Fenerbahce beat Liverpool 3-2 at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, handing the Reds their first Champions League defeat of the season. Liverpool had led twice, and the loss created an unwanted piece of history: it was the latest point in a major European game at which Liverpool had gone ahead and still lost.
Alexander Isak nodded Liverpool in front for a second time in the 69th minute, and Andoni Iraola’s side looked on course for a thoroughly impressive away win. Instead, they collapsed amid a febrile atmosphere. The hosts, led by interim boss Dirk Kuyt, a former Liverpool hero, produced a shock comeback.
Iraola called the goals they conceded “cheap” and “messy.” All three of Fenerbahce’s goals came from set pieces.
Early lead gone
Trey Nyoni scored his first goal for Liverpool to give them an early lead, but his deflected strike was cancelled out four minutes later by Mason Greenwood, the former Manchester United forward. Greenwood’s free kick took a deflection off Jeremy Jacquet in the first half, a slice of luck that brought Fenerbahce level.
Liverpool then gave away the second goal themselves. Cody Gakpo’s header took the ball past goalkeeper 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 shirts and headed past Alisson to win it.
Iraola explained the defeat in detail. “It’s a free-kick. It’s quite far also and it’s through the wall,” he said of the first goal. He added that “for the last goal, it’s a long throw and the first phase is controlled but after a very long ball, Muriqi wins it.” On the second, he said Gakpo was the player touching the ball just in front of Alisson. “In the stadium it was almost impossible to communicate because it was so noisy,” Iraola said. “It was even difficult for me to give any kind of instruction.”
Iraola also expressed frustration with the result itself. “It’s frustration because it’s a difficult place to come and play,” he said. “We were, during most part of the game, thinking we can win this one. But obviously it hasn’t happened.”
A step back for Liverpool
Liverpool had shown signs of genuine progress in recent weeks, which made the manner of this defeat more concerning. They had won five games in a row before losing twice in four days, first to Arsenal on Sunday and now here.
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock, who was analysing the match, said the performance felt like a step back. “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 said. “Liverpool don’t have the ability to do that at the moment, and that is what is really frustrating.”
Kuyt’s celebration
For Fenerbahce, the night was a major boost. The club has had a difficult season, having lost four of its 10 league games and suffered a 6-0 defeat at Aston Villa. Kuyt, who joined Liverpool in 2006 and spent six years at Anfield, had urged his players to embrace the never-say-die spirit that Liverpool showed in past European nights.
“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.”
Kuyt also spoke about the wider significance. “We showed Europe how big Fenerbahce is. This is what the spirit of this side is,” he said. “I think it’s very special that for the first time since 18 years, Fenerbahce win a game against [an English side].” He noted that the number 18 was on his shirt during his time at Liverpool, which made the result personal.
Kuyt will now step aside, with former Newcastle player Emre Belozoglu taking over as head coach. Kuyt praised Brown, a 24-year-old former Derby County prospect, who scored and assisted in the second half. “He did a fantastic job today,” Kuyt said. “It’s a very special night for everyone who loves Fenerbahce.”