Fenerbahce came from behind to beat Liverpool 3-2 in the Champions League, handing Andoni Iraola’s side their first defeat in the competition this season. Liverpool had led twice, most recently when Alexander Isak nodded in after 69 minutes, but they let the advantage slip at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul.
The loss created an unwanted piece of history for Liverpool. It was the latest they have ever gone ahead in a major European game and then been beaten. Iraola described the goals they conceded as “cheap” and “messy.”
Fenerbahce’s comeback was led by interim boss Dirk Kuyt, a former Liverpool forward who spent six years at Anfield after joining in 2006, the year after the club’s famous “Miracle of Istanbul” comeback in the Champions League final. The hosts played in a febrile atmosphere, and their players grabbed the momentum once Liverpool stopped controlling the game.
Set-pieces undo Liverpool
All three of Fenerbahce’s goals came from set-pieces. Mason Greenwood, the former Manchester United forward, benefited from some luck when his free-kick deflected off Jeremy Jacquet in the first half to equalise. Trey Nyoni had given Liverpool an early lead with his first goal for the club, but that advantage lasted only four minutes.
Liverpool were largely to blame for the second equaliser. Cody Gakpo’s header took the ball past Alisson, and Birmingham-born Archie Brown tapped in to make it 2-2. Six minutes later, Liverpool mishandled Brown’s looping ball into the box, and Vedat Muriqi beat three red-shirted players to head past Alisson for the winner.
Iraola acknowledged the mistakes. “They are cheap goals. They are messy goals,” he said. “Mistakes can cost you. For the last goal, it’s a long throw and the first phase is controlled, but after a very long ball, Muriqi wins it.” He added that the noise inside the stadium made communication almost impossible, and that it was even difficult for him to give instructions. He suggested that the communication between Alisson and Gakpo had broken down on the second goal.
A step back for Liverpool
Liverpool had shown signs of progress in recent weeks, and they were close to a fourth straight win in the competition. Instead, they lost their fifth game in a row after winning five straight, and they have now lost twice in four days, following a defeat to Arsenal on Sunday. Iraola called the result “frustration,” saying his side had believed they could win for most of the match.
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock, who was analysing the match for the BBC, said the performance felt like a step back. “The simple mistakes that they made from set-pieces or simple balls into the box are not good enough,” he said. “The biggest issue is that this keeps on happening, with Liverpool looking like they can concede at any moment and being so open on the counter-attack.” He added that a side like Arsenal would have seen out a result like this, and that Liverpool currently lack the ability to do so.
Kuyt celebrates a special night
Fenerbahce have struggled this season. They have lost four of their 10 league games and suffered a 6-0 defeat at Aston Villa. This result, however, will be remembered by everyone connected with the club. Kuyt, who had spoken passionately before the match about giving Europe a glimpse of Fenerbahce’s true character, said the win had proved the point.
“We showed Europe how big Fenerbahce is. This is what the spirit of this side is,” Kuyt said. “I think it’s very special that for the first time since 18 years, Fenerbahce win a game against an English side.” He also noted that he wore the number 18 shirt during his time at Liverpool, which made the night even more meaningful to him.
Kuyt credited his players for staying together. “We told each other to stick together and be united. That’s something I learned from Liverpool,” he said. “We made a miracle tonight. Not many expected us to win.”
Brown, 24, a former Derby County prospect, scored a goal and provided an assist in the second half. Kuyt praised his performance, saying the young defender and attacker had done a fantastic job. Kuyt will now step aside, with former Newcastle player Emre Belozoglu taking over as head coach.