Fenerbahçe SK vs. Liverpool: Champions League 2026-27 Preview & Team News
LIVERPOOL, November 4th League Stadyumu 5:45PM BST/12:45PM EST Feberbahçe currently sit sixth in the Turkish Süper Lig and find themselves in the elimination spaces (before the end of Tuesday's matches) in the Champions League even though they have lost just one of three of their opening League Phase matches. They look to turn their season around under newly appointed - and familiar face - Dirk Kuyt, seeking their first win in a competition they return to for the first time in almost two decades.
It's a big ask: they have won only one game in their last five, including a 2-1 loss for Kuyt's men in the Süper Lig this past weekend. Kuyt's side have conceded nine goals thus far in the competition, though six of those came in their heavy loss away to Aston Villa.
They have managed two home draws thus far, holding Roma to a 1-1 draw and most recently accepting a 2-2 draw with Slavia Praha. Liverpool face some familiar - though not friendly - faces on Wednesday: Ederson is Fenerbahçe's first choice goalkeeper, though could be benched in fabor of Mert Günok.
Stretching further back in time, we should see Mattéo Guendouzi in midfield, where he could well be joined by 35-year-old N'Golo Kanté who I am sure would love to put in his customary 9/10 performance against the Reds, specifically. The veteran striker Romelu Lukaku often features in Fenerbahçe's attack, and, more controversially, Mason Greenwood has played all nine matches for the Turkish side.
Nathan Aké and Marco Asensio are familiar faces who are unavailable for this match through injury, along with Jayden Oosterwolde. Elsewhere on the injury report, defender Kojo Peprah Oppong is doubtful.
All this is to say that while Fenerbahçe is not a familiar opponent for Liverpool, the squad itself could end up being quite familiar to those of us tuning in. Predicted Liverpool Lineup (4-2-3-1) Alisson; Araújo, Gomez, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Nyoni,Szoboszlai; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Barcola; Isak Meanwhile Liverpool look to make it four wins from four in the Champions League, as Andoni Iraola balances fitness concerns with the desire to maintain their strong position in the European Cup.
Ryan Gravenberch was left out of the traveling squad as he looks to overcome a heel fracture that he has been playing with for an unspecified amount of time. Trey Nyoni is available and has the "trust" of the Liverpool boss, with Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endō not available for this one as they were not named in the 22-man Champions League squad for the Reds.
A midfield of Nyoni and an experienced player - either Dominik Szoboszlai or Alexis Mac Allister - is likely, perhaps with the experienced players splitting the time. Florian Wirtz will likely be asked to go again due to his central importance to the plan of attack.
Rotation is likely to come in the defense, with Joe Gomez liable to start so as to give one of Ronald Araújo, Jeremy Jacquet, or Virgil Van Dijk. Kostas Tsimikas could step in for Miloš Kerkez on the left.