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Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has criticised his side’s defensive failures after the Reds surrendered two leads to lose 3-2 to Fenerbahce in their UEFA Champions League encounter in Istanbul on Wednesday.
Iraola described the goals conceded as “cheap” and “messy”, expressing frustration that Liverpool repeatedly allowed their opponents back into the game despite taking the lead twice.
The visitors made a promising start when 19-year-old Trey Nyoni opened the scoring in the 25th minute with a deflected volley, registering his first professional goal for the club.
However, Liverpool’s advantage lasted only four minutes before Mason Greenwood’s free-kick took a heavy deflection off Jeremy Jacquet and beat goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
After the break, Iraola introduced Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo in an attempt to regain control of the contest. The changes paid off in the 69th minute when Gakpo delivered a cross that Isak headed home with his first touch.
But Liverpool failed to protect their lead again. Four minutes later, a defensive misunderstanding between Gakpo and Alisson allowed Archie Brown to score Fenerbahce’s second equaliser.
The hosts completed their comeback in the 79th minute when Vedat Muriqi rose above three Liverpool defenders to head home from a long throw-in.
Speaking after the match, Iraola blamed poor organisation, communication problems and a failure to defend set-pieces for the defeat.
“Cheap goals. Messy goals. The free-kick is quite far out, through the wall. The last goal was a long throw, the second one Cody (Gakpo) touched the ball just in front of Ali (goalkeeper Alisson),” he said.
The Liverpool manager also admitted that the hostile atmosphere at the stadium made communication difficult between his players and the technical area.
“In the stadium it was almost impossible to communicate, it was difficult for me to give instructions and the communication was difficult between Cody and Ali,” he added.
Iraola said conceding from a free-kick, a corner and a long throw had proved costly, particularly after his team had worked hard to create scoring opportunities.
“We have gone in front twice, we conceded in situations we should have definitely done better (with),” he said.
He added: “It is frustrating because it is a difficult place to play and for the most part of the game we were thinking we could win this one.”
The defeat ended Liverpool’s perfect start to their Champions League campaign midway through the league phase, while giving Fenerbahce their first victory in the competition this season.
The result also marked Liverpool’s second consecutive defeat following their loss to Arsenal in the Premier League three days earlier.
Despite the setback, Nyoni’s performance provided a bright spot for the visitors, with the teenager becoming Liverpool’s second-youngest Champions League goalscorer.
