Fenerbahce Beat Liverpool 3-2 in Istanbul for First Champions League Win in 18 Years
Fenerbahce had been waiting since 2008. The Turkish club finally won a Champions League match again, beating English side Liverpool 3-2 at home in Istanbul. Coincidentally, Fenerbahce's previous win had also come against an English club: they beat Chelsea 2-1 in the first leg of the 2007-08 quarter-finals. The next win arrived 18 years after that one.
Liverpool took the lead first. In the 25th minute, midfielder Trey Nyoni's volley from outside the box deflected off a Fenerbahce defender and into the net. It was the first goal in a Liverpool shirt for the 19-year-old Nyoni.
Liverpool's joy lasted only four minutes. Mason Greenwood equalised from a free kick in the 29th minute; his shot deflected off a Fenerbahce player, leaving Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker with no chance.
After the break, Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola made three changes at once in the 66th minute, bringing on Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo. Three minutes later their combined effort put Liverpool ahead again: Isak headed in Gakpo's cross, his first Champions League goal for Liverpool.
Fenerbahce took complete control of the match in the final 17 minutes. Archie Brown equalised in the 73rd minute. He met N'Golo Kante's pass from the right inside the box, and after the ball deflected off Cody Gakpo, he took his chance.
Substitute Vedat Muriqi scored the winner in the 79th minute. The Kosovan striker rose high to head in Brown's cross; it was his first goal in the Champions League.
The win ended Fenerbahce's 10-match winless run. Liverpool, meanwhile, have now conceded 10 goals in four Champions League matches this season, conceding at least three in each of their last three. It is the first time in the club's European history that they have conceded three or more goals in three straight matches. They have also lost five straight away matches against Turkish clubs in the Champions League.
One further painful fact for Liverpool: this was only the third time they have lost a match in a major European competition after leading twice. The previous occasions came against Roma in 2018 and PSV in 2025.
