Fenerbahce produced a 3-2 comeback win over Liverpool in the Champions League, with Dirk Kuyt’s side scoring all three of their goals from set-pieces. Liverpool had led twice, most recently when Alexander Isak nodded in after 69 minutes, but they could not hold on at the Sukru Saracoglu stadium in Istanbul.
The defeat created an unwanted piece of history for Liverpool. It was the latest they have ever gone ahead in a major European game and then lost. Andoni Iraola’s side have now lost twice in four days, following their defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.
Liverpool let the lead slip
Liverpool started well when Trey Nyoni scored his first goal for the club to give them an early lead. The teenager’s deflected strike was levelled four minutes later by Mason Greenwood, who benefited from a slice of luck when his free-kick deflected in off Jeremy Jacquet in the first half.
Liverpool moved ahead again through Isak, but they then conceded twice in quick succession. Cody Gakpo‘s header took the ball past Alisson, which gave Birmingham-born Archie Brown a tap-in to make it 2-2. Six minutes later, Liverpool made a mess of Brown’s looping ball into the box, and Vedat Muriqi beat three players in red before heading past Alisson.
Iraola described the goals as “cheap” and “messy”. He pointed to the free-kick that went through the wall, and to a long throw where his side lost the second ball. He also highlighted the confusion between Gakpo and Alisson for the second goal.
“Mistakes can cost you,” Iraola said. “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.”
Iraola added that frustration was the overriding feeling. “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.”
Warnock questions Liverpool’s ability to close out games
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock, who was watching for Match of the Day, said the result felt like a step back after the encouraging performance against Arsenal. He noted that Liverpool’s set-piece errors and simple mistakes in the box were not good enough.
“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,” Warnock said. “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 celebrates a famous night for Fenerbahce
Kuyt, a Liverpool hero who joined the club in 2006 and spent six years at Anfield, is the interim boss at Fenerbahce. He encouraged his players to adopt the never-say-die mindset that Liverpool have shown in Europe over the years. “We told each other to stick together and be united. That’s something I learned from Liverpool, who we played against,” he said. “We made a miracle tonight – not many expected us to win.”
Fenerbahce had endured a difficult season, losing four of their 10 league games and suffering a 6-0 defeat at Aston Villa. Kuyt is set to step aside, with former Newcastle player Emre Belozoglu taking over as head coach.
“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.”
Kuyt also praised Brown, the 24-year-old former Derby County prospect who scored a goal and provided an assist in the second half. “He did a fantastic job today,” Kuyt said. “His defence and attack were very good. I’m very pleased with his performance, I’m pleased with the performance of all my players.”