Fenerbahce overturn Liverpool 3-2 at Sukru Saracoglu in Champions League
Fenerbahce defeated Liverpool 3-2 at the Sukru Saracoglu stadium in Istanbul in a Champions League match on 4 November 2026. Liverpool twice took the lead, the second through Alexander Isak’s header after 69 minutes, but Fenerbahce produced a late comeback to win.
Istanbul has long been associated with dramatic European turnarounds and this night added a fresh chapter, with interim boss Dirk Kuyt leading the hosts. By losing 3-2, Andoni Iraola’s side recorded the latest point in a major European game at which Liverpool have gone ahead and then been beaten. After winning five games in a row, Iraola’s team have lost twice in four days — Arsenal on Sunday, and now this.
The scoring began with Trey Nyoni’s first goal for Liverpool giving them an early advantage, only for Mason Greenwood to level after his free-kick deflected in off Jeremy Jacquet four minutes later. Isak nodded Liverpool back in front after 69 minutes, but Cody Gakpo’s header then took the ball past Alisson and Birmingham-born Archie Brown tapped in to make it 2-2. Six minutes later, Brown’s looping ball in the box was mishandled and Vedat Muriqi beat three players to head past Alisson and complete the turnaround. All three of Fenerbahce’s goals came from set-pieces and two were scored by Englishmen.
Iraola criticised the manner of the goals, saying: "They are cheap goals. They are messy goals." He added: "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. It was even difficult for me to give any kind of instruction. I suppose the communication between Ali and Cody was difficult." He also reflected on the result, saying: "It's frustration because it's a difficult place to come and play. We were, during most part of the game, thinking we can win this one. But obviously it hasn't happened."
Dirk Kuyt, a former Liverpool player, credited his side with adopting a collective mindset and referenced his time at Liverpool: "We told each other to stick together and be united. That's something I learned from Liverpool, who we played against," and said: "We made a miracle tonight - not many expected us to win." He also reflected on the result's significance for the club, saying: "I think it's very special that for the first time since 18 years, Fenerbahce win a game against [an English side]. Some people will remember but the number on the back of my shirt was 18 in Liverpool. So that's something really special for me in person. I said exactly the same thing to the players before the game. Although we are in a very difficult situation, we have a chance to bring another miracle in Istanbul. And if you get that miracle, things can change in a positive way."
Archie Brown, described in the report as a 24-year-old former Derby County prospect and Birmingham-born, provided a goal and an assist in the second half. Kuyt praised Brown's contribution: "The Champions League is a great opportunity for Archie to show himself," adding: "It's well known how good a player he is in Turkey. He did a fantastic job today. His defence and attack were very good. I'm very pleased with his performance, I'm pleased with the performance of all my players. It's a very special night for everyone who loves Fenerbahce."
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock, watching for Match of the Day, criticised Liverpool's defensive errors and the recurring nature of their problems, saying: "It feels like a step back from what we saw against Arsenal because everyone thought, OK, we are seeing huge improvements from Liverpool. It was a much-changed team. However, the simple mistakes that they made from set-pieces or simple balls into the box are not good enough. The frustrating part for Liverpool fans is that we all know what the problems are. So, where is the solution? That's what Iraola is trying to do at the moment, but it's just a question of how long it takes. 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. There is a repetitive theme of the goals they are conceding and it undoes all the good work they do when they go forward. When you go ahead, twice, away from home at Fenerbahce in the Champions League then, if that is Arsenal they win that game - they see it out against a team like Fenerbahce. Liverpool don't have the ability to do that at the moment, and that is what is really frustrating."
He will step aside now, with former Newcastle player Emre Belozoglu taking over as head coach officially from Thursday.
