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Sports & Cricket
Fenerbahce fight back twice to stun Liverpool 3-2 in Istanbul
Fenerbahce came from behind twice to beat Liverpool 3-2 in Istanbul, with Vedat Muriqi heading a 79th-minute winner.
⚡Key Highlights
Premium
Fenerbahce came from behind twice to beat Liverpool 3-2 in Istanbul, with Vedat Muriqi heading a 79th-minute winner.
Special coverage and in-depth reporting from the Sports & Cricket desk.
Key analysis, background details, and full reporting below.
Fenerbahce came from behind twice to beat Liverpool 3-2 in Istanbul on Wednesday night, ending the visitors' perfect start to this season's Champions League campaign.
By StoryTimesNow News Desk — 05 November 2026, 7:02 AM IST
Symbolic illustration of a floodlit football stadium at night. No players or team identities are pictured.
Key Takeaways
Fenerbahce beat Liverpool 3-2 at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul on 4 November 2026, in Matchday 4 of the UEFA Champions League league phase.
Liverpool led twice, through Trey Nyoni and substitute Alexander Isak, but Mason Greenwood, Archie Brown and Vedat Muriqi replied for the hosts.
The win is Fenerbahce's first in this season's competition and lifts them to five points, while Liverpool stay on nine points after their first European defeat of the season.
What Happened?
Fenerbahce twice came from behind to beat Liverpool 3-2 at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, in Matchday 4 of the UEFA Champions League league phase. Substitute Vedat Muriqi headed the winner in the 79th minute, completing a comeback that gave the Turkish side their first win in this season's competition.
Liverpool, who had won their opening three European games, took the lead in the 25th minute. A deep delivery from Dominik Szoboszlai was defended down into the area, and Trey Nyoni ran onto the loose ball to score his first senior professional goal with a partially deflected strike. The advantage lasted only four minutes: Mason Greenwood's deflected free kick from around 20 yards wrong-footed goalkeeper Alisson Becker to make it 1-1.
Liverpool dominated much of the second half and went back in front in the 69th minute. After a triple change in the 66th minute brought on Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz, Gakpo broke down the left and crossed for Isak, who headed home with his first touch inside the six-yard box. Once again, the lead lasted only four minutes. Archie Brown arrived unmarked at the back post in the 73rd minute to finish an N'Golo Kante cross after a short corner.
Fenerbahce then took the lead for the first time. A deep ball into the area following a short throw-in was met by Muriqi, whose header found the bottom corner with a little more than 10 minutes remaining. Liverpool pushed for a late equaliser through half-chances for Gakpo and Isak, but could not find a way back.
Why Does This Matter?
The result ends Liverpool's perfect record in this season's Champions League and exposes a defensive weakness that has now cost them in successive games. Liverpool had 68 percent of possession and out-attempted Fenerbahce 22-17, according to NBC Sports, yet still lost the expected-goals battle 1.70-1.57. Twice they led, and twice they conceded within four minutes,
For Fenerbahce, the win breathes new life into their campaign. The victory moves them up to 19th in the 36-team table with five points, back in contention for the knockout play-off places.
Important Details
Match: Fenerbahce vs Liverpool, UEFA Champions League league phase, Matchday 4, Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, Istanbul, 4 November 2026.
Liverpool goals: Trey Nyoni, 25th minute, his first senior professional goal; Alexander Isak, 69th minute, as a substitute.
Key moments: Liverpool made a triple change in the 66th minute, bringing on Isak, Gakpo and Wirtz; Brown equalised four minutes after Isak's goal, and Muriqi headed the winner six minutes later.
Match statistics: Liverpool had 68 percent possession and 22 attempts to Fenerbahce 17, but Fenerbahce won the expected-goals battle 1.70-1.57, according to NBC Sports.
Standings: Liverpool stay on nine points from four matches after their first Champions League defeat of the season; Fenerbahce move to five points and 19th place after their first win.
Opta fact: Isak gave Liverpool a 2-1 lead in the 69th minute, the latest they have ever gone ahead in a major European game and then lost, according to Opta.
Background and Context
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola made five changes to his starting line-up, bringing in Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas in defence, with starts also for Victor Munoz, Rio Ngumoha and Szoboszlai.
The early pattern suggested Liverpool would control the game. Nyoni's breakthrough seemed to confirm that control, but Fenerbahce responded immediately, with Irfan Can Kahveci hitting the bar before Greenwood's equaliser.
What Happens Next?
Liverpool will look to recover quickly in domestic football, travelling to face Crystal Palace on Sunday as they seek to end a run of two consecutive defeats in all competitions.
Fenerbahce, meanwhile, can build on a famous night. Five points from four matches keeps them in the play-off race, and a first win under Kuyt gives them belief for the remaining league-phase fixtures.
FAQs
What was the final score between Fenerbahce and Liverpool?
Fenerbahce won 3-2 in Istanbul on 4 November 2026. Liverpool led through Trey Nyoni and Alexander Isak, but Mason Greenwood, Archie Brown and Vedat Muriqi scored for the hosts.
When did Vedat Muriqi score the winner?
Muriqi headed the winner in the 79th minute to put Fenerbahce ahead.
Where do Fenerbahce and Liverpool stand in the Champions League?
Liverpool have nine points from four matches after their first defeat of the campaign. Fenerbahce have five points and sit 19th in the 36-team table after their first win.
Who coached Fenerbahce against Liverpool?
Dirk Kuyt, the former Liverpool striker, was Fenerbahce interim coach for the match and masterminded the comeback win over his former club.
Sources and Verification
Liverpool FC, 4 November 2026: Nyoni 25th-minute opener and first senior goal, Greenwood deflected free kick four minutes later, Isak first-touch header after the 66th-minute triple change, Brown back-post finish and Muriqi winner.
NBC Sports, 4 November 2026: Liverpool led twice and conceded within four minutes on both occasions, possession 68 percent, attempts 22-17, expected goals 1.70-1.57 to Fenerbahce, first Champions League loss for Liverpool and first win for Fenerbahce.
Opta Analyst, 4 November 2026: Muriqi maiden Champions League goal, Fenerbahce twice from behind, Isak 69th-minute lead the latest Liverpool have gone ahead in a major European game and lost.
Channels Television, 4 November 2026: Kuyt got the better of his former club, Liverpool punished for sloppy defending, Fenerbahce up to 19th in the 36-team table.
