Liverpool suffered their first defeat in the Champions League this season, losing 3-2 to Fenerbahce at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium after twice taking the lead. Alexander Isak’s header after 69 minutes appeared to have sealed a thoroughly impressive away win, but Andoni Iraola’s side collapsed under a febrile atmosphere, and the hosts produced a shock comeback led by interim boss Dirk Kuyt, a former Liverpool hero.
The result also created an unwanted piece of history for the visitors. It was the latest Liverpool have ever gone ahead in a major European match and then lost.
Iraola described the goals his side conceded as “cheap” and “messy”.
Kuyt inspires a famous fightback
Kuyt, who joined Liverpool in 2006, a year after the club’s famous ‘Miracle of Istanbul’ in the Champions League final, and spent six years at Anfield, said he had urged Fenerbahce’s players to adopt the never-say-die mindset that helped Liverpool achieve so much in Europe.
“We told each other to stick together and be united. That’s something I learned from Liverpool, who we played against,” Kuyt said. “We made a miracle tonight – not many expected us to win.”
Fenerbahce will remember the night for a long time. Liverpool will want to forget it quickly.
Having won five games in a row, Iraola’s side have now lost twice in four days, first to Arsenal on Sunday and then here. The overnight flight home from Istanbul will be a gloomy one, with plenty of disappointment about the way Liverpool failed to see the game out.
“It’s frustration because it’s a difficult place to come and play,” said Iraola. “We were, during most part of the game, thinking we can win this one. But obviously it hasn’t happened.”
Set-piece errors cost Liverpool
All three of Fenerbahce’s goals came from set-pieces. Former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood’s free-kick deflected in off Jeremy Jacquet in the first half to bring the hosts level. Liverpool were then at fault when Cody Gakpo’s header took the ball past Alisson, allowing Birmingham-born Archie Brown to tap in and make it 2-2. Six minutes later, Liverpool mishandled Brown’s looping ball into the box, and Vedat Muriqi beat three red shirts to head past Alisson.
“They are cheap goals. They are messy goals,” said Iraola.
“It’s a free-kick. It’s quite far also and it’s through the wall.
“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.
“The second goal, Cody [Gakpo] is the one touching the ball just in front of Ali [Alisson].
“In the stadium it was almost impossible to communicate because it was so noisy. It was even difficult for me to give any kind of instruction. I suppose the communication between Ali and Cody was difficult.”
Warnock questions Liverpool’s defensive habits
After showing genuine signs of progress in recent weeks, Liverpool let a potential victory slip away in a concerning manner. Trey Nyoni’s first goal for the club gave them an early lead, but Greenwood equalised four minutes later after the teenager’s deflected strike. The most dramatic spell came between the 69th and 79th minutes, when Liverpool moved ahead again, edging towards a fourth consecutive win in the competition, only to fail to close it out.
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock, who was covering the match for television, said the performance felt like a step back from the display against Arsenal.
“It feels like a step back from what we saw against Arsenal because everyone thought, OK, we are seeing huge improvements from Liverpool,” said Warnock. “It was a much-changed team. However, the simple mistakes that they made from set-pieces or simple balls into the box are not good enough.
“The frustrating part for Liverpool fans is that we all know what the problems are. So, where is the solution? That’s what Iraola is trying to find at the moment, but it’s just a question of how long it takes.
“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. There is a repetitive theme of the goals they are conceding and it undoes all the good work they do when they go forward.
“When you go ahead, twice, away from home at Fenerbahce in the Champions League then, if that is Arsenal they win that game – they see it out against a team like Fenerbahce.
“Liverpool don’t have the ability to do that at the moment, and that is what is really frustrating.”
Kuyt hails his side’s spirit
On the eve of the match in the Kadikoy neighbourhood of Istanbul, Kuyt had spoken passionately about Fenerbahce’s chance to show Europe their true colours, and his side did exactly that. Kuyt will now step aside, with former Newcastle player Emre Belozoglu taking over as head coach.
Fenerbahce have had a torrid season so far. They have lost four of their 10 league games and suffered a 6-0 defeat at Aston Villa. Even so, this performance will live long in the memory for everyone connected with the club.
“We showed Europe how big Fenerbahce is. This is what the spirit of this side is,” said Kuyt.
“I think it’s very special that for the first time since 18 years, Fenerbahce win a game against an English side.
“Some people will remember but the number on the back of my shirt was 18 in Liverpool. So that’s something really special for me.
“I said exactly the same thing to the players before the game. Although we are in a very difficult situation, we have a chance to bring another miracle in Istanbul. And if you get that miracle, things can change in a positive way.”
Brown, a 24-year-old former Derby County prospect, delivered in style, scoring a goal and providing an assist in the second half.
“The Champions League is a great opportunity for Archie to show himself,” said Kuyt. “It’s well known how good a player he is in Turkey. He did a fantastic job today. His defence and attack were very good. I’m very pleased with his performance, I’m pleased with the performance of all my players.
“It’s a very special night for everyone who loves Fenerbahce.”