Another 'miracle' in Istanbul - but this one hurt Liverpool
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When it comes to comebacks, Liverpool and Istanbul have plenty of history - but this time Andoni Iraola's side made the wrong kind.Having hit the front for a second time against Fenerbahce, when Alexander Isak nodded in after 69 minutes, Liverpool were seemingly on their way to a thoroughly impressive away win.But Iraola's players then capitulated amid a febrile atmosphere, as spirited hosts led by interim boss Dirk Kuyt - a Liverpool hero of years gone by - pulled off a shock Champions League comeback victory.By losing 3-2 at the Sukru Saracoglu stadium, Iraola's visitors created that unwanted slice of history: this was the latest Liverpool have ever gone ahead in a major European game and then been beaten.Iraola described the goals they conceded as "cheap" and "messy".As Liverpool saw three points slip from their grasp, Kuyt said his players had tapped into the mindset that has allowed the Reds to achieve so many great feats in Europe in the past.He joined Liverpool in 2006, a year after the team's famous 'Miracle of Istanbul' comeback in the Champions League final."We told each other to stick together and be united. That's something I learned from Liverpool, who we played against," Kuyt said.
Arsenal on Sunday, and now this.On the flight back from Istanbul, there will be plenty of disappointment at the way in which Liverpool failed to see this game out."It's frustration because it's a difficult place to come and play," said Iraola. But obviously it hasn't happened."All three of Fenerbahce's goals came from set-pieces.Two were scored by Englishmen.Former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood benefited from a slice of luck when his free-kick deflected in off Jeremy Jacquet in the first half for Fenerbahce's first equaliser, and Liverpool only had themselves to blame when Cody Gakpo's header took the ball past Alisson and gave Birmingham-born Archie Brown a tap in to make it 2-2.Six minutes later, Liverpool made a mess of Brown's looping ball in the box and Vedat Muriqi beat three players in red and headed past Alisson."They are cheap goals.
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."On the eve of this game in the Kadikoy neighbourhood of Istanbul, Kuyt spoke passionately about how Fenerbahce had the opportunity to show Europe their true colours.He will step aside now, with former Newcastle player Emre Belozoglu taking over as head coach officially from Thursday.Thanks to this night, Europe now knows all about Fenerbahce.They have had a torrid season so far, though, having lost four of their 10 league games, but Kuyt's men delivered a performance that will live long in the memory for anyone associated with the Turkish side."We showed Europe how big Fenerbahce is.