Liverpool let a lead slip in Istanbul as Fenerbahce struck twice in six minutes to seal a 3-2 Champions League win, handing the Reds a second consecutive defeat in the competition.
Substitute Alexander Isak had nodded Liverpool into the lead with his first touch, but the advantage was wiped out when Archie Brown profited from a mix-up between Alisson Becker and Cody Gakpo to make it 2-2. Six minutes later, Vedat Muriqi headed home to complete the comeback on Fenerbahce's first Champions League campaign in nearly two decades.
A Night of Six Crazy Minutes
Interim coach Dirk Kuyt, who scored for Liverpool the last time they beat a Turkish team away from home, against Trabzonspor in 2010, said: "It's a very special night for everyone who loves Fenerbahce."
"I have to give a very big compliment to the players and the staff who keep pushing them. We told each other to stick together and be united. That's something I learned from Liverpool, who we played against. We made a miracle tonight, not many expected us to win."
Previous reverses at Galatasaray and PSV in the last two terms had not derailed Liverpool's progress to the knockout stages, and this defeat is unlikely to be too detrimental to their hopes, having won the first three fixtures against Atletico Madrid, LASK and Villarreal. However, back-to-back defeats have raised concerns over mental fragility.
Nyoni's Record-Breaking Goal
Trey Nyoni, aged 19 years and 127 days, became the youngest player to score his first goal for the club in Europe when his volley from a half-cleared cross deflected past former Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson. His growing importance within the squad is set to be rewarded with a new contract at Anfield, with negotiations understood to be at an advanced stage.
Victor Munoz had a great chance within three minutes but scuffed his shot, and Bradley Barcola, playing in the unfamiliar No.9 role, was unable to pounce. Barcola was trialled as a centre-forward, an experiment that did not work, and even when he moved to a more familiar wide position later on, he remained ineffective. The £123m forward simply has to do more.
Defensive Errors and Missed Chances
Fenerbahce's equaliser arrived via a deflection, and Alisson was furious with Jeremy Jacquet for turning his back on Mason Greenwood's effort, which left the Brazil shot-stopper wrong-footed. Energised by the goal, Fenerbahce ended the half as the stronger side, with Greenwood going close twice more, the second requiring a smart save from Alisson.
Virgil van Dijk's header was saved by Ederson after the break before Rio Ngumoha committed several men with a trademark dribble and found Munoz, whose shot was cleared for a corner. Ngumoha's substitution saw Liverpool lose plenty of impetus and drive in wide areas.
A third successive defeat, at Crystal Palace on Sunday, would send them into the international break at a low ebb ahead of the hectic mid-November-to-late-December period. The opportunity to give Iraola's big guns a breather when they travel to Brugge later this month has also taken a hit, as that match comes between games against Manchester United and Everton. Taking more calculated risks with team selection in this competition is now a considerably bigger gamble on the back of this defeat.
