UCL: Liverpool's Perfect Start Ended By Fenerbahce In Istanbul Comeback

Kuyt's Fenerbahce end Liverpool's unbeaten run with late winner

Liverpool looked set to make it five wins from five, but Fenerbahce had other ideas, twice cancelling out the Reds' lead before snatching a dramatic late winner to end their 10-game winless run in Europe.

Impressive Fenerbahce stun Liverpool in five-goal Champions League thriller...

Fenerbahce twice fought back against Liverpool to secure an impressive 3-2 win in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, ending the Reds' perfect record in this season's competition.

With the rain pouring down, Liverpool almost created an early opener through two major mistakes, as first Victor Munoz and then Bradley Barcola sliced at the ball.

The accidental exchange of passes set up the Spaniard, who gave Ederson his first test at the near post.

Andoni Iraola's side continued to do most of the probing, and Barcola was inches away from connecting with an excellent delivery from Joe Gomez.

After surviving a penalty scare at the other end when Kostas Tsimikas challenged Mason Greenwood, Trey Nyoni volleyed in the opener, wrong-footing Ederson to score his first senior goal.

Fenerbahce almost produced an instant response, but Irfan Kahveci could only rattle the crossbar as he flew onto the end of a dangerous cross.

Yet the reprieve did not last long, as Jeremy Jacquet turned away in the Liverpool wall, deflecting Greenwood's tame free-kick beyond a furious Alisson.

That led to a spell of pressure from the hosts, and Greenwood forced a good save from the goalkeeper shortly before the break.

The Reds began to reassert themselves in the second half, and Ederson had to get down sharply to stop Barcola's effort from creeping in, before he was called into action again to deny Virgil van Dijk from the resulting corner.

Munoz then went close, cutting onto his left foot and forcing a good block from Milan Skriniar.

Iraola turned to his expensive bench in search of the go-ahead goal, and it quickly made the difference, as Cody Gakpo crossed for Alexander Isak to head home his first Champions League goal for Liverpool with his first touch.

However, Liverpool's new-look side fell into the same trap as before, and the Yellow Canaries found another rapid equaliser. Gakpo inadvertently flicked on the home side's corner, leaving Archie Brown the simplest of tap-ins at the far post.

And it was the Fenerbahce bench that eventually made the telling difference, as substitute Vedat Muriqi towered above Jacquet to head the ball beyond Alisson.

An incredible comeback win for Fenerbahçe 👏🟡🔵 #UCL https://t.co/iRx4J2Xi90

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 

4, 2026

Manager Dirk Kuyt will be delighted with the win against his old club, which ends a record-breaking 10-game winless streak in this competition (D4, L6).

Match Stats & Live Data

Meanwhile, Liverpool have extended a hapless run of form on their visits to Turkey, where they are yet to win in seven visits as an away side in the Champions League (D1, L6), despite enjoying a rather memorable night in Istanbul 21 years ago.

İsmail Yüksek ⭐ #UCL https://t.co/5vlAhCjP0w

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 4, 2026