Liverpool will encounter a familiar face on the touchline in Istanbul on Wednesday evening, as Dirk Kuyt prepares to lead Fenerbahçe against his former club on Matchday 4 of the league phase.
Kuyt, who spent six years on Merseyside before moving to Türkiye in 2012, had been serving as Ismail Kartal’s assistant before the Fenerbahçe manager resigned last week. The Dutchman has stepped up to fulfil caretaker duties and has said that Wednesday’s matchup will be a “very special occasion.”
Fenerbahçe are enjoying a first proper Champions League campaign since 2008–09, having dramatically overcome Lyon in the playoff qualifying round. However, they’ve so far mustered just a couple of points, losing heavily at Aston Villa on Matchday 2.
Having previously tried to leave his post in September, the club finally parted ways with Kartal after a 2–1 defeat to eternal rivals Galatasaray on Oct. 26. Kuyt then oversaw a home defeat to Göztepe, leaving Fenerbahçe sixth in the Süper Lig and already nine points back from the league leaders.
They will aim to take advantage of Liverpool’s scars from recent visits to Istanbul, with the Reds twice beaten at Gala’s RAMS Park last season. They’re unlikely to fall to such limp defeats with Andoni Iraola at the helm, even if they were shut out by Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday.
There were certainly positives to take from their slender defeat, but the Gunners reminded Iraola’s side that title contention may be beyond their ambitions this season.
Watch and Enjoy Fenerbahçe vs Liverpool in UEFA Champions Leaguw Live Match Below.
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