Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola expressed frustration after his side suffered their first Champions League loss of the season, falling 3-2 to Fenerbahce in Istanbul. The Reds had led twice but conceded all three goals from set-piece situations, with the final strike from Vedat Muriqi particularly angering the boss.
Three Players Blamed for Decisive Goal
Trey Nyoni had opened the scoring before Mason Greenwood equalised, and substitute Alexander Isak regained Liverpool's lead after half-time. However, goals from Archie Brown and Muriqi turned the match in Fenerbahce's favour, and the Reds found no answer.
Iraola pointed to Nyoni, Jeremy Jacquet and Alexis Mac Allister as the three defenders beaten by Muriqi, who headed Brown's lofted cross into the bottom-left corner. "It's [a feeling of] frustration, because it's a difficult place to come here and to play and we were for the most part of the game thinking, 'okay, we can win this one.' But obviously it hasn't happened," Iraola said.
Set-Piece Defending Criticised
The Liverpool boss lamented the manner of the goals conceded, particularly the first and third. "We have conceded, especially the first goal and the third goal - the second one is a rebound - but the wall, I don't think we set it properly and the last one Muriqi jumps and wins the ball against three of our defenders, it's something that definitely we have to defend better," he added.
Iraola made five changes to his starting line-up following Sunday's 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal, hoping fresher legs would prove decisive. The Reds now head into their trip to Crystal Palace on the back of consecutive losses.
Rotation Defended
Justifying his team selection, Iraola said: "We've done this not just today. We've been doing it all season and all the games we've played midweek. I think we've been changing at least four, five, six, seven players. Because of the schedule that we have, it's impossible to maintain with always the [same] starting XI."
He added: "I think we have been dealing well with these rotations. I trust the squad to sustain the level. I don't think it was the main reason why we lost, I think some of the players that didn't play on the weekend have played a good game. We have to look more at how we conceded the goals [and] the reason why we didn't win because after I think we had good moments, especially on the ball where we could score our two goals."
