Fenerbahçe v Liverpool preview: Kuyt faces his old club as Iraola’s perfect side visit Istanbul
Fenerbahçe v Liverpool preview: caretaker Dirk Kuyt takes on his former club as Andoni Iraola's side look to bounce back from defeat by Arsenal and stay perfect in the Champions League.
Fenerbahçe v Liverpool has a story before a ball is kicked: caretaker Dirk Kuyt takes charge of the Istanbul side against the club he served for six years, as Andoni Iraola’s Reds try to keep their perfect Champions League start alive.
Main image: DSN graphic. Photo: Zafer / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kick-off in Kadıköy is at 17:45 UK time on Wednesday, with French referee Clément Turpin in charge of the matchday-four meeting.
Kuyt’s homecoming of sorts
Kuyt was handed the reins after İsmail Kartal resigned following a 2-1 derby defeat by Galatasaray. The former Liverpool forward has had little time to steady things: Fenerbahçe were then beaten 2-1 at home by Göztepe on Saturday and sit sixth in the Süper Lig, nine points off the top.
The Dutchman tried to play down the personal angle on the eve of the game, saying the night would be “very, very special” for him but insisting the club mattered more than he did. He also warned that Fenerbahçe have quality of their own.
Europe has been a struggle. Fenerbahçe have two points from three games: a 1-1 home draw with Roma, a 6-0 thrashing at Aston Villa and a 2-2 draw with Slavia Prague. Roma’s own European week is covered in our Manchester United v Roma preview.
Fenerbahçe v Liverpool team news
The hosts are without Marco Asensio after knee surgery, and defender Jayden Oosterwolde is also sidelined. Nathan Aké and Kojo Peprah Oppong are major doubts, which leaves Kuyt stretched at centre-back. Milan Škriniar should anchor the defence, with N’Golo Kanté and Mattéo Guendouzi in midfield and Romelu Lukaku leading the line.
Liverpool travelled without Ryan Gravenberch, who has a heel injury, while Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong are also out. Dominik Szoboszlai is back in the squad after returning in the 1-0 home defeat by Arsenal on Sunday, a result that left Iraola’s side fifth in the Premier League.
Iraola wants a fast start
Liverpool have a 100 per cent record in the league phase. They beat Atlético Madrid 2-1, won 6-3 at LASK and edged Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield, scoring 12 goals in the process but conceding seven.
Iraola praised the technical level of Fenerbahçe’s midfield and said the stronger his team start, the fewer chances they will give the hosts. Turkey has not been a happy hunting ground: Liverpool are without a win on their last four visits to the country.
Off the pitch, the club’s recruitment is now overseen by Julian Ward, whose return as Liverpool sporting director was confirmed in September. For the Turkish side’s own European backstory, our sister site DGBN has covered Fenerbahçe’s return to the Champions League after 18 years.
Key numbers
| Fenerbahçe | Liverpool | |
|---|---|---|
| Champions League points | 2 | 9 |
| League-phase record | W0 D2 L1 | W3 D0 L0 |
| Champions League goals (for-against) | 3-9 | 12-7 |
| Last result | L 1-2 v Göztepe | L 0-1 v Arsenal |
| Key absentees | Asensio, Oosterwolde | Gravenberch, Bradley, Frimpong |
What’s at stake
Another win would take Liverpool to 12 points and leave them well placed for a top-eight finish and a place in the last 16 without a play-off. For Fenerbahçe, without a win in the competition this season, a home defeat would leave them with plenty to do over the final four matchdays.
