Liverpool were beaten 3-2 by Toulouse in the Europa League group stage as they hunt qualification.
Prefacing this match report, I would like to formally apologise for the poor, repetitive ‘Toulouse/to-lose” puns the last time we faced each other. I can’t help but feel as if the defeat is deserved following my corny lines.
The task could not have been simpler – beat Toulouse away from home and, providing Union Saint-Gilloise lost at LASK, Liverpool would be group winners and through to the round of 16 of the Europa League.
The Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp, made a whopping nine changes to his starting eleven that drew 1-1 with Luton Town on Sunday – with just Joe Gomez and Alexis Mac Allister retaining their spots.
Another European start was awarded to 17-year-old Ben Doak, who has highly impressed Jurgen Klopp with energetic and exciting performances. The Scottish forward turns 18 years old on Saturday.
Liverpool left-back Kostas Tsimikas was caught in possession by Norwegian Aron Donnum. He made no mistake punishing the Reds error as a deflection from Jarell Quansah took the ball into the back of the net. The Stadium de Toulouse erupted.
The lead doubled after half-time after the man who scored Toulouse’s token goal in their Anfield drubbing, Thijs Dallinga, finished past Caoimhin Kelleher in the 58th minute. Liverpool all of a sudden were staring down the barrel of a rare loss this season – just like at Kenilworth Road just days before.
A fortunate own-goal by Cristian Casseres Jr pulled one back for the Reds, but they didn’t take advantage with any switch in momentum – instead conceding just three minutes following. Frank Magri this time followed up after poor defending. Liverpool were 3-1 down.
Diogo Jota scored an impressive solo goal, akin to his finish against Toulouse a fortnight ago, to reduce the deficit once more for his side. But it wasn’t until the eighth minute of stoppage time when all hell would break loose.
In an extraordinary final few minutes, Jarell Quansah, the 20-year-old defender had scored to bring Liverpool level and salvage a point away from home. But – VAR intervened and adjudged a handball against Alexis Mac Allister to be significant enough in the build-up to the goal to disallow the strike.
It was heartbreak for Liverpool, ecstasy for Toulouse. They had beaten the Reds to climb up to second in Group E, two points behind leaders Liverpool. Qualification is purely in the Reds’ hands with two games left against LASK at home, and Union Saint-Gilloise away.
Remember, first place in the group stages guarantees a spot in the round of 16 of the competition, with second place forced to play a play-off match against one of the eight third-placed sides from this season’s Champions League group stages.
Overall, a pretty shoddy performance from the Reds who lacked any sort of real control in the match. They’ll need to regroup and focus for their next match on Sunday against Brentford. Kick-off is at 2pm on Sunday, 12 November.
To finish this match report, I’d like to also express how relieving the news from Colombia is regarding Luis Diaz’s father, who was released after being kidnapped for twelve days. A true positive to take from today.
Toulouse team: Restes, Desler, Costa, Nicolaisen, Diarra, Donnum (Kamanzi 81), Sierro, Casseres Jr, Suazo, Dallinga (Gelabert 88), Schmidt (Magri 70).
Liverpool team: Kelleher, Gomez, Matip, Quansah, Tsimikas (Szoboszlai 46), Elliott, Endo (Alexander-Arnold 46), Mac Allister, Doak (Salah 46), Gakpo (Nunez 73), Diaz (Jota 81).
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- Luton Town 1-1 Liverpool: Late Diaz Header Rescues Point at Kenilworth Road
- Bournemouth 1-2 Liverpool: Nunez Stunner Sends Reds to Quarter-final
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