After opening the Champions League league phase with three consecutive victories, Liverpool suffered their first setback on Wednesday night. Andoni Iraola’s side twice took the lead but ultimately left Istanbul empty-handed. To make matters worse, it was former Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt who masterminded Fenerbahçe’s first win of the competition as interim head coach.
Nyoni opens his Liverpool account
Liverpool made a flying start, registering four shots inside the opening five minutes. Their early pressure paid off in the 25th minute when 19-year-old Trey Nyoni seized on a loose clearance at the edge of the penalty area to score his first senior goal for the club.
Nyoni became Liverpool’s second-youngest Champions League goalscorer, behind Trent Alexander-Arnold. He also set a separate club record as the youngest Liverpool player to score his first goal in the competition.
The visitors’ advantage lasted just four minutes. Mason Greenwood’s free-kick struck Jérémy Jacquet in the defensive wall, taking a deflection that left Alisson helpless.
The equaliser was hardly out of the blue. Shortly after Liverpool had taken the lead, İrfan Can Kahveci had rattled the crossbar. Liverpool continued to dominate possession but struggled to turn their territorial advantage into clear-cut opportunities.
Set pieces undo Liverpool once again
Iraola had sprung a surprise by deploying Bradley Barcola as his central striker. The French summer signing, naturally more comfortable on either wing, struggled to make an impact through the middle and managed just ten touches in the first half.
He became more threatening after moving out wide following the break, forcing Fenerbahçe goalkeeper Ederson into a save.
In the 66th minute, Iraola introduced Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz. The triple substitution paid off almost immediately. Gakpo delivered a cross from the left and Isak headed home in the 69th minute to restore Liverpool’s advantage. It was the Swedish striker’s first Champions League goal for the Reds.
But the lead once again survived for only four minutes. Following a short corner, N’Golo Kanté sent the ball into the box, where Archie Brown was left unmarked at the far post to make it 2-2.
Fenerbahçe completed the turnaround in the 79th minute. After a short throw-in, the hosts worked the ball into the penalty area, where Vedat Muriqi rose above three Liverpool defenders to head home the winner.
Liverpool’s defensive problems deepen
Liverpool finished with 68% possession and 22 shots compared with Fenerbahçe’s 17. Yet the hosts narrowly edged the expected goals figures, 1.70 to 1.57, with both sides registering six shots on target.
The numbers underline Liverpool’s growing defensive concerns. Iraola’s team have now conceded ten goals in four Champions League matches, shipping at least three against LASK, Villarreal and Fenerbahçe.
It is the first time in Liverpool’s European history that they have conceded three or more goals in three consecutive matches.
Iraola pointed to his side’s defending at set pieces as the decisive factor. Liverpool had conceded from a free-kick, a corner and a throw-in, he explained, despite taking the lead on two occasions. His players should have dealt much better with those situations.
The Liverpool manager also acknowledged the impact of the hostile atmosphere in Istanbul. Communication between his players had been extremely difficult, particularly during the sequence leading to Fenerbahçe’s second goal. Nevertheless, Iraola insisted his side had to defend those moments more effectively.
Kuyt ends Fenerbahçe’s long wait against his former club
For Fenerbahçe, the result ended a run of ten Champions League matches without victory.
Interim manager Dirk Kuyt drew inspiration from Liverpool’s famous comeback in the 2005 Champions League final. After the match, the Dutchman revealed that he had urged his players before kick-off to believe a miracle was possible.
Kuyt also highlighted his team’s tactical discipline, particularly the importance of the midfield trio of N’Golo Kanté, Mattéo Guendouzi and İsmail Yüksek in restricting Liverpool’s space. He stressed that Fenerbahçe’s victory was no stroke of luck but a result his players had earned.
The former Liverpool forward had taken temporary charge the previous week following İsmail Kartal’s resignation and is expected to remain in the dugout until the international break. Emre Belözoğlu has already been named as his successor.
Fenerbahçe have climbed to 19th place with five points from four matches, reviving their hopes of reaching the knockout phase play-offs. Liverpool remain on nine points but, following their second competitive defeat in a matter of days, face increasingly urgent questions about their defensive stability.
