Fenerbahce 3 – 2 Liverpool
Fenerbahce: Some Manc 29’, Brown 73’ , Muriqi 79’
Pre-Match
It’s an interesting lineup from Andoni Iraola, whether out of necessity or choice is another question altogether. Dominik Szobozlai and Victor Munoz make their return to the starting XI after their injuries, and Nyoni and Ngumoha get deserved start as well. Bradley Barcola starts up top, and Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas start at fullback. Playing in Turkey has proven difficult for even the best Liverpool sides, so the Reds
will need to on it tonight in order to come away with all three points and remain perfect in the Champions League.
First Half
This ref is the worst kind of baldy, one in denial. But he’s in Turkey, so he could totally sort it out after the match. The reason I’m taking a moment to talk about the ref’s combover is that not much has happened in the opening 15 minutes of the match. From a Liverpool perspective, that can only be a good thing insofar as they haven’t committed any costly errors and it will help silence the home crowd a bit.
In other news, filed under Ghosts of Mancunian Past, Ederson is still one ugly motherfucker and Mason Greenwood is still somehow being paid to play football.
Speaking of Greenwood, he’s played through on goal and Tsimikas makes significant contact with him, but he doesn’t go down, and no pen is given. The home fans are outraged—not without good reason—and to add insult to injury a moment after the pen shout, a loose ball falls to Trey Nyoni at the edge of the area and he fires it home. 1-0 to Liverpool.
If the opening 15 minutes were a snooze, the last few minutes have been anything but. The hosts rattle the crossbar with a dangerous effort from close range, and then score from a direct free kick after a nasty deflection off Jeremy Jacquet who was part of what we will generously call “the wall.”
Second Half
Liverpool start the second half well. It appears as if Iraola pointed out excactly where all the space was. Also, Rio has had this lot on toast a few times tonight, and it’s very entertaining to watch.
After an hour, Wirtz, Isak, and Gakpo come on for Rio, Munoz, and Gomez. Szoboszlai moves to right back.
And Isak scores a moment after coming into the match with with waht I’m pretty sure was his first touch. Gakpo picks him out at the back poast, and Isak nods it home.
Liverpool, as a football club, are determined to not have a nice time in Turkey. So, after Gakpo assisted our goal to make it 2-1, he assisted the hosts to help them equalize.
Kerkez comes on a moment later to replace Tsimikas.
The hosts take their first lead of the match after Jacquet badly loses an aerial duel. Not the best night in red for the young defender.
Final Thoughts
Death, taxes, and Liverpool losing away to a Turkish side in the Champions League.
