Fenerbahce stun Liverpool as Dirk Kuyt celebrates Champions League ‘miracle’

Fenerbahce came from behind twice to beat Liverpool 3-2 in Istanbul, with Vedat Muriqi scoring the 79th-minute winner to give interim head coach Dirk Kuyt victory over his former club.

Kuyt, who made more than 200 appearances for Liverpool between 2006 and 2012, was appointed Fenerbahce’s interim manager last week following Ismail Kartal’s resignation. Two matches into the role, he has guided the Turkish club to their first win of this Champions League campaign.

“I’m very happy with all the players, I’m very happy with all the people who were involved that we made a miracle tonight because I think not many people expected us to win [playing] Liverpool,” Kuyt said.

“But we said before the game to each other, ‘we have a chance’. The win tonight was not an easy win, but it was not luck. At the end of the day we deserved it. We created many chances, we kept pushing and we keep fighting against one of the best teams in Europe.

“We are back in this competition. I think a lot of teams have to still play tonight, but we are now in a position which gives us the right to play in the playoffs. And I think we have a great chance to reach this stage.”

Liverpool took the lead in the 25th minute when Trey Nyoni’s low volley, struck after a defensive header, deflected off Kojo Peprah Oppong and wrongfooted Fenerbahce goalkeeper Ederson.

Mason Greenwood levelled four minutes later, his free-kick taking a deflection off Jeremy Jacquet before skidding beyond Alisson.

Liverpool substitutes Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak combined to restore the visitors’ advantage in the 69th minute. Gakpo reached the byline after exchanging passes with Kostas Tsimikas and crossed for Isak to head home from close range.

Fenerbahce equalised four minutes later when N’Golo Kante’s cross from a short corner took a glancing touch from Gakpo and diverted away from Alisson, allowing Archie Brown to score at the far post.

Brown then created the winner by looping the ball into the area after a long throw had been headed back towards him. Despite being surrounded by three Liverpool defenders, Muriqi headed past Alisson.

Fenerbahce are 19th in the Champions League standings with five points from four matches. Liverpool, who arrived in Istanbul with three wins from three, dropped to eighth with nine points.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid preserved their perfect start by twice coming from behind to beat AEK Athens 3-2. Aboubakary Koita put AEK ahead in the 12th minute, before Jude Bellingham equalised with a backheel from Marc Cucurella’s cross.

Stavros Pilios restored the hosts’ lead in the 75th minute, but Kylian Mbappe levelled three minutes later and Federico Valverde struck in stoppage time. Real are second on 12 points, behind Paris St Germain on goal difference, while AEK are 29th on three.

Erling Haaland scored in the 78th minute as Manchester City beat RB Leipzig 3-2. Arsenal defeated Slavia Prague 2-1 through Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres, despite a late Wiktor Nowak goal, and moved third on 10 points. City are seventh on nine, six points clear of Leipzig in the elimination places.

Como produced the night’s biggest result, beating Lens 9-1 in France after scoring six second-half goals. Anastasios Douvikas scored a hat-trick and supplied an assist as Como matched the competition’s biggest winning margin, previously achieved by Liverpool and Real Madrid in 8-0 victories over Besiktas and Malmo. Como are fourth on nine points.

Porto beat Napoli 4-1, Borussia Dortmund defeated Real Betis 2-1, Club Brugge won 2-1 at PSV and Viking Stavanger beat Sabah 4-1. Porto and Napoli have three points each, while Betis are 11th on nine points and Dortmund 12th.