Virgil van Dijk emphasized the need for improvement in Liverpool’s defense, stating that the mistakes made during their Champions League loss to Fenerbahce are “not sustainable.”
Liverpool suffered a 3-2 defeat at the Chobani Stadyumu Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu Spor Kompleksi, even though they initially took the lead twice in the match on Tuesday.
Trey Nyoni scored the first goal in the 25th minute, but Mason Greenwood quickly equalized with a free-kick that deflected off Jeremy Jacquet after he turned away from the wall.
After Victor Munoz was substituted, Alexander Isak put Liverpool ahead again just three minutes later. However, Fenerbahce responded when Cody Gakpo’s flick from a set-piece found Archie Brown, who scored to level the match once more.
Vedat Muriqi completed the turnaround in the 79th minute with a powerful header from Brown’s cross, despite being surrounded by Jacquet, Nyoni, and Alexis Mac Allister in the box.
This match marked the second time Liverpool has conceded three goals from set-pieces in a Champions League match, the other occasion being a 3-3 draw with Sevilla in November 2017. However, it was the first time they allowed three non-penalty set-piece goals in a single match.
With 10 goals conceded in four Champions League games this season and three goals conceded in their last three matches (6-3 vs LASK, 4-3 vs Villarreal, 2-3 vs Fenerbahce), Liverpool is facing unprecedented defensive challenges.
“It’s definitely not sustainable,” Van Dijk lamented regarding the team’s defensive struggles.
“It’s disappointing for many reasons, particularly the goals we conceded and how we conceded them. There’s a lot of work ahead of us.”
“We’ve usually been solid from set-pieces this season, but we switched off and weren’t alert to the first and second balls. It’s tough to digest.”
69 – Tonight marked the latest point Liverpool has ever taken the lead in a major European match (69th minute – Alexander Isak to make it 2-1) and then lost. Shocking. https://t.co/OUAm9vxoyE
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 4, 2026
The loss against Fenerbahce was only the third occasion in Liverpool’s European history that they took the lead twice in a match and then lost, recalling a 4-2 defeat to Roma in May 2018 and a 3-2 loss to PSV in January 2025.
Having taken the lead in the 69th minute, this was the latest Liverpool has ever done so in a major European match only to end up losing.
After their defeat to Fenerbahce, which followed a 1-0 loss to Arsenal in the Premier League, Liverpool had previously enjoyed a five-match winning streak across competitions.
Andoni Iraola’s team will head to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on Sunday, but Van Dijk believes that the experience from their recent match can benefit the Liverpool players as they aim to end positively before the international break.
“I mentioned after the last game [against Arsenal] that we as a group need to experience both highs and lows,” Van Dijk continued. “This will create a stronger bond and ultimately be beneficial. Nobody likes to lose, especially in such a way, but it should serve as a lesson for us going forward.
“We cannot accept losses, especially not like this.”
Fan Take: This news highlights the critical issues affecting a historically strong team like Liverpool, underscoring the importance of defensive solidity in high-stakes competitions. The implications for fans are significant; ongoing defensive lapses could dampen their aspirations this season, making every match a potential turning point in their campaign.
Source: www.soccernews.com
