A bruised Liverpool will narrow their focus to domestic competitions after being slung out of the Europa League at the round of 32 stage by Besiktas in a thrilling penalty shoot-out.
Liverpool surrendered a 1-0 lead from the first leg for the game to go to penalties after a goalless extra time, with Besiktas sneaking through 5-4 after Dejan Lovren’s dramatic miss.
“We can just now concentrate on our league campaign, which is now going better, and we have an excellent opportunity in other competitions,” Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said after the game.
Photo: Reuters
Liverpool’s Premier League campaign has now gathered momentum after a dismal start and in the FA Cup they face Blackburn Rovers in the sixth round next month.
“I can only give credit to my players,” Rodgers said.
“Unfortunately for us Istanbul, has not been a happy place for us tonight,” he said. “We are disappointed, of course, to go out in the manner we did.”
With an estimated 70,000 Besiktas fans creating a cauldron-like atmosphere, Liverpool knew they faced a tough task on a balmy evening at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
Besiktas leveled on aggregate in the 72nd minute with a stunning strike from Tolgay Arslan, assisted by a deft back heel from Senegalese striker Demba Ba, sending the match into extra time and then a penalty shoot-out.
With penalties level at 4-4 and all the takers holding their nerve, Arslan skillfully slotted in. Lovren stepped up for Liverpool, but his effort went high, leaving the player inconsolable and Besiktas fans running onto the pitch in joy.
Banners raised on the stands included “welcome to hell,” a favorite slogan from Turkish fans for visiting foreign teams.
“It’s a great feeling. It’s a great night for our great club, for Besiktas. For Turkish football as well” triumphant Besiktas manager Slaven Bilic said.
Helped on by the vociferous support, Besiktas pushed forward in the early stages, but were let down by some sloppy touches.
On 19 minutes, Raheem Sterling forced an impressively acrobatic save from Cenk Gonen with a long-range effort. In no way overawed by the occasion, Besiktas started the second half strongly, with Simon Mignolet blocking a dangerous ricochet shot from Serdar Kurtulus.
Arslan found the net in the 72nd minute, leaving Mignolet with no chance and sending an electric shock through the already pulsating stadium.
With Liverpool seeming to flag, Ba pushed a good chance high over the bar in the 25th minute of extra time before the game drifted into penalties.
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