Fenerbahce fight back to beat Liverpool 3-2 in Champions League

Fenerbahce overturned two Liverpool leads to win 3-2 in Istanbul, ending the visitors’ perfect start in the Champions League and delivering a victory for interim coach Dirk Kuyt. According to BBC Sport’s match report, Archie Brown scored the second equaliser before setting up Vedat Muriqi’s decisive header at the Sukru Saracoglu stadium. It was Fenerbahce’s first win in the competition this season.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKpbi9wo_QE

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola made five changes after the defeat by Arsenal, starting Bradley Barcola at centre-forward. His side went ahead through Trey Nyoni, whose volley struck Kojo Peprah Oppong on its way past Ederson. The goal was Nyoni’s first for Liverpool, but Mason Greenwood quickly brought Fenerbahce level with a free-kick that took a deflection off Jeremy Jacquet and beat Alisson.

The visitors regained the advantage after Iraola introduced Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo in the second half. Gakpo provided the delivery for Isak to head home from close range in the 69th minute. Brown equalised four minutes later, then supplied the ball from which Muriqi headed the winner, completing the turnaround before Liverpool could recover.

BBC Sport’s post-match reporting highlighted that all three Fenerbahce goals came from set-pieces. For the second equaliser, Gakpo’s attempted header diverted the ball beyond Alisson and left Brown with a close-range finish. For the winner, Liverpool initially dealt with a long throw but failed to clear the subsequent ball into the area, allowing Muriqi to beat the defenders to a header.

Iraola criticised the manner of the goals conceded and said the noise inside the stadium made communication difficult, both for his own instructions and potentially between Gakpo and Alisson. Liverpool had won five consecutive matches before suffering two defeats in four days. The loss also prevented them from making it four wins from four in this Champions League campaign.

Kuyt credited his players’ unity and resilience, linking their response to lessons from his own Liverpool career. He praised Brown’s contribution in both defence and attack after the 24-year-old registered a goal and an assist. Kuyt’s interim spell is ending, with Emre Belozoglu due to take over as Fenerbahce’s head coach.