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Another 'miracle' in Istanbul - but this one hurt Liverpool

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Another 'miracle' in Istanbul - but this one hurt Liverpool

When it comes to comebacks, Liverpool and Istanbul have plenty of history - but this time Andoni Iraola's side made the wrong kind. Having hit the front for a second time against Fenerbahce, when Alexander Isak nodded in after 69 minutes, Liverpool were seemingly on their way to a thoroughly impressive away win.

But Iraola's players then capitulated amid a febrile atmosphere, as spirited hosts led by interim boss Dirk Kuyt - a Liverpool hero of years gone by - pulled off a shock Champions League comeback victory. By losing 3-2 at the Sukru Saracoglu stadium, Iraola's visitors created that unwanted slice of history: this was the latest Liverpool have ever gone ahead in a major European game and then been beaten.

After Liverpool let three points slip from their grasp, Kuyt spoke of how he had encouraged Fenerbahce's players to embrace the never-say-die mindset that allowed the Reds to achieve so many great feats in Europe in the past.