Andoni Iraola: Liverpool must stop Fenerbahce gaining momentum

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has warned his players that they must be fully prepared for a difficult atmosphere when they face Fenerbahce in Istanbul in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the Spaniard stressed the importance of making a strong start and preventing the Turkish side from drawing confidence from their passionate home support.

"Tomorrow will not be easy. It is always difficult to play in Turkey and we have to be fully prepared. They have experienced players. We have to try to take away the confidence and momentum they can get from their supporters," Iraola said.

Liverpool head into the fixture with a perfect record in the Champions League, having won all three of their opening matches against LASK, Villarreal and Atletico Madrid. However, they suffered a 1-0 Premier League defeat to Arsenal at the weekend.

Despite the setback, Iraola believes there were positives to take from the performance, although he admitted that his team must improve their attacking play, particularly their movement and decision-making inside the penalty area.

The Liverpool manager also confirmed that Ryan Gravenberch will miss the trip to Turkey after experiencing discomfort in his heel during the warm-up ahead of the weekend fixture. The Dutch midfielder was left out of the travelling squad, with his availability for the upcoming matches still uncertain.

A victory in Istanbul would take Liverpool to 12 points and strengthen their position in the race for a place in the Champions League's top eight.