Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking after the Champions League clash against Fenerbahce in Istanbul on Wednesday evening

Andoni Iraola lamented Liverpool's inability to defend set-pieces after a 3-2 loss to Fenerbahce in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

The Reds slipped to their first defeat of the group stages in Istanbul as the Turkish side twice fought back before securing a famous win for interim boss Dirk Kuyt.

The impressive Trey Nyoni gave the Reds the lead before Mason Greenwood's free-kick wrong-footed Alisson Becker after deflecting in off Jeremy Jacquet.

Substitute Alexander Isak made it 2-1 with his first touch but it was Fenerbahce, previously winless in the competition, who surged back, scoring twice in six minutes through Archie Brown and Vedat Muriqi.

OPINION

"The main reason that I can find for why we lost this game is we conceded from three set-pieces," Liverpool head coach Iraola said. "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.

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"They're goals 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."