Fenerbahçe host Liverpool in Champions League with Kuyt in interim charge
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The gist
Fenerbahçe host Liverpool in Champions League Matchday 4 on Wednesday, with Dirk Kuyt facing his former club.
Liverpool are third with nine points; Fenerbahçe are winless in three league-phase games.
Background
Fenerbahçe are a Turkish club playing in their first proper Champions League campaign since 2008-09, having beaten Lyon in the playoff qualifying round. They sacked manager İsmail Kartal after a 2-1 defeat to Galatasaray and put Dirk Kuyt, a former Liverpool player who spent six years on Merseyside before moving to Türkiye in 2012, in interim charge. Liverpool, coached by Andoni Iraola, sit third in the Champions League league phase with nine points from three wins. The two clubs have never met before, and Fenerbahçe will be Liverpool's 140th different European opponent.
How it unfolded
- Oct 15, 2026Fenerbahçe lost 6-0 at Aston Villa in the Champions League league phase.
- Oct 21, 2026Fenerbahçe drew 2-2 with Slavia Prague on Matchday 3.
- Oct 26, 2026Fenerbahçe parted ways with manager İsmail Kartal after a 2-1 defeat to Galatasaray.
- Oct 27, 2026Fenerbahçe lost 2-1 at Galatasaray in the Süper Lig.
- Nov 1, 2026Fenerbahçe lost 2-1 at home to Göztepe in Kuyt's first match in charge, leaving them sixth in the Süper Lig and nine points behind the leaders.
- Nov 2, 2026Liverpool lost 1-0 to Arsenal at Anfield.
- Nov 4, 2026Fenerbahçe host Liverpool in Champions League Matchday 4 at Chobani Stadyumu (Şükrü Saracoğlu) in Istanbul, kick-off 17:45 UK time.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Fenerbahçe interim head coach Dirk Kuyt said Wednesday's matchup against his former club will be a "very special occasion".
Still unverified
A preview noted that Fenerbahçe's strengths are unconfirmed ahead of the official teams, so its prediction rests on Liverpool's record and past Turkish trips.