Another 'miracle' in Istanbul – but this one hurt Liverpool

Liverpool conceded "cheap" and "messy" goals in their defeat by Fenerbahce, says boss Andoni Iraola, as former Reds hero Dirk Kuyt celebrates a "miracle" in Istanbul. When it comes to comebacks, Liverpool and Istanbul have plenty of history – but this time Andoni Iraola's side made the wrong 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.

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. Iraola described the goals they conceded as "cheap" and "messy". After Liverpool let three points slip from their grasp, Kuyt spoke of how he had encouraged Fenerbahce's players to embrace the never-say-die mindset that allowed the Reds to achieve so many great feats in Europe in the past. He joined Liverpool in 2006, a year after the team's famous 'Miracle of Istanbul' comeback in the Champions League final, and spent six years