Liverpool

Liverpool midfielder Trey Nyoni is expected to sign a new contract with the club after Nottingham Forest's £30m offer for the 19-year-old was turned down in the summer. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Leeds United could sign Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott on a permanent deal in January, as Valencia prepare to terminate the 23-year-old's loan spell. (Football Insider), external

Liverpool and Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who is out of contract at Anfield in June, is attracting interest from Flamengo. (Sport Witness), external

Former Liverpool and Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez wants to return to management in the Premier League. (Talksport), external

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Liverpool starting XI:

Alisson: Deflection off Jacquet for Mason Greenwood's goal gave him little chance. Unlucky for the second goal but should have done better for the winner. 5

Joe Gomez: Started at right-back and constantly got forward, but like fellow full-back Kostas Tsimikas he found it hard to deal with Greenwood when the Fenerbahce winger switched flanks. 5

Virgil van Dijk: Not a bad display from the Liverpool skipper but will know his side should never have lost this game. 6

Jeremy Jacquet: Missed a big chance early on and was guilty of turning his back for Greenwood's free-kick as the deflection off him went past Alisson. 5

Kostas Tsimikas: Didn't offer much going forward and made far too many mistakes defensively. Struggled against Greenwood. 4

Trey Nyoni: Trusted to start again and was assured in possession. Memorably scored his first Liverpool goal, but this was a real test. 7

Alexis Mac Allister: Was good on the ball, but like some other team-mates he has to take more responsibility as one of the seniors. 5

Victor Munoz: Another impressive display. Had an early effort saved and caused havoc down Fenerbahce's left side. Unafraid to take his man on. 7

Dominik Szoboszlai: Made his first start since October 17. Gave away the free-kick that led to the leveller. 5

Rio Ngumoha: Always a threat with the ball but needed to help out Tsimikas a bit more defensively. Liverpool didn't get him on the ball enough. 6

Bradley Barcola: Started as the centre-forward. Had a quiet game. 5

Liverpool substitutes:

Cody Gakpo (on 66, Ngumoha): Made a difference when he came on. Got the assist for Isak but made a mistake for Fenerbahce's second goal. 6

Florian Wirtz (on 66, Gomez): Didn't do anything of note. 5

Alexander Isak (on 66, Munoz): Came on and scored instantly. 6

Milos Kerkez (on 76, Tsimikas)

Lewis Koumas (on 85, Nyoni)

Subs not used: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Araujo, Chambers, McConnell, Danns.

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola at his press conference: "The main reason that I can find for why we lost this game is we conceded from three set pieces. It's something that we were doing very well in the league, we were doing quite well until today.

"We knew it was one of the strengths of Fenerbahce. We concede from a free-kick, a corner and even from the long throw at the end.

"They're goals that have hurt us because we've gone twice in front after having good moments, controlling the game, arriving. We've found the goals, but after we've conceded in situations, we should definitely defend better.

"It's frustration because it's a difficult place to come here and play. In most parts of the game we were thinking we could win this one, but obviously it hasn't happened.

"Especially the first goal and the third goal - the second one is a rebound - but the first one, I don't think we set the wall properly, and the last one, Muriqi wins the ball against three defenders. It's definitely something we need to defend better."

Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas, speaking to Uefa: "Congratulations to Fenerbahce, they deserve it. We didn't play how we had to play.

"We didn't defend after the goal we conceded. After three or four minutes, automatically, we conceded another goal.

"I think we have to mark better if we want to win games. We didn't play very good and that's why we lost."

Did you know?

• The result was only the third time in Liverpool's major European history they took the lead twice in a game and then lost, along with a 4-2 defeat to Roma in May 2018 and 3-2 defeat to PSV in January 2025.

• Liverpool conceded three goals from set-pieces in a Champions League game for just the second time, along with their 3-3 draw with Sevilla in November 2017, though the game in Turkey was the first time ever they've let in three non-penalty set piece goals in one game.

Listen to more from Iraola above or on BBC Sounds

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Liverpool's performance

There are nine games in the Champions League on Wednesday, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• AEK Athens v Real Madrid (17:45)

• Fenerbahce v Liverpool (17:45)

• Borussia Dortmund v Real Betis

• Lens v Como

• PSV Eindhoven v Club Brugge

• Porto v Napoli

• RB Leipzig v Manchester City

• Slavia Prague v Arsenal

• Viking v Sabah

Kick-off times 20:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Listen to an around the grounds service from 19:55 on Wednesday on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Sounds.

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One from 22:40 to 00:00.

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Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Will Wright continued his strong run of form with another impressive hat-trick in Liverpool's 5-3 win over Fenerbahce in the Uefa Youth League.

The 18-year-old, who scored a hat-trick earlier in the competition against Lask, gave the young Reds an early lead before scoring his second from the penalty spot in the 15th minute.

Emin Sayar pulled one back for the Turkish side but Liverpool restored their two-goal advantage just two minutes later when Josh Sonni-Lambie rounded the goalkeeper to finish the chance.

Liverpool went 4-1 up though Finn Inglethorpe but Sayar pulled another goal back for the Turkish side to make it 4-2 before the half-hour mark.

Baran Yolacan reduced the deficit to one goal in the 68th minute but just seconds later, Wright completed his hat-trick with his 13th goal of the season.

Rob Page's young Reds have now won two and drawn two of their four Youth League games.

Senegalese centre-half Mor Talla Ndiaye was absent from Liverpool‘s squad due to visa issues.

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool and Fenerbahce meet for the first time with Andoni Iraola's side having won three from three in the Champions League so far this season.

A 100% record doesn't quite tell the whole tale after going 2-0 down in their most recent outing at home to Villarreal before prevailing 4-3.

On Wednesday, they come up against an opposing head coach who reached the final of this competition with the Reds in 2007.

Dirk Kuyt may be taking charge of his final match as interim boss of the Turkish club, with reports indicating that Sergio Conceicao is set to take over on an 18-month deal.

Did you know?

• Fenerbahce advanced beyond qualifying for the first time since 2008-09, following nine failed attempts. They knocked out Lyon to get through on this occasion. The Turkish side reached the quarter-finals in 2007-08.

• Fenerbahce's current winless run of 10 matches is their longest in the Champions League.

Image source, Getty Images

Key Fenerbahce player - Vedat Muriqi

The Kosovan striker has scored seven goals despite starting only five league games, but he is yet to break his duck in this competition.

In the first three matchdays this term, the only player with a higher xG than Muriqi (1.44) who failed to score was Jude Bellingham (1.61).

Muriqi signed a three-year contract with Fenerbahce in the summer after scoring 23 La Liga goals for Mallorca last season, the best return of his club career.

Fenerbahce squad summary

Fenerbahce's squad is packed with former Premier League players including Mason Greenwood, Romelu Lukaku, N'Golo Kante, Ederson, Matteo Guendouzi, Nathan Ake and Nelson Semedo.

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

If anyone can talk about the highs and lows of being a referee, it is Darren England.

Three years ago, when acting as the video assistant referee (VAR), a blunder in a game between Tottenham and Liverpool stalled his career for months.

Luis Diaz scored for Liverpool, but his goal was flagged as offside. In a lapse of concentration, and despite the VAR image showing Diaz was onside, England said "check complete". The goal remained disallowed.

From the VAR audio of the Diaz incident, it was clear England and his assistant VAR, Dan Cook were immediately aware they had made a huge mistake. But the game was only 34 minutes old and they would have to get through the next hour.

"Once I realised I'd made the error, it's a really difficult place to try to forget that and move on," said England.

"I can't just physically stand up, walk out and leave it alone. A lot of resilience was needed - a lot of experience as well."

England described how the VAR hub is a "high pressure" and sanitised environment, with "mental fatigue" taking its toll.

"When you've had a busy match, you're constantly checking everything," England said. "You can come out of the hub sometimes and, mentally, you're exhausted."

What followed was a period of intense media scrutiny which England - and his family - were not prepared for.

The story dominated newspaper headlines, radio phone-ins and social media coverage for days.

Liverpool issued a statement that said "sporting integrity" had been "undermined".

Photographers gathered outside his children's school to try to get a picture of him for the newspapers. One story highlighted the value of his home, while family photographs were taken from his wife's Facebook account.

"The aftermath obviously was really difficult to deal with," England added. "It was challenging because it's the goldfish bowl of the Premier League.

"But when mistakes happen, then you're in the public eye and criticism's inevitably going to come your way.

"That was difficult because it affected my family as well. We had people outside my girls' school, journalists and things like that.

"That then affects you not as a referee, but as a human being."

Read more here

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Andoni Iraola has called on Trey Nyoni to continue in the same manner after the 19-year-old made his first Premier League start for Liverpool on Sunday.

With Ryan Gravenberch out of Liverpool's trip to Fenerbahce with a heel injury and a doubt for this Sunday's game against Crystal Palace, Nyoni is set to get more of an opportunity to cement his place as a regular in Liverpool's midfield.

"I think he has to continue in the same place he has been since pre-season. He's playing most of the games," said Iraola.

"We trust him, he's doing very well. We have to encourage him to continue improving, learning and getting the experience. He's in very good place."

Nyoni has already played 513 minutes this season, more than double the 237 minutes he managed last campaign under Arne Slot, stepping up after Liverpool sold Curtis Jones to Inter Milan.

Asked if Liverpool were ready to rely on Nyoni week in, week out, Iraola stressed that the teenager is getting used to the rhythm of playing two games a week.

He added: "I think the young players are already playing. Sometimes it's not just playing 90 minutes and 90 minutes. Maybe one day you have to help us play 20 minutes, or another day you have to start and play 65, and then maybe you don't play, maybe you play the full game.

"He's adding also endurance, because sometimes when you are young, you feel 'OK, I'm not going to get tired'.

"But you need to add this to your body and give a big effort every three to four days.

"I think they are in the process, the young players, Rio (Ngumoha), Trey (Nyoni), (Lewis) Koumas, they are there, adding important games, adding important minutes, and I'm happy with that."

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Champions League game against Fenerbahce at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium (kick-off 17:45 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Ryan Gravenberch, who has been ruled out of Wednesday's game, "has some discomfort" in his heel so will be assessed day-by-day.

• Iraola said 19-year-old Trey Nyoni "is doing very well" and they "trust him" to deliver when called upon. He added: "We have to encourage him to continue improving and learning."

• On what they can expect from Fenerbahce: "They have very good players in midfield and they have a very good technical level. If we allow them a lot of time on the ball and don't press them properly then we will suffer."

• He said it is "going to be a very special" night in Istanbul but "it won't be easy" because it never is for English teams that play there.

• More from Iraola on Champions Legaue form: "We want to continue how we have done in the Champions League - three games and nine points. It is a good chance to get to 12 points and then finish in the top eight."

• On whether he asked Pro Ref for an explanation on the referee decisions against Arsenal: "I didn't ask for an explanation. I told you what I think, but honestly I don't have time. We've been preparing for this game, focusing on the opposition and how to prepare the team."

Follow all of Tuesday's Champions League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo has been speaking to the media before the Reds' game against Fenerbahce on Wednesday.

The Dutch International said "not much of a discussion" had taken place on his decision to stay at Liverpool after a summer of transfer speculation.

He said he does not have a point to prove after uncertainty over his future, stating: "No not really, I think my mindset has stayed the same like it always had been, trying to perform. I try to enjoy football and life."

Gakpo called the defeat to Arsenal on Sunday "frustrating at times" in reference to some controversial refereeing decisions. Several commentators have said Liverpool were denied a penalty in the first half of the fixture when Alexander Isak's shirt was pulled by Jurrien Timber.

The Reds - third in the Champions League standings - are up against Fenerbahce, who are managed by interim boss Dirk Kuyt and sit 31st from 36 teams.

Asked if the competition suits Liverpool more than their domestic league, Gakpo said: "I think it depends how you look at it. If you look at both leagues, we scored a good amount of goals. Champions League is special. I don't want to say this league suits us more than the Premier League."

Hear more from Gakpo on BBC Sounds here

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Dirk Kuyt insists that it will be a "special occasion" but he will have to park his emotions for Liverpool's Champions League game against Fenerbahce in Istanbul.

Kuyt - who played for Liverpool between 2006 and 2012 and scored the winning penalty for the Reds in the 2007 Champions League semi-final - is now the interim Fenerbahce boss after Ismail Kartal resigned last week.

The former Dutch international played for Fenerbahce between 2012 and 2015 and won the Turkish Super Lig. He was Kartal's assistant before stepping up to the role.

Asked about his feelings pre-match, Kuyt said: "It's a really special achievement for Fenerbahce to be in the Champions League after 18 years and we're really excited. When you reach that stage, you know you'll be playing against very impressive teams.

"As soon as the draw was done, I was really excited because everyone knows how much Fenerbahce and Liverpool mean to me and from that moment, you know it will be a special occasion.

"Of course, tomorrow will be a very special occasion for me but at the stage we're in, I'm not here for myself. I'm here for the club and that's what is important - to show the fans who deserve much more, a reaction, positive energy and a good performance."

Fenerbahce have only won one of their last five games in all competitions and that includes a 6-0 defeat to Aston Villa in the Champions League last month. But Kuyt, 46, believes that his side can go toe-to-toe with Andoni Iraola's Liverpool.

"We have really good players but we need to show up and when we show up tomorrow with good energy and passion, I think it will be a special night.

"Liverpool is an amazing team but so is Fenerbahce and if we and the fans can show up tomorrow, then Europe will really see how big Fenerbahce is."

BBC Radio Merseyside discussed whether Liverpool are "too nice" and need to embody Arsenal's "win at all costs mentality" going forward.

It comes after Sunday's defeat to the Gunners in which several decisions went against the Reds.

Host Paul Salt, said: "One of the really infuriating things about that game was Arsenal, who were on the deck more than they were on their feet.

"But is that the win at all costs mentality that Liverpool don't seem to have at the moment?"

Chris Coughlin, added: "It's desire and aggression. Liverpool don't have a number six who drives those dark arts.

"Is it something that is part of the game now? Yes. Is it something that helps teams to be successful? Yes.

"It's something for a while now that Liverpool haven't really mastered."

Hear more from BBC Radio Merseyside on the matter above

Listen below to the full episode or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Liverpool content on BBC Sounds

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Ryan Gravenberch has been ruled out of Liverpool's trip to Fenerbahce with a heel injury.

The midfielder did not feature during the Reds' loss to Arsenal on Sunday and will not travel with the 22-man squad to Istanbul, instead remaining at the AXA Training Centre for treatment by the club's medical team.

In his absence, Trey Nyoni is set to get more minutes. The 19-year-old has featured regularly under Andoni Iraola and made his first Premier League start against the Gunners.

Liverpool travelling squad: Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Isak, Mac Allister, Gakpo, Tsimikas, Munoz, Mamardashvili, Woodman, Barcola, Araujo, Nyoni, Chambers, McConnell, Koumas, Ngumoha, Danns.

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk believes that with VAR, there should be no need for players to fall down if they want a penalty.

The Reds were denied a spot-kick in Sunday's defeat by Arsenal when Alexander Isak had his shirt pulled by Jurrien Timber in the box but VAR chose not to intervene. After the game, Andoni Iraola said he would tell his players to go down in future.

Asked if Isak should have made more of the shirt pull, Van Dijk said: "There are so many angles and cameras, and we are using VAR, so why should you make an extra theatrical move?"

Van Dijk added that Liverpool will continue to play out from the back despite Alisson's error leading to Kai Havertz scoring the only goal of the game.

"I don't have the goal exactly in my mind and what went wrong but I think we tried to play out from the back, which we have to keep doing and keep encouraging each other to do. We have the quality," he said.

"But it was also a very good cross and we could have definitely done things better, but we conceded a goal. After that, we have to react and I think we reacted well.

"We obviously troubled the champions but we played at home, and we wanted to win. We had opportunities to score but, in the end, we came away with nothing. That is frustrating and we are all disappointed."

Liverpool's two losses this season have come against Manchester City and Arsenal and Van Dijk insisted that his side are still going through a transition under Iraola.

"We have to just focus on ourselves. I don't think it is good to think about the other two and even Brighton. We are in a process," he said.

"We have been together now for four months but we play at Liverpool and we want results every three days, especially at home. The main thing is we keep working very hard and that we see improvement, but the fact of the matter is we are in a transition."

"It is still a work in progress. We are training a lot but eventually it is about doing it in the games. There was a lot of good things, by the way, but you need results and we didn't get the result that we wanted," he added.

Iraola's side travel to Istanbul on Tuesday before facing Turkish side Fenerbahce in the Champions League on Wednesday (17:45 GMT).

Hit play below to hear more from Van Dijk or listen on BBC Sounds here