Even Liverpool‘s multi-million pound bench could not rescue a team floundering in Istanbul as a chaotic performance was punished by Fenerbahce as they twice came from behind to win 3-2.
Alexander Isak had scored within three minutes of coming on to put the visitors ahead going into the final quarter but, like in the first half, the lead lasted just four minutes before former West Brom trainee Archie Brown equalised courtesy of some lax defending.
But worse was to follow as Vedat Muriqi outjumped three players to nod in the winner and end Liverpool’s 100% record.
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And while manager Andoni Iraola will be scrutinised for making five changes, including resting three of his front four in Sunday’s defeat to Arsenal, it was the way the team lost their cool and control in a game they had in hand which was more damaging.
It was a harsh result on 19-year-old Trey Nyoni, who belied his relative inexperience with a composed performance capped by an excellent volley to open the scoring, becoming Liverpool’s youngest player to register his maiden goal in the Champions League and second-youngest scorer in the competition after Trent Alexander-Arnold.
But Liverpool’s Turkish troubles continued — they lost twice to Galatasaray last season — on a typically fractious night in Istanbul, with former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood scoring the first equaliser with a free kick that deflected in off Jérémy Jacquet.
They had been in total command up to that point but from there the game descended into something more manic, which suited a team hammered 6-0 at Villa Park last month and stoked a febrile home crowd.
