Fenerbahçe fight back to beat Liverpool 3-2 in Istanbul

Fenerbahçe came from behind to beat Liverpool 3-2 in Istanbul, scoring all three goals from set-pieces and handing Andoni Iraola’s side their first Champions League defeat of the season. Liverpool had twice taken the lead but conceded the winner six minutes after Cody Gakpo’s own goal made it 2-2.

Alexander Isak put Liverpool ahead for the second time in the 69th minute, heading in what looked to be a decisive goal. But Fenerbahçe levelled when Gakpo’s header deflected past Alisson and Archie Brown finished into an open goal. Vedat Muriqi then headed in after Liverpool failed to deal with Brown’s long ball.

“They are cheap goals. They are messy goals,” Iraola said. He pointed to the difficulty of communicating in the noise at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, saying that may have contributed to the mix-up between Gakpo and Alisson for the equaliser.

The defeat was Liverpool’s second in four days, following their loss to Arsenal on Sunday, after a run of five consecutive wins. Iraola said his team had believed for much of the match that they could win, but acknowledged that “it hasn’t happened”.

Fenerbahçe’s interim manager Dirk Kuyt, a former Liverpool player, said his team had drawn on lessons from his time at the club. “We made a miracle tonight – not many expected us to win,” he said. Kuyt is due to make way for Emre Belözoğlu as head coach from Thursday.

Liverpool’s defending was also criticised by former Reds defender Stephen Warnock, who said the team looked vulnerable to conceding and that errors from set-pieces and balls into the box were recurring problems. Liverpool had twice been ahead away from home but could not hold on.