Grading A Night In Turkey Liverpool Would Rather Forget

Our view on a limp night in Istanbul, where Liverpool’s inconsistent form in Europe reared its head again. Andoni Iraola picked a side built to see the game out and get key men off the pitch early, but the plan unravelled against a hungrier Fenerbahce outfit who deserved their 3-2 win. There were flickers from the kids and a reminder that squad depth remains the issue nobody at Anfield wants to talk about out loud.

A back line short on conviction

Alisson had moments of real quality but will look back on at least one of the goals as preventable, caught in no man’s land when a touch tighter positioning might have saved a point. Joe Gomez did a steady job on the flank without ever imposing himself before making way at the hour mark, while Kostas Tsimikas continues to look short of the pace needed at this level, hooked after 76 largely anonymous minutes. Jeremy Jacquet had arguably his toughest outing in a Liverpool shirt, dragged into mistakes at both of Fenerbahce’s first two goals, and it felt like a night to file away and move on from quickly. Virgil van Dijk, so often the reason these nights do not turn into routs, could not drag his teammates up to his level this time, solid individually but unable to be the calming influence the back four needed.

Midfield toil and a teenager’s statement

Alexis Mac Allister looked leggy and in need of a rest, a reminder that squad rotation has to happen more often in a season with this many fixtures. Dominik Szoboszlai drifted through the contest without ever pinning down where he was most useful, never quite a passer, a runner or a presser for long enough to matter. The night’s one genuine bright spot in the middle was Trey Nyoni, deservedly picking up the man of the match award for a mature, front-foot display that Liverpool badly needed more of elsewhere on the pitch.

Young legs, old problems up front

Rio Ngumoha again showed he is not remotely overawed by this stage, full of purpose before he too was withdrawn on 66 minutes. Bradley Barcola remains a square peg through the middle, clearly talented but still searching for a role that fits, while Victor Munoz was easy to play against and never looked like unlocking a stubborn home defence. The bench offered little when it mattered. Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo both came on and barely registered, with Gakpo also culpable late on, while Alexander Isak’s introduction at least carried a genuine chance that really should have been the equaliser. Lewis Koumas added some energy in the closing stages and Milos Kerkez’s late cameo was too brief to judge.

Our ratings from Fenerbahce 3-2 Liverpool

• Alisson Becker – 5/10
• Joe Gomez – 5/10
• Kostas Tsimikas – 5/10
• Jeremy Jacquet – 5/10
• Virgil van Dijk – 6/10
• Alexis Mac Allister – 5/10
• Trey Nyoni – 8/10 (Man of the Match)
• Dominik Szoboszlai – 5/10
• Rio Ngumoha – 7/10
• Bradley Barcola – 6/10
• Victor Munoz – 5/10
• Florian Wirtz – 4/10
• Cody Gakpo – 4/10
• Alexander Isak – 6/10
• Lewis Koumas – 6/10
• Milos Kerkez – N/A
• Andoni Iraola (Manager) – 5/10

A night to shrug off quickly. The bigger worry is the pattern rather than any single performance, a thin squad being asked to do too much too often, and not enough coming from the bench when it is needed most.