This time the only miracle in Istanbul was one Liverpool will be keen to forget. The first penalty shootout defeat in the club’s European history, at the scene of their greatest European triumph of all places, consigned Brendan Rodgers’ team to a despairing defeat against Besiktas. What they would have given for the return of Jerzy Dudek’s jelly legs.  Liverpool do not lose penalty shootouts, not in Europe at least, but Dejan Lovren’s miscued kick proved to be not only the conclusion of the finale but also the club’s interest in a second European competition this season. The previous nine penalties were flawless but the £20m Croatian defender was unable to repeat the precision of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Emre Can and Joe Allen from 12 yards and skied his effort towards the Bosphorus. It was the first time Liverpool had lost a penalty shootout in four attempts in Europe, only their third in 15 in total, and was a high price for failing to put the tie beyond Slaven Bilic’s team in the first half at the Ataturk Stadium.  Adding to the torment for Rodgers was a 120-minute performance before hosting Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday at noon. At times his team were coasting into the last 16 of the Europa League. By the end they were flagging and Demba Ba should have made the late drama unnecessary when he hit the bar from six yards in the 91st minute. This was an educational yet gruelling night for Rodgers’ young side.  Liverpool had returned to the scene of their 2005 European Cup triumph once before, for a Champions League group dead-rubber against Galatasaray in December 2006, and while the Ataturk Stadium has a permanent place in their folklore this was a case of Besiktas claiming the vast, remote arena for their own. Bilic had expressed concern at the impact of relocating from the Inonu Stadium – the club’s traditional home that is being rebuilt – on one of the most raucous crowds in European football. Besiktas mobilised an impressive response but it took 70 minutes for their players to match the intimidation of the crowd.  There was an indication of the frenzied atmosphere to come when hundreds of Besiktas supporters gathered outside the Inonu to purchase discounted tickets at noon. Istanbul was awash with black and white shirts all day and the Ataturk was a seething mass more than an hour before kick-off. Every touch by a Liverpool player ignited whistles from 70,000 Turkish supporters. It was in this setting that Rodgers deployed a side weakened by injury and his decision to rest Philippe Coutinho before the City game. The circumstances were a test of Liverpool’s growing maturity as much as their European form, and they were passing it comfortably until a late intervention by Besiktas transformed the tie.  Liverpool opened slowly, deliberately, denying Besiktas the early momentum they required by passing the ball patiently along the backline and taking an age over free-kicks and goal-kicks.  The Ataturk was not amused and even less so when Daniel Sturridge, the recalled Mario Balotelli and Raheem Sterling began to drop into spaces behind the Besiktas defence.  Cenk Gonen, the home goalkeeper, saved Sterling’s shot from the edge of the area after Balotelli and Alberto Moreno combined to create Liverpool’s opening chance of the second leg. Sturridge was sent clear by Sterling only for Pedro Franco to get a vital touch inside the area, Gonen denied both England internationals from two Liverpool counterattacks and Moreno, who linked well with Balotelli down the left, forced the Besiktas keeper into another save at his near post. Liverpool had far more space to exploit than in the cagey first leg at Anfield  With the notable exception of converting their chances and settling the tie, the return to the Ataturk was going to plan for Liverpool. Besiktas, who had lost three of their last four matches in all competitions 1-0, were more aggressive after the interval but only Gokhan Tore displayed the quality and composure to trouble the visitors’ defence. The introduction of Tolgay Arslan for Jose Sosa on the hour, however, altered the complexion of the contest completely.  The German-born midfielder announced his shooting prowess with a 30-yard drive that flashed narrowly wide, although Simon Mignolet had it covered.  He had no such luxury moments later when Tore cut in from the left and found Demba Ba, whose attempted turn rolled the ball into the path of Arslan and the substitute swept an emphatic finish into Mignolet’s top corner from 18 yards.  Galvanised by the goal, Besiktas dominated the remainder of normal time. Liverpool flagged and should have had fresh cause to rue Ba’s predatory instincts when Necip Uysal’s header dropped to him from a corner in the 91st minute.  From six yards out, Ba hit the bar and Liverpool survived extra time without incident when their former Chelsea nemesis should have put them out. It proved only a temporary stay of execution.
Dejan Lovren failed with Liverpool’s fifth spot kick in a shootout against Besiktas after the Turkish side won the Europa League last-32 second leg 1-0