at. As a footballer these are the types of games you want to play in.

'They have a beautiful new stadium now, and it's probably a lot less hostile. Galatasaray are the team to beat in Turkey right now, they are se still going well. It's going to be a hard game for Liverpool.'

Liverpool's first Champions League game sees them host Atletico Madrid on September 17.