Why Did Liverpool Make So Many Changes Against Fenerbahçe in the UEFA Champions League? Andoni Iraola Explains

The manager explained his decision to change the starting lineup and defended his squad's depth following the defeat in Istanbul.

The manager justified the Reds' five starting lineup changes and insisted that squad rotation was not to blame for the defeat

Andoni Iraola dismissed suggestions that changes to Liverpool's starting XI were the main reason behind their 3-2 defeat to Fenerbahçe in the UEFA Champions League. The manager defended his decisions, pointing to defensive mistakes, particularly from set pieces, as a bigger factor in the result.

The Reds arrived in Istanbul following a 1-0 Premier League defeat to Arsenal. For this fixture, Iraola made five changes: Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo started on the bench, while Dominik Szoboszlai, Rio Ngumoha and Victor Muñoz featured from the start.

Despite taking the lead twice, Liverpool eventually surrendered their advantage as the Turkish side mounted a comeback to secure a historic victory.

IRAOLA DEFENDS LIVERPOOL'S SQUAD ROTATION AMID BUSY SCHEDULE

The manager explained that the changes were not an isolated decision but part of a strategy he has followed throughout the season, particularly for midweek fixtures.

"We have been changing at least four, five, six or seven players because the schedule we have makes it impossible to always keep the same starting XI," he explained.

He also backed his squad, adding: "I trust the squad to maintain the same level, and I don't think that was the main reason why we lost."

Iraola also highlighted the performances of some players who had not featured against Arsenal and insisted that the focus should be on the goals Liverpool conceded.

SET-PIECE DEFENDING EMERGES AS LIVERPOOL'S BIGGEST CONCERN

Liverpool conceded three goals from a free kick, a corner and a long throw-in. The situation surprised the manager, who revealed that the team had worked extensively on defending set pieces.

"We have worked a lot on defensive set pieces. We have been doing very well in the league, but today we struggled," he admitted.

Speaking about the physical presence of Vedat Muriqi and Romelu Lukaku, Iraola acknowledged that Liverpool were aware of the threat posed by the opposition forwards and center-backs.

"Maybe the last goal can be explained by the fact that they are strong or tall, but the other situations are things we need to control better," he added.

The result marked Liverpool's first defeat in the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League league phase, following three consecutive victories to start the competition. The Reds remained on nine points from a possible 12, while Iraola now faces the task of addressing their defensive weaknesses and restoring confidence within the squad.

IRAOLA EXPLAINS LIVERPOOL'S ROTATION AGAINST FENERBAHÇE

FIVE CHANGES TO THE STARTING XI: Iraola justified the lineup adjustments by pointing to the demanding schedule and the need to manage his squad throughout the season.
ROTATION WAS NOT TO BLAME: The manager insisted he trusts his players and rejected the idea that the changes were the main reason behind Liverpool's 3-2 defeat to Fenerbahçe.
SQUAD DEPTH MUST DELIVER: Iraola defended the team's depth and identified defensive mistakes as a more significant factor in the disappointing result.