Liverpool Face Fenerbahçe in Champions League Clash as Dirk Kuyt Leads

Liverpool travel to Istanbul to face Fenerbahçe at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in the fourth round of the Champions League phase on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.

Liverpool and Fenerbahçe Meet in Istanbul

Andoni Iraola’s side sit third in the league phase table with a perfect nine points from three wins after scoring 12 goals against Atlético Madrid, LASK, and Villarreal. Fenerbahçe face an uphill battle in 31st place with just two points from their opening three fixtures.

Champions League Press Conference: Fenerbahce vs Liverpool | Andoni Iraola & Cody Gakpo

Their momentum hit a slight bump on Sunday when they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal at Anfield, though they remain unbeaten away from home across all competitions this season.

Domestically, they sit sixth in the Turkish Süper Lig.

Liverpool v Arsenal - Premier League - Anfield — Photo: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com

Dirk Kuyt Leads Fenerbahçe Against Former Club

The match brings a familiar face to the opposing dugout as interim head coach Dirk Kuyt leads Fenerbahçe following the resignation of Ismail Kartal. The former Liverpool forward takes over a squad returning to the Champions League for the first time in 18 years.

Iraola noted the technical caliber of the opposition ahead of the fixture. The stronger we start, the less chances we should give to Fenerbahçe, because otherwise they are going to be dangerous, the manager said, emphasizing the need to control the tempo from the opening whistle.

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Team Selections and Injury Updates

Liverpool arrived in Istanbul without several key figures. Ryan Gravenberch stayed behind on Merseyside for treatment on his heel, while Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, and Hugo Ekitike remain sidelined alongside Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endō, who were omitted from the club’s 22-man European squad.

Fenerbahçe must manage without Nathan Aké, Marco Asensio, and Jayden Oosterwolde due to injuries.

🚨🎙️ Dirk Kuyt speaks ahead of Fenerbahçe vs Liverpool in the Champions League. The former Liverpool forward admits facing his former club will be an emotional occasion, but insists there will be no room for sentiment when the two sides meet. 🎙️ Interviewer: Dirk, tomorrow you… pic.twitter.com/x11G3Etkhl

— https://x.com/KenzieLFC/status/2117898587132608962

The officiating team for the 17:45 GMT kickoff will be led by French referee Clément Turpin.

French referee Clément Turpin will be assisted by Nicolas Danos and Benjamin Pages, while Jeremy Stinat serves as the fourth official for the fixture at Ülker Stadyumu Şükrü Saracoğlu Spor Kompleksi, which is also scheduled to be broadcast live on TRT 1 and the digital platform tabii alongside CBC Sport.

Fenerbahçe Liverpool muhtemel 11 — Photo: haberler.com

Fenerbahçe enters this European encounter having previously played 43 matches in the competition, registering 11 wins, 8 draws, and 24 losses while scoring 45 goals and conceding 79. This marks the very first official meeting between the Turkish club and Liverpool, though Fenerbahçe has faced English opposition on 24 prior occasions, producing 6 wins, 4 draws, and 14 defeats.

In squad preparations, Dominik Szoboszlai and Víctor Muñoz returned from injury as substitutes during the weekend and joined the 22-man travelling party alongside Trey Nyoni. Florian Wirtz is expected to feature centrally in the attacking scheme, while rotation is anticipated in the defensive line with Joe Gomez in contention to start.