Liverpool Manager Andoni Iraola
Liverpool Manager Andoni Iraola
Liverpool’s 100% Champions League record came to an end as Dirk Kuyt’s Fenerbahce produced a stunning comeback to claim victory in Turkey on Wednesday night.
Striker Alexander Isak came off the bench to restore Liverpool’s lead after Mason Greenwood had cancelled out Trey Nyoni’s opener. However, late goals from Archie Brown and Vedat Muriqi completed a memorable turnaround for the hosts.
Kuyt, a former player of both Liverpool and Fenerbahce, has been serving as the Turkish side’s interim head coach, with former Newcastle midfielder Emre Belozoglu set to take over permanently on Thursday.
Andoni Iraola made five changes following Liverpool’s weekend defeat to Arsenal, with summer signing Bradley Barcola leading the attack.
Liverpool started brightly and took the lead when Nyoni’s volley deflected off Kojo Peprah Oppong and beat Ederson. It was the 19-year-old’s first goal for the club. Fenerbahce responded through Greenwood, whose free-kick took a deflection off Jeremy Jacquet before beating Alisson.
Iraola introduced Isak, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo after the break, and the changes initially paid off. Gakpo and Isak combined for the Swedish striker to head Liverpool back in front.
However, Fenerbahce equalised four minutes later through Brown before Muriqi headed home the winner following another cross from the Englishman.
Reacting to his first Champions League as Liverpool boss, Iraola said at his post-match press conference “The main reason I can find to lose the game is we conceded [from] three set-pieces. It’s something that we were doing very well in the league, I think we were dealing [with it] quite well until today.
“We knew it was one of the strengths of Fenerbahce but we concede from a free-kick, from a corner, even from the long throw at the end.
“They are goals that have hurt us because we have twice gone in front after having good moments, controlling the game, arriving.
“We found the goals. But after, we conceded in situations that we definitely should defend better. It’s frustration, because it’s a difficult place to come here and to play and we were for the most part of the game thinking, ‘OK, we can win this one.’
“But obviously it hasn’t happened. We have conceded, especially the first goal and the third goal – the second one is a rebound – but the wall, I don’t think we set it properly and the last one Muriqi jumps and wins the ball against three of our defenders, it’s something that definitely we have to defend better.”
Liverpool, who have nine points after four matches played in the Champions League league phase, have now suffered six consecutive defeats against Turkish opposition on their home soil.
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