Fenerbahçe handed Liverpool a 3-2 defeat in Kadıköy on Wednesday, exposing the team’s midfield problems and the importance of Ronald Araujo to its defence. The Uruguay international was left on the bench for what the report describes as a technical rotation, while 22-year-old Jérémy Jacquet took on greater responsibility at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk.

Liverpool went ahead through a Nyoni strike from the edge of the area, but Jacquet’s positioning left a gap in the wall for Mason Greenwood to score Fenerbahçe’s equaliser from a free kick. The home side later moved in front, before substitute Alexander Isak headed in a Cody Gakpo cross to make it 2-1. Archie Brown equalised, and veteran striker Vedat Muriqi scored the winner with a header after coming on in the second half.

The report points to Liverpool’s midfield as a source of the team’s wider difficulties. Alexis Mac Allister, playing in a holding role, struggled to impose himself, while young Nyoni was left with demanding defensive and build-up responsibilities. N’Golo Kanté helped drive Fenerbahçe’s performance, supported by Mattéo Guendouzi, while Romelu Lukaku led the attack and Greenwood threatened from wide areas.

Jacquet joined Liverpool from Stade de Rennes this summer for €60 million, with the long-term aim of developing him into Van Dijk’s successor. He has started alongside the Dutch defender in the league, but the article says Araujo’s energy and commitment have helped steady the defence and support the young Frenchman. Araujo, who has played at right-back, has become one of Liverpool’s most influential defenders this season despite not being fully recovered from his previous spell at Barcelona.

Liverpool made several attacking changes, bringing on Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz, Isak and Gakpo, but the defeat added to concerns about the team’s disorganisation. The report notes that Liverpool had also lost at home to Arsenal, and says the club’s supporters have embraced Araujo for his humility, commitment and passion.

Elsewhere in the round, Manchester City beat Leipzig 3-2, Porto defeated Napoli 4-1, Club Brugge beat PSV 2-1, and Arsenal won 2-1 away to Slavia Prague. Viking beat Sabah 4-1, while Como thrashed Lens 9-1. Como’s margin matched Bayern Munich’s 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb in 2024 as the biggest victory in the Champions League era, according to the report.

Sources: El País Deportes.