Liverpool suffered their first defeat of this season’s Champions League campaign after a dramatic night in Istanbul. Despite taking the lead twice, the Reds were beaten 3-2 by a spirited Fenerbahçe side, who produced a remarkable comeback in front of a raucous home crowd.

Torrential rain and the deafening atmosphere at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium set the tone for an intense encounter from the opening whistle. Liverpool almost conceded early, but Ederson reacted sharply to keep out a close-range effort from Victor Muñoz. The visitors gradually took control and broke the deadlock in the 25th minute. After Fenerbahçe had repelled several attempts to work the ball into the penalty area, Nyoni pounced on a clearance and fired a superb volley into the net.

Fenerbahçe responded immediately. Just two minutes later, İrfan Can Kahveci met a low cross from the left but saw his effort crash against the crossbar. The hosts were level in the 29th minute when Mason Greenwood took responsibility for a free-kick and sent the ball into the net via a deflection off the defensive wall.

Liverpool began the second half on the front foot once again. Ederson kept out efforts from Alexis Mac Allister and Bradley Barcola, but could do nothing to prevent the visitors from restoring their lead in the 69th minute. Cody Gakpo delivered a perfectly weighted cross from the left, and Alexander Isak rose above his marker to head home.

At that stage, a Fenerbahçe victory looked highly unlikely. The bookmakers reportedly offered odds of 29.00 on a home win, but the Turkish side refused to give up. In the 73rd minute, N'Golo Kanté sent a cross into the Liverpool box. Gakpo attempted to clear but instead disrupted his own goalkeeper, allowing Brown to finish at the far post and make it 2-2.

Six minutes later, Fenerbahçe completed the turnaround. A looping delivery from the right dropped into the heart of the six-yard box, where the towering Vedat Muriqi rose above the defenders and powered a header into the bottom corner. The stadium erupted as the hosts moved ahead for the first time.

The final score was 3-2: Fenerbahçe's first victory of this Champions League campaign and a painful setback for Liverpool. The Turkish side now have four points, matching Shakhtar Donetsk. Their upcoming meeting at Stamford Bridge could prove decisive in the battle for a place in the knockout stages.

2026-27, Champions League

Fenerbahce - Liverpool 3:2 (1:1)
Goals: Nyoni, 25 (0:1); Greenwood, 29 (1:1); Isak, 69 (1:2); Brown Ar., 73 (2:2); Muriqi, 79 (3:2)

Fenerbahce: Ederson; Oppong; Brown Ar.; Semedo N. (Müldür, 75); Škriniar; Yüksek; Guendouzi; Greenwood (Aydin O., 89); Kahveci I. (Aktürkoglu, 75); Kante N.; Lukaku R. (Muriqi, 63)
Substitution: Muriqi (from 63); Müldür (from 75); Aktürkoglu (from 75); Aydin O. (from 89)
Bench: Çetin T.; Günok; Mimovic; Demir Y.; Mercan M.; Elmaz; Dorgeles
Yellow Cards: Brown Ar. 25

Liverpool: Alisson; Jacquet; Tsimikas (Kerkez M., 76); Gomez (Wirtz, 66); van Dijk; Nyoni (Koumas, 85); Szoboszlai; Mac Allister A.; Muñoz Vic. (Isak, 66); Ngumoha (Gakpo, 66); Barcola B.
Substitution: Wirtz (from 66); Gakpo (from 66); Isak (from 66); Kerkez M. (from 76); Koumas (from 85)
Bench: Mamardashvili; Woodman; Araujo R.; Chambers L.; McConnell J.; Danns
Yellow Cards: Mac Allister A. 85