Aadam Patel
Football Reporter in Istanbul

This Fenerbahce side has over 1,000 Premier League appearances between them and are of course coached by former Liverpool man Dirk Kuyt tonight.

Kuyt is only the interim after Ismail Kartal resigned last week. Fenerbahce actually appointed a new manager last night and it's former Newcastle player Emre who will take over the reigns after this game. Quite a lot going on in Istanbul!

Liverpool's last goal away to a Turkish side was scored by Dirk Kuyt against Trabzonspor in Europa League qualifying in August 2010.

How times change...

Image source, Getty Images

After tonight's game, Liverpool have got some pretty interesting fixtures either side of the international break.

Back-to-back league fixtures against Manchester United and Everton stand out with the added complication of a Champions League game at Club Brugge in between.

Win tonight and there is a little less pressure on that game in Belgium, though. Another reason three points would be so welcome for Andoni Iraola's side...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Last time out in the Champions League, Liverpool recovered from a terrible start as they came back from 2-0 down to beat Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield.

It was a strange game in so much as the Reds managed to simultaneously make it look both comfortable and extremely hard work.

They got the three points, though, and without doubt the shining light that evening was Rio Ngumoha.

The teenage winger was electric down the right with his nine dribbles completed against Villarreal the most by any player in a single game through the first three rounds of Champions League games.

Ngumoha's 18 completed dribbles in the competition this season are also the most of any player across the first three gameweeks.

Jayden Danns has certainly shown a real striker's instinct in what little we've seen of him in a Liverpool shirt, Jim.

He has had a terrible time of it with injuries, though, so it's probably to be expected that he's been eased back very slowly. But, if things go well for Liverpool, maybe he does get a few minutes later?

In terms of cover up front, it's worth remembering Hugo Ekitike will be back at some stage towards the end of the year/ in the New Year, although he's another who will need to be handled very carefully after his Achilles injury.

Aadam Patel
Football Reporter in Istanbul

The official UEFA teamsheet shows Bradley Barcola as the centre-forward and Andoni Iraola's words to TNT Sports suggests that he wants him to be fluid and stretch the Fenerbahce backline.

Liverpool have scored for fun in the Champions League this season but have struggled in the Premier League so there's certainly an experimental feel to the way Iraola has set up attacking wise.

He could have gone with either of Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo or Lewis Koumas as the man up top so it'll be really interesting to see how a natural winger like Barcola fares.

Image source, Getty Images

Defeat by Arsenal on Sunday ended a run of five straight wins for Liverpool, including the penalty shootout triumph over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup.

That had returned a feel-good factor to Anfield with performances steadily improving and big-money signings starting to show their worth.

Despite the result, there were positives for the Reds against Arsenal, particularly in the way they responded to going behind, but they will be keen to get back to winning ways tonight.

Should they manage that, they would go a long way to securing a top-eight finish and automatic progression to the last-16.

Aadam Patel
Football Reporter in Istanbul

It has not stopped raining in Istanbul all day but that hasn't stopped the travelling Liverpool fans from enjoying themselves in this great city.

Just under 2,000 of them have made the journey to Istanbul, which of course has many happy memories for Liverpool.

But in recent times, the Turkish capital hasn't been a happy hunting ground for the Reds.

They lost twice to Galatasaray last season and haven’t won any of their six away games against Turkish teams in the history of the European Cup/Champions League.

A chance to look at something a bit different with Bradley Barcola up front perhaps, Noah?

In an ideal world, Andoni Iraola might be hoping his side are comfortably ahead so he can give Barcola a rest after an hour, give Lewis Koumas a run out for half an hour or so and not to have to use Alexander Isak at all.

How realistic that scenario actually is is another matter.

Image source, PA Media

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola, speaking to TNT Sports: "I think we've been [rotating] basically all the season. You play every three, four days you have to refresh the legs. The defensive positions we don't have as many options.

"We have injuries but offensively I think we can rotate a little bit and today we can see other players."

On Bradley Barcola playing as a striker: "I think Bradley, even Victor [Munoz] are players that are wingers but have played sometimes up front. I think we should be mobile.

"I think we should attack the spaces that are there. They are there to have good combinations outside. We don't expect them to stay there as the nine. I think Bradley can do this job very well."

A little under half an hour until kick-off and the atmosphere is building nicely.

It's the kind of 'friendly' reaction you'd expect for Liverpool with the players booed by the Fenerbahce supporters as they applaud the travelling fans in the corner of the stadium during their warm-up.

Image source, Getty Images

There are two Spanish sides in action this evening and both will be hoping to keep their 100% Champions League record intact.

Real Madrid thrashed RB Leipzig 4-1 last time out for their third straight win in Europe this season and Jose Mourinho's side will be looking to extend their winning streak in all competitions to seven games when they travel to AEK Athens tonight.

Real Betis, meanwhile, have also won all three of their Champions League fixtures with victories over Lille, Porto and Feyenoord.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola expects it to be a "very special" night in Istanbul but, understands that "it won't be easy" for the away side because it never is for English teams that play there.

"They have very good players in midfield and they have a very good technical level," Iraola said, when discussing what he expects from Turkish giants Fenerbahce.

"If we allow them a lot of time on the ball and don't press them properly then we will suffer."

He also wants his side to "continue" their unbeaten run in the Champions League.

He added: "We want to continue how we have done in the Champions League - three games and nine points. It is a good chance to get to 12 points and then finish in the top eight."

Only slight issue with that, Ernest, is that the game is in Istanbul rather than at Anfield. Still, no reason why Liverpool can't respond with an away win.