Dirk Kuyt
Dirk Kuyt
Liverpool travel to Istanbul on Wednesday to face Fenerbahce in the Champions League at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
The Reds have won all three of their league-phase games and scored 12 goals, a tally only Paris Saint-Germain have beaten.
The clubs have never met before, and Fenerbahce will be Liverpool’s 140th different European opponent.
The home dugout will hold a familiar face. Former Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt leads Fenerbahce after being placed in interim charge last week.
Kuyt played for Liverpool between 2006 and 2012, making 285 appearances and scoring 71 goals. He scored the winning penalty in the shootout against Chelsea in the 2007 Champions League semi-final, then scored in the final, which Liverpool lost 2-1 to AC Milan.
He won the League Cup with the club in 2011-12. He also scored the late winner in Liverpool’s 2-1 victory at Trabzonspor in 2010, the club’s only away win against a Turkish side.
Kuyt then spent three years at Fenerbahce as a player, from 2012 to 2015, and won the Turkish Super Lig. He returned as Ismail Kartal’s assistant in the summer and took over after Kartal resigned following a 2-1 derby defeat to Galatasaray on October 26.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Kuyt said the game will be a “special occasion” but that he must park his emotions.
“It’s a really special achievement for Fenerbahce to be in the Champions League after 18 years and we’re really excited,” Kuyt said via BBC Sport.
“When you reach that stage, you know you’ll be playing against very impressive teams.”
He said the draw raised his expectations at once.
“As soon as the draw was done, I was really excited because everyone knows how much Fenerbahce and Liverpool mean to me and from that moment, you know it will be a special occasion.”
Kuyt then made clear where his focus lies.
“Of course, tomorrow will be a very special occasion for me but at the stage we’re in, I’m not here for myself. I’m here for the club and that’s what is important – to show the fans who deserve much more, a reaction, positive energy and a good performance.”
His first match in charge ended in a 2-1 home defeat to Goztepe on Saturday, after Fenerbahce lost a half-time lead. Kuyt apologised to the supporters and said the team “can be very fragile at times”.
Fenerbahce have won only one of their last five games in all competitions. In the Champions League they drew 1-1 with Roma, lost 6-0 at Aston Villa and drew 2-2 with Slavia Prague.
It is the club’s first Champions League campaign since 2008-09. They reached the league phase by beating Gornik Zabrze, Sturm Graz and Lyon in qualifying.
Andoni Iraola’s side can win their first four games of a European league phase for only the third time.
For Kuyt, it is his first Champions League match as a manager.
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