Manager Andoni Iraola blamed Liverpool’s defensive shortcomings at set pieces after the Reds suffered a 3-2 Champions League loss to Fenerbahce in Istanbul on Wednesday night, November 4, 2026.

Liverpool twice took the lead at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, with Trey Nyoni and substitute Alexander Isak finding the net. However, Fenerbahce fought back through Mason Greenwood and Archie Brown before Vedat Muriqi’s late header completed the comeback.

Iraola was particularly disappointed by the manner in which Liverpool conceded all three goals, insisting his side had been performing much better defensively in such situations during their league campaign.

Iraola disappointed

“The main reason I can find to lose the game is we conceded [from] three set-pieces. It’s something that we were doing very well in the league, I think we were dealing [with it] quite well until today. We knew it was one of the strengths of Fenerbahce, but we concede from a free-kick, from a corner, even from the long throw at the end.”

The Liverpool boss felt the goals were especially damaging because his team had twice managed to move ahead after periods of strong play.

“They are goals that have hurt us because we have twice gone in front after having good moments, controlling the game, arriving. We found the goals. But after, we conceded in situations that we definitely should defend better.”

Iraola admitted the defeat was frustrating given Liverpool had appeared capable of securing a positive result for much of the encounter.

“It’s frustration, because it’s a difficult place to come here and to play and we were for the most part of the game thinking, ‘OK, we can win this one.’ But obviously it hasn’t happened.”

He pointed to specific defensive mistakes behind the goals, including poor organisation for the free-kick and failure to deal with Muriqi in the final incident.

“We have conceded, especially the first goal and the third goal – the second one is a rebound – but the wall, I don’t think we set it properly and the last one Muriqi jumps and wins the ball against three of our defenders, it’s something that definitely we have to defend better.”

Iraola explains Barcola decision

The Liverpool coach also defended his decision to alter his attacking set-up and use Bradley Barcola centrally.

He explained that Victor Munoz and Rio Ngumoha were brought into the starting line-up because they were fresher, while Isak was expected to feature for only around half an hour.

“Yeah, I think we put in Victor [Munoz] and Rio [Ngumoha], they were more fresh. We thought also that for Alex [Isak] it was maybe good to play 30 minutes, not more. We wanted to try Bradley. We tried Cody [Gakpo] in the past week against Chelsea. We wanted to play Bradley.”

Iraola believed Barcola’s pace could make him effective in the role, although he acknowledged the player has generally been more comfortable operating from a wider position.

“We thought it would work well because I think Bradley, in terms of speed [and] the match-ups, it could be good for him. He hasn’t found the position too hard… all season he has been better when he has played outside wide, and then obviously with Cody, with Alex, I think we’ve been more dangerous.”

‘Cheap’ goals cost Liverpool

Iraola agreed that Liverpool had conceded avoidable goals and described the defensive errors as costly.

“Yes, as you say, they are cheap goals. They are messy goals. It’s a free-kick; it’s quite far also the free-kick. You know, it is through the wall, [they are] mistakes that can cost you. The last goal… it is a long throw, the first phase is control, but after a very long ball and Muriqi wins it.”

He also suggested communication may have contributed to the second goal, with the atmosphere inside the stadium making it difficult for players to hear one another.

“The second one is, I think Cody is the one touching the ball just in front of Ali [Alisson Becker]. In the stadium it was almost impossible to communicate because it was so noisy. It was even difficult for me to give any kind of instruction. It was, I suppose, difficult there, the communication between Ali and Cody.”

Squad rotation not blamed for defeat

Liverpool made five changes to their starting XI, but Iraola rejected the suggestion that rotation was responsible for the result.

“We’ve done this not just today. We’ve been doing it all season and all the games we’ve played midweek. I think we’ve been changing at least four, five, six, seven players. Because of the schedule that we have, it’s impossible to maintain with always the [same] starting XI. I think we have been dealing well with these rotations. I trust the squad to sustain the level.”

He maintained that the players brought into the team performed well enough and that Liverpool’s attention should instead be on their defending.

“I don’t think it was the main reason why we lost, I think some of the players that didn’t play on the weekend have played a good game. We have to look more at how we conceded the goals [and] the reason why we didn’t win because after I think we had good moments, especially on the ball where we could score our two goals.”

Iraola also felt Liverpool created promising attacking opportunities before conceding almost immediately after scoring.

“I think we had, before scoring the goals, some very good moments on the ball. I think we’re having very good offensive situations. The thing is we concede almost straight away. We don’t have a lot of time after the goal. Also, it’s the way we conceded goals. It’s a long free-kick. I don’t even think it was a foul, but it doesn’t matter. It’s situations that we’ve been dealing [with] well until today.”

The manager said defending set pieces had been an area of focus during pre-season and that Liverpool had made significant improvements in that department before their struggles against Fenerbahce.

“It’s something that we were very aware of in pre-season. We’ve reinforced a lot the defensive set-play situation. We are doing very well in the league but today it has cost us. We know they are strong there, especially with Muriqi, with [Romelu] Lukaku, with the centre-backs, but maybe the last goal is the only one that is because they are strong in there, they are tall. The others are situations that we have to control better.”