Fenerbahce come from behind to beat Liverpool 3-2 in Istanbul
Interim boss Dirk Kuyt guided the hosts to a late turnaround, leaving Liverpool with a painful result after a strong spell of form.
Key points
- Fenerbahce won 3-2 against Liverpool in the Champions League on 4 November at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul.
- Liverpool led twice, including a goal from Alexander Isak in the 69th minute.
- All three Fenerbahce goals came from set-pieces, according to BBC Sport.
- Andoni Iraola described the goals conceded as cheap and messy.
- Emre Belozoglu is set to take over as Fenerbahce head coach from Thursday.
Fenerbahce produced a dramatic turnaround to beat Liverpool 3-2 in the Champions League on 4 November, according to BBC Sport. The game was played at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul. Liverpool had moved in front twice, but they could not hold on to their advantage.
Liverpool looked on course for a strong away win after Alexander Isak scored in the 69th minute. Within a short period, however, the visitors lost their shape in a noisy stadium. Fenerbahce, led by interim head coach Dirk Kuyt, took full advantage.
How the goals came
Fenerbahce's first equaliser came from a free-kick by Mason Greenwood. The shot took a deflection off Jeremy Jacquet in the first half. Liverpool had started well, with a goal from Trey Nyoni, but the teenager's deflected effort was cancelled out soon after.
Later, Cody Gakpo's header went past Alisson, which gave Archie Brown a simple finish to make it 2-2. Brown was born in Birmingham. Six minutes after that, Liverpool struggled to deal with a looping ball into the box. Vedat Muriqi won the ball, beat three players and headed home.
According to BBC Sport, all three Fenerbahce goals came from set-pieces. Brown also contributed an assist, giving him a goal and an assist in the second half.
Reaction from both sides
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola said the goals were avoidable. He described them as cheap and messy. He added that communication was difficult in the noise, which made it hard to give instructions during the match.
Kuyt spoke after the game about the spirit of his players. He said he had urged them to stay united and to keep fighting. He also said the win showed what the club meant to Europe. It was the first time in 18 years that Fenerbahce had beaten an English side.
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock, who was working for Match of the Day, said the result felt like a step back. He pointed to repeated errors from set-pieces and simple passes into the box. He added that Liverpool often looked open on the counter-attack.
Why the result matters
The defeat was a painful one for Liverpool. The club had won five matches in a row before the game, but it has now lost twice in four days. The other defeat came against Arsenal on Sunday. BBC Sport reported that this was the latest point in a major European match at which Liverpool had gone ahead and then lost.
For Fenerbahce, the win came at a difficult time. The club has lost four of its 10 league games this season. It also suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat at Aston Villa. Kuyt will step aside soon, and former Newcastle player Emre Belozoglu will take charge as head coach from Thursday.
Frequently asked questions
What was the final score between Fenerbahce and Liverpool?
Fenerbahce won 3-2 in the Champions League match played in Istanbul on 4 November. Liverpool had taken the lead twice during the game.
Who scored for Liverpool in the match?
Trey Nyoni scored an early goal, and Alexander Isak scored in the 69th minute. Liverpool could not keep their lead after the later Fenerbahce goals.
Who will coach Fenerbahce next?
According to BBC Sport, former Newcastle player Emre Belozoglu will take over as head coach officially from Thursday. Dirk Kuyt had been the interim boss.
Sources
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