Fenerbahce vs Liverpool – News and Probable Lineups

In a bid to keep their perfect record in the Champions League’s group stage, Liverpool will head to Sukru Saracoglu Stadium for a match against Fenerbahce on Wednesday.

The Yellow Canaries come into this important match struggling for form, while the Reds will look to recover after their recent defeat.

Match overview

Currently, Fenerbahce is led by interim coach Dirk Kuyt, who is well-known among Liverpool supporters after Ismail Kartal’s departure last month.

The Dutchman enjoyed six years at Anfield, netting 71 goals in 285 matches, but will be eager to halt his former team’s winning streak in Europe.

Kuyt took charge on October 28, following a 2-1 defeat to rivals Galatasaray, but he suffered a 2-1 loss himself against Goztepe on Saturday.

While he seeks his first positive result, Fenerbahce is also aiming for their first victory in this season’s Champions League, having recorded a draw against Roma and another against Slavia Prague, mixed in with a heavy 6-0 loss to Aston Villa.

Despite the home side being underdogs for this fixture, supporters will take comfort from the fact that Fenerbahce has only lost one of its last five matches at home.

On the other side, Liverpool appears to be finding their rhythm under Andoni Iraola, though they will need to exhibit resilience to rebound from their disappointing performance over the weekend.

Following their 3-0 defeat against Manchester City on October 11, the Reds managed to string together five consecutive victories in all competitions, including a 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion and a penalty shootout success against Chelsea in the EFL Cup.

During that span, Iraola’s team collected all six points available in the Champions League, winning 6-3 against LASK and pulling off a dramatic 4-3 comeback against Villarreal on October 20.

However, Arsenal broke their streak on Sunday, marking their first win at Anfield in 14 years with a 1-0 result in a match that showcased Liverpool’s difficulties against well-organized defenses.

Despite this, the visitors remain unbeaten on the road during the 2026-27 season, securing four wins and a single draw, while netting 13 goals in that time.

With a solid position in the group — sitting third in the Champions League standings with nine points — another win could further cement the Premier League giants’ spot in the upper tier of the table as the competition progresses.

Team News

Fenerbahce will face challenges in defense with the absence of center-backs Jayden Oosterwolde and Kojo Peprah Oppong; the former is dealing with a hamstring issue while the latter had to leave the field during the match against Goztepe.

Additionally, Nathan Ake, a previous star at Manchester City, is questionable due to a muscle strain, meaning Archie Brown and Milan Skriniar may be tasked with central defensive duties, supported by Mert Muldur and Munir Levent Mercan on the flanks.

In other news, attacking midfielder Marco Asensio is expected to undergo knee surgery following injuries sustained last month; however, Mason Greenwood, Irfan Can Kahveci, and Oguz Aydin should be available to provide support behind striker Romelu Lukaku.

For Liverpool, there are no new injury concerns ahead of the encounter, although center-back Giovanni Leoni is still recovering from anterior cruciate ligament surgery, while right-backs Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong are sidelined due to knee and hamstring injuries, respectively.

In their absence, Ronald Araujo is likely to continue on the right side of defense, partnering with Jeremy Jacquet, Virgil van Dijk, and Kostas Tsimikas.

Up front, Lewis Koumas could feature in the starting lineup instead of striker Alexander Isak, while Hugo Ekitike continues his rehabilitation after an Achilles injury sustained in April.

Fenerbahce probable starting XI:

Ederson; Muldur, Brown, Skriniar, Coral; Kante, Guendouzi; Greenwood, Kahveci, Aydin; Lukaku

Liverpool probable starting XI:

Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Barcola; Koumas

Fenerbahce may have struggled recently, yet they will be focused on producing a competitive performance for their fervent home crowd.

While Liverpool is expected to have enough quality to prevail despite the pressure from their opponents, it seems unlikely that they will keep a clean sheet in Istanbul.