Andoni Iraola has warned Liverpool that they must be mentally very ready if they are to protect their perfect Champions League start away to Fenerbahce on Wednesday evening.
After three wins from three against Atletico Madrid, LASK and Villarreal, Liverpool have taken nine points and scored 12 goals in the league phase. Matchday four now takes them to Turkiye, where Iraola says the challenge is as much about handling the atmosphere as it is about football.
“We know it is not going to be easy,” he said. “It is always difficult to come to Turkiye and play and we have to be very ready because Fenerbahce have very good players, a very good squad.”
Iraola added that Liverpool want to continue their Champions League momentum and turn that perfect start into something more substantial. “We want to continue [down] the line that we are having in the Champions League [with] three games and nine points,” he said. “For us, it's a good chance to get to 12 points, try to qualify and then go to try to finish in the top eight - but Champions League away days are difficult.”
Why Liverpool must start strong
The warning from Iraola is straightforward: Liverpool cannot afford to drift into this game. In Istanbul, he said, the atmosphere can quickly change the feel of a tie, and that means the opening stages matter more than usual.
“We know this and especially in this stadium, this atmosphere, we have to be mentally very ready to start strong,” he said.
He also pointed to what makes Liverpool’s trip to Istanbul feel different from a normal away night. “I think Istanbul is always going to be special for Liverpool,” he said. “It is difficult to find a better night in football, a comeback like that one on such an important night.”
That history adds another layer to the occasion, but Iraola’s main message is about focus rather than sentiment. Liverpool have the numbers on their side, but away matches in the Champions League rarely follow the script for long.
What Iraola expects from Fenerbahce
Fenerbahce may have changed manager, but Iraola does not expect Liverpool to face a side that has been transformed. “Fenerbahce also is in a situation where they've changed the manager, [but] the players haven't changed,” he said. “I don't think they've changed the style too much, I think they continue playing the same style.”
That means Liverpool are preparing for a familiar type of test in a difficult place to play. The expectation is not that they will be overawed, but that they will need to be sharp from the first whistle and disciplined when the game becomes stretched.
Trey Nyoni and Liverpool's trust in youth
Iraola was also asked about Trey Nyoni, and his message was one of confidence. “It is playing most of the games - or even all the games lately - so we trust him,” he said.
He praised the youngster’s progress and made clear that Liverpool want him to keep building on his experience. “He is doing very well and I think we have to encourage him to continue - to continue improving, continue learning, continue adding experience,” Iraola added.
For Liverpool, the wider picture is clear. A win in Turkiye would move them to 12 points, strengthen their push to qualify, and keep them on course to finish in the top eight. But as Iraola has stressed, Champions League away days are rarely simple, and Liverpool will need to show that they are ready for the challenge from the start.
