The Reds had five different goal-scorers as they breezed past Toulouse 5-1 at Anfield in the Europa League.
Firstly I would like to apologise for the pun in the title. I’m ashamed and I guarantee I will absolutely do it again in the return leg in two weeks time.
Liverpool have enjoyed a fine start to their first Europa League campaign since 2015/16. An opening day win in Linz against LASK, followed by a comfortable 2-0 home win against Union Saint-Gilloise set up Jurgen Klopp’s side perfectly for their matchup with Toulouse.
This isn’t the first meeting between Liverpool and Les Violets, as they faced each other in the Champions League group stages back in 2007/08. The Reds won both matches (4-0 at home, 1-0 away).
The Liverpool gaffer made eight changes from their 2-0 Merseyside derby triumph, with Caoimhin Kelleher starting in goal and a European debut for youngster Luke Chambers at left-back.
The Reds started strong and quickly took the lead through Portuguese forward Diogo Jota as he glided past the Toulouse midfield and defence, slotting home past a helpless Guillaume Restes.
It felt as if it would be standard proceedings thenceforth, however Thijs Dallinga was able to beat Liverpool’s offside trap before coolly slotting home with aplomb at the Kop end to level the game.
The few thousand loyal Toulouse fans lit up Anfield with incredible roar – and they wouldn’t stop singing, even as the game ran away from them.
Summer-signing Wataru Endo scored his first goal for the club as he leapt like a salmon to connect with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross following a corner. Just a few minutes later, a fantastic run from Ryan Gravenberch resulted in the ball deflecting off Curtis Jones, falling for Darwin Nunez – who made no mistake from close range.
Liverpool were two goals to the good by half-time and looked in control heading into the second 45.
It would be the visitors however to have the first chance of the second half as a rare mistake from Kelleher meant Alexander-Arnold was called into goalkeeping duties on the line. The Liverpool vice-captain prevented Toulouse squeezing a way back into the game.
The real highlight of the second half, however, was Nunez doing what could possibly be the most ‘Nunez’ thing he has ever done. He’s one-on-one with the defender, skips past his man, gets past the goalkeeper to have an open goal and hits the post. Agony.
Groaning sighs were quickly turned into joyful cheers as Gravenberch swept up Nunez’s mistake to poke home Liverpool’s fourth of the game. They had well and truly won the game.
Mohamed Salah was awarded an exhibition appearance in the Europa League once more and he bagged Liverpool’s fifth in stoppage time as he overtook Thierry Henry in the all-time goals scored in Europe by Premier League players.
Liverpool couldn’t afford Tou-louse that match (apologies) and another three points for the Reds sets them up in a prime position to automatically qualify for the round of 16 in the competition.
The next challenge will be Nottingham Forest at Anfield. Kick-off at 2pm on Sunday, 29 October.
Liverpool team: Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Chambers, Jones, Endo, Gravenberch, Elliott, Nunez, Jota.
Toulouse team: Restes, Desler, Costa, Nicolaisen, Diarra, Suazo, Schmidt, Sierro, Casseres Jr, Donnum, Dallinga.
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