Florian Wirtz for Liverpool
Florian Wirtz for Liverpool
We are beginning to learn a few hard truths about Andoni Iraola's Liverpool side, who, yet again, have been defeated in Turkey.
That's five defeats from six visits to the Mediterranean nation, and that's another sombre comment on Liverpool's defensive fragilities, persisting after last season. Liverpool have shipped three goals in three successive Champions League outings.
munoz-liverpool (2)
munoz-liverpool (2)
Okay, okay - Liverpool's chances of progressing into the latter stages of the Champions League haven't been dealt any major blow, but there's no denying Iraola has his work cut out to get this team resembling something close to title challengers.
What we are learning about Iraola's Liverpool
Iraola has now lost three times with Liverpool - and Fenerbahce dealt the Reds their first defeat on the road this season. There's no question that this is a transitional season for the club, but equally, things need to improve.
Equally, Liverpool have one of the most expensive sides in world football, albeit a team who lack synergy and understanding and, dare we say it, the kind of quality needed to mount a challenge for the Premier League and Champions League titles.
Trey Nyoni was, once again, a brilliant bright spark, but the 19-year-old cannot be expected to start every week for Liverpool. He is still learning. FSG opted against signing a centre-midfielder this summer, but remedying that could be a priority in January.
Why, supporters might question, is Kostas Tsimikas starting Champions League matches for Liverpool in 2026? The Greek left-back has been a weak point throughout the season, but his alternative is Milos Kerkez, who is also flattering to deceive.
tsimikas-liverpool-fenerbahce
We are learning a lot about this team. They need a midfielder, someone really good and capable of thriving in a double pivot, creating play while adding some combative protection and complementing the likes of Nyoni and Dominik Szoboszlai. They also need more security at the back, and far more quality in attack.
One thing's for sure: Liverpool cannot afford to drop points against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday. How exactly Iraola sets his side up remains to be seen, but in all likelihood, Florian Wirtz will be recalled to the starting line-up.
Why Florian Wirtz is letting Liverpool down
Wirtz, 23, hasn't hit the heights for Liverpool since joining them from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m in 2025. In fact, a case could be made that Liverpool's midfield solidity and their build-up play has deteriorated since whacking the German into the starting line-up.
He's talented, to be sure, but Liverpool simply aren't getting bang for their buck. Iraola has struggled to get a tune out of him after Arne Slot's system caved in last year, leaving Wirtz without confidence and conviction in his qualities.
Wirtz didn't start against Fenerbahce, and he wasn't culpable for the defensive collapse in Istanbul, despite being on the pitch for the final quarter. Nonetheless, his usual neat touches failed to translate into something substantial. He failed to provide the spark that Liverpool thought they were paying for when forking out a nine-figure fee.
There is a diametric polarity between Wirtz's inherent ability to create chances and his failure to spark for Liverpool the kind of incisive playmaking which has left Liverpool 19th in the Premier League's rankings for big chances created this season.
That's unacceptable, and symptomatic of the plague which has prevented Liverpool's frontline from operating like an elite force. Wirtz, sadly, isn't the only so-called superstar who is many miles away from the expected standard.
Liverpool signing is becoming a bigger flop than Wirtz
Wirtz is running out of time. If his performances don't improve by the end of the season, what is the justification behind persisting, hammering the same nail against a wall which won't yield?
He's been around for less time, but already, Bradley Barcola is struggling to justify the price tag for Liverpool. This summer, Liverpool's marquee addition joined for a whopping £123m fee, but he has a long way to go before cementing himself as a success, idle and ineffective up front.
Bradley Barcola for Liverpool
Bradley Barcola for Liverpool
As The Athletic's James Pearce said, "Barcola has to give Liverpool more here. He's really struggled tonight." It's true, and ardent supporters would point toward Barcola's makeshift role at centre-forward as a reason for his poor effort, but it's not like he has hit the right notes across his other 11 appearances in Red this season, one emphatic hat-trick against LASK aside.
And moreover, Barcola was actually shoved out wide for the final 25 minutes. He still struggled, still lacked a focal presence and a will to win which could have tipped the odds in Liverpool's favour as they collapsed and rolled out the carpet for a Fenerbahce side who sacked their old manager less than two months ago and languish sixth in the Turkish Super Lig.
||
Liverpool Player Ratings vs Fenerbahce
Alisson Becker
Joe Gomez
Jeremy Jacquet
Kostas Tsimikas
Alexis Mac Allister
Trey Nyoni
Victor Munoz
Dominik Szoboszlai
Rio Ngumoha
Bradley Barcola
Barcola, 24 years old, was wasteful, missing two great chances on the evening. He also attempted just the one dribble, failing to complete it, and won only one ground battle.
The Les Bleus forward, renowned for his job with PSG, played the full 90, but even so, managed only 30 touches for a limp Liverpool side. That's 11 fewer than Alisson between the sticks. The Brazilian goalkeeper played a poor game in Turkey.
It's not good enough, and not even an outlier as the Frenchman struggles for form in a Liverpool system crying out for some attacking inspiration.
Bradley-Barcola-Liverpool