Liverpool travel to Turkey to face Fenerbahce in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday evening, with the English side looking to maintain their perfect record in the league phase. The encounter takes place at Chobani Stadium in Istanbul, kicking off at 8:45 p.m. local time on Matchday 4.
Liverpool arrive in third place in the 36-team standings after winning all three of their opening fixtures to collect nine points. Fenerbahce sit 31st with two points from three matches, seeking their first victory of the European campaign.
Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has been ruled out of the fixture through a heel injury sustained recently. The Dutch international joins Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong on the absentee list, while forward Hugo Ekitike continues his recovery from an Achilles problem.
Fenerbahce enter the match under interim manager Dirk Kuyt, who took charge following Ismail Kartal's resignation after a 2-1 derby defeat to Galatasaray. Kuyt faces his former club where he spent six years between 2006 and 2012, making 285 appearances and scoring 71 goals before moving to Istanbul.
The Turkish side are enduring a difficult run in Europe, having gone nine consecutive matches without a victory in the Champions League proper. Their last win in the main competition dates back to April 2008, when they defeated Chelsea 2-1 in the quarterfinal first leg under Arthur Zico.
Fenerbahce's domestic form has also faltered with consecutive defeats against Galatasaray and Goztepe, increasing the pressure on Kuyt. Their defensive options are further depleted by the absences of Nathan Ake and Marco Asensio, alongside doubts over young defender Kojo Peprah Oppong following an injury against Goztepe.
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