Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has voiced out his frustration over the Reds defense line following their Champions League defeat to Fenerbahce on Wednesday night.
Despite leading twice, the Reds were undone by a spirited Fenerbahce side led by one of their former players Dirk Kuyt, who secured a memorable 3-2 victory.
The loss ended Liverpool’s unbeaten record in Europe this season, leaving Iraola to lament a series of avoidable errors that gifted Fenerbahce a path back into the contest.
Speaking after the final whistle, Iraola pinpointed the exact areas where his team fell short in a hostile environment.
Andoni Iraola (L) and Alexander Isak applaud at the end of the UEFA Champions League, league phase, Matchday 4, football match between Fenerbahce and Liverpool. (Photo by YASIN AKGUL / AFP via Getty Images)
”The main reason that I can find for why we lost this game is we conceded from three set pieces. It’s something that we were doing very well in the league, we were doing quite well until today,” Iraola told reporters during his post-match press conference.
The manager continued: “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. They’re goals that 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.”
Fenerbahce proved they have what it takes to compete against the top teams in Europe as they came from a goal behind twice during the game.
”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,” Iraola admitted.
For Iraola, the specific nature of the goals conceded will be the focus of the post-match analysis.
”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,” the Liverpool boss concluded.
