Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola said his side's failure to defend set-pieces was the main reason for their 3-2 Champions League defeat to Fenerbahce in Istanbul on Wednesday night.
The Reds suffered their first loss of the group stages as the Turkish side came from behind twice to secure a famous win for interim boss Dirk Kuyt. Trey Nyoni gave Liverpool the lead, but Mason Greenwood's free-kick deflected in off Jeremy Jacquet to wrong-foot Alisson Becker. Substitute Alexander Isak made it 2-1 with his first touch, yet Fenerbahce, previously winless in the competition, scored twice in six minutes through Archie Brown and Vedat Muriqi.
Iraola on the main reason
"The main reason that I can find for why we lost this game is we conceded from three set-pieces," Iraola said. "It's something that we were doing very well in the league, we were doing quite well until today. We knew it was one of the strengths of Fenerbahce. We concede from a free-kick, a corner and even from the long throw at the end."
He added: "They're goals have hurt us because we've gone twice in front after having good moments, controlling the game, arriving, we've found the goals but after we've conceded in situations we should definitely defend better."
Frustration in Istanbul
"It's frustration because it's a difficult place to come here and play," Iraola said. "In most parts of the game we were thinking we could win this one but obviously it hasn't happened."
He highlighted the first and third goals as particular concerns. "Especially the first goal and the third goal - the second one is a rebound - but the first one, I don't think we set the wall properly and the last one, Muriqi wins the ball against three defenders, it's definitely something we need to defend better."
