Fenerbahce came from behind to beat Liverpool 3-2 in Istanbul, overturning a second-half lead given to the visitors by Alexander Isak in a dramatic Champions League match.
The result was an unwanted piece of history for Andoni Iraola’s side, who became the latest Liverpool team ever to lead in a major European game and then lose.
Liverpool led for a second time when Isak headed in after 69 minutes, appearing to put them on course for an impressive away victory. But Fenerbahce, inspired by interim manager and former Liverpool player Dirk Kuyt, scored twice in 10 minutes to complete a remarkable comeback at Sukru Saracoglu stadium.
Trey Nyoni had given Liverpool an early advantage, but Mason Greenwood equalised four minutes later when his free-kick deflected in off Jeremy Jacquet.
Fenerbahce’s second equaliser came after Cody Gakpo’s header sent the ball beyond Alisson, allowing Birmingham-born Archie Brown to score from close range. Six minutes later, Liverpool failed to deal with Brown’s looping ball into the area and Vedat Muriqi headed past Alisson after beating three defenders.
All three of Fenerbahce’s goals came from set-pieces.
“They are cheap goals. They are messy goals,” said Iraola. “It’s a free-kick. It’s quite far also and it’s through the wall.
“Mistakes can cost you. For the last goal, it’s a long throw and the first phase is controlled but after a very long ball, Muriqi wins it.
“The second goal, Cody is the one touching the ball just in front of Ali [Alisson]. In the stadium it was almost impossible to communicate because it was so noisy.”
Liverpool had won five consecutive games before losing twice in four days, following Sunday’s defeat by Arsenal.
“It’s frustration because it’s a difficult place to come and play,” said Iraola. “We were, during most part of the game, thinking we can win this one. But obviously it hasn’t happened.”
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock, speaking on Match of the Day, said the result represented a step backwards.
“The simple mistakes that they made from set pieces or simple balls into the box are not good enough,” he said. “Liverpool don’t have the ability to see it out at the moment.
“The biggest issue is that this keeps on happening, with Liverpool looking like they can concede at any moment and being so open on the counter-attack.”
Kuyt, who joined Liverpool in 2006 and spent six years at the club, said he had urged Fenerbahce’s players to draw on the never-say-die spirit behind Liverpool’s famous ‘Miracle of Istanbul’ Champions League final comeback in 2005.
“We made a miracle tonight – not many expected us to win,” he said. “We showed Europe how big Fenerbahce is.”
Kuyt will step aside on Thursday, when former Newcastle player Emre Belozoglu officially takes over as head coach.
Fenerbahce had lost four of their 10 league matches and suffered a 6-0 defeat by Aston Villa outside Turkey this season, but Brown’s goal and assist helped secure a night the club will remember.
“The Champions League is a great opportunity for Archie to show himself,” Kuyt said. “It’s a very special night for everyone who loves Fenerbahce.”
