- Published
When it comes to comebacks, Liverpool and Istanbul have plenty of history - but this time Andoni Iraola's side made the wrong kind.
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side → publish → kind
Having hit the front for a second time against Fenerbahce, when Alexander Isak nodded in after 69 minutes, Liverpool were seemingly on their way to a thoroughly impressive away win.
But Iraola's players then capitulated amid a febrile atmosphere, as spirited hosts led by interim boss Dirk Kuyt - a Liverpool hero of years gone by - pulled off a shock Champions League comeback victory.
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hosts → hit → victory
By losing 3-2 at the Sukru Saracoglu stadium, Iraola's visitors created that unwanted slice of history: this was the latest Liverpool have ever gone ahead in a major European game and then been beaten.
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Liverpool → lose → game
Iraola described the goals they conceded as "cheap" and "messy".
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they → describe → goals
As Liverpool saw three points slip from their grasp, Kuyt said his players had tapped into the mindset that has allowed the Reds to achieve so many great feats in Europe in the past.
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Reds → see → past
He joined Liverpool in 2006, a year after the team's famous 'Miracle of Istanbul' comeback in the Champions League final.
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He → join → final
"We told each other to stick together and be united.
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We → tell → other
That's something I learned from Liverpool, who we played against," Kuyt said.
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Kuyt → learn → who
"We made a miracle tonight - not many expected us to win."
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us → make → miracle
Fenerbahce will remember this one for a long time.
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Fenerbahce → remember → time
Liverpool will want to quickly forget it.
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Liverpool → want → it
After winning five games in a row, Iraola's side have gone on to lose twice in four days.
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side → win → days
Arsenal on Sunday, and now this.
On the flight back from Istanbul, there will be plenty of disappointment at the way in which Liverpool failed to see this game out.
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Liverpool → fail → game
"It's frustration because it's a difficult place to come and play," said Iraola.
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Iraola → come → ?
"We were, during most part of the game, thinking we can win this one.
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we → think → one
But obviously it hasn't happened.
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it → happen → ?
"
All three of Fenerbahce's goals came from set-pieces.
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three → come → pieces
Two were scored by Englishmen.
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Two → score → Englishmen
Former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood benefited from a slice of luck when his free-kick deflected in off Jeremy Jacquet in the first half for Fenerbahce's first equaliser, and Liverpool only had themselves to blame when Cody Gakpo's header took the ball past Alisson and gave Birmingham-born Archie Brown a tap in to make it 2-2.
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it → benefit → tap
Six minutes later, Liverpool made a mess of Brown's looping ball in the box and Vedat Muriqi beat three players in red and headed past Alisson.
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Muriqi → make → Alisson
They are messy goals," said Iraola.
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Iraola → say → ?
"Mistakes can cost you.
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Mistakes → cost → you
For the last goal, it's a long throw and the first phase is controlled but after a very long ball, Muriqi wins it.
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Muriqi → control → it
"The second goal, Cody is the one touching the ball just in front of Ali [Alisson].
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Cody → touch → Alisson
"In the stadium it was almost impossible to communicate because it was so noisy.
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it → communicate → stadium
It was even difficult for me to give any kind of instruction.
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me → give → instruction
I suppose the communication between Ali and Cody was difficult.
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communication → suppose → Ali
"
'They look like they can concede at any moment'
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they → look → moment
After showing signs of genuine progress in recent weeks, Liverpool let potential victory slip away here in a concerning manner.
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victory → show → manner
"It feels like a step back from what we saw against Arsenal because everyone thought, OK, we are seeing huge improvements from Liverpool," said ex-Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock, who was watching the game for Match of the Day.
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who → feel → Day
"It was a much-changed team.
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It → change → ?
However, the simple mistakes that they made from set-pieces or simple balls into the box are not good enough.
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they → make → box
"The frustrating part for Liverpool fans is that we all know what the problems are.
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problems → know → fans
That's what Iraola is trying to do at the moment, but it's just a question of how long it takes.
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it → try → moment
"The biggest issue is that this keeps on happening, with Liverpool looking like they can concede at any moment and being so open on the counter-attack.
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they → keep → attack
There is a repetitive theme of the goals they are conceding and it undoes all the good work they do when they go forward.
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they → be → work
"When you go ahead, twice, away from home at Fenerbahce in the Champions League then, if that is Arsenal they win that game - they see it out against a team like Fenerbahce.
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they → go → Fenerbahce
"Liverpool don't have the ability to do that at the moment, and that is what is really frustrating.
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what → have → moment
'We showed Europe how big Fenerbahce is'
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Fenerbahce → show → Europe
On the eve of this game in the Kadikoy neighbourhood of Istanbul, Kuyt spoke passionately about how Fenerbahce had the opportunity to show Europe their true colours.
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Fenerbahce → speak → colours
…and 15 more, not listed.
The Aporia
