Liverpool were stunned in Istanbul on Wednesday night as a late Fenerbahce winner exposed problems that have plagued Andoni Iraola all season
(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Torrential rain battered Istanbul on Wednesday evening, as dark clouds began to gather over Liverpool's season once again. The Reds were twice pegged back by Fenerbahce inside a cauldron of an atmosphere before Vedat Muriqi nodded home a late winner.
It was a fixture that had been earmarked as a potential banana skin for Liverpool, and it quickly lived up to that billing as the Turkish giants exposed the weaknesses in a much-changed Reds side.
More worryingly, for Andoni Iraola, familiar problems are beginning to resurface. The Spanish boss had appeared to be getting a tune out of his superstars in recent weeks, but wholesale changes saw Liverpool's midfield frailties laid bare once again.
(Image: Adam Davy/Press Association)
The Reds started the better of the two teams, but were lucky not to be behind when Mason Greenwood was convinced he should have had a penalty.
Replays showed the former Manchester United striker was shoved to the ground by Kostas Tsimikas. However, there was no hint of VAR getting involved as Liverpool went up the other end and opened the scoring.
The Reds, however, were struggling to cope with Fenerbahce's counter-attacks, with the Turkish giants carving out chance after chance as they exploited Liverpool's disjointed shape.
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The midfield, as has been the case on several occasions this season, was overrun, with waves of yellow and black shirts surging forward at every opportunity.
Alisson was doing his best to keep Liverpool in the game as a much-changed Reds side quickly realised they were in for a proper battle. Mason Greenwood fired the Turkish giants level, before fluffing his line with a golden chance to send them ahead.
Iraola needed to change something, and so he looked to his superstars on the bench. It took Alexander Isak just one touch to continue his sparkling season as Liverpool looked like they had avoided a potential banana skin.
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But, just as they had in the first half, Liverpool were pegged back within minutes. The momentum had swung once again, with the Turkish giants sensing their opportunity to take control.
And in the 79th minute it came - the defending wasn't great, but Muriqi still had to guide his header into the far corner.
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Iraola was taught a key football lesson, you can't rotate in the Champions League.
More to come