Turkish FA chief aims pointed swipe at Liverpool ahead of Champions League meeting

Liverpool are not the all-conquering side they once were, according to Turkish football chief Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu. The Reds are set to take on Turkish giants Galtasaray in this season’s Champions League stage.

Arne Slot ’s head into this year’s competition as Premier League champions, having spent nearly £450m in the summer bolstering the side at the Dutchman’s disposal. Despite that, Turkish FA president Haciosmanoglu is far from convinced. He said: “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.”

Galatasaray have not managed to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League in over a decade. Meanwhile, two of their Turkish rivals, Fenerbahce and Besiktas, are already in the midst of overhaul having decided to sack Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following their respective European failures.

Meanwhile, Liverpool boss Slot has also issued his thoughts on Liverpool’s draw. He said: "On a personal note, it is always nice to play against a Dutch team in PSV Eindhoven, a team that won the league title two years in a row.

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“The same goes for Galatasaray, who have won three in a row in Turkey, and for Qarabag, the champions of Azerbaijan. And to also play against sides of the calibre of Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Eintracht Frankfurt and Marseille shows the strength of this competition.

"None of our league-phase games will be straightforward, that is clear, but I am sure our supporters will be looking forward to all of the Anfield games and to all of the away fixtures, which will all be played in big stadiums with fanatical and passionate fans.

"They will be excited and so are we. We have a very busy schedule coming up, both domestically and in Europe, but we are excited and ready for the challenges ahead."

Liverpool kick off their Champions League campaign on Wednesday, September 17 as they welcome Atletico Madrid to Anfield.

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