- Liverpool continued their unbeaten run in Group E of the 2023–24 Europa League at Anfield, thumping Toulouse 5-1.
- Liverpool will host Nottingham Forest in Sunday’s Premier League match.
Liverpool continued their unbeaten run in Group E of the 2023–24 Europa League at Anfield, thumping Toulouse 5-1.
Thijs Dallinga’s equalizer was completely negated in a chaotic first half by Diogo Jota, Wataru Endo, and Darwin Nunez. The Reds had to weather a few more scares from their courageous opponents, but Ryan Gravenberch’s well-earned fourth goal put the game out of reach before Mohamed Salah’s injury-time fifth.
Nine minutes in, Jota’s cool pick-out in the bottom corner proved to be a wise move for Klopp, as the Portugal international pounced on an error from Joe Gomez, leaving numerous white shirts in his wake.
Nunez created a fantastic opportunity to make it two in the fourteenth minute, but Guillaume Restes did a great job of blocking the Uruguayan striker in front of the boisterous Violets supporters. Liverpool was worth their lead.
Darwin Nunez with Diogo Jota. Photo/This is Anfield
But after only two minutes, Dallinga—who was being held onside by Alexander-Arnold—was found by Aron Donnum’s through pass and scored the equalizer under Caoimhin Kelleher, sending Klopp’s team flying high up the field.
Toulouse was not afraid to go through the high defensive line of the hosts, but in the 28th minute, the lively Gravenberch found a yard of space, only for Restes to knock his bottom corner-bound strike away.
Though Endo’s goal for the Reds on the half-hour mark was beyond the young goalkeeper’s control, the Japan international left Restes rooted to the spot with a header into the side of the net after meeting Alexander-Arnold’s out-swinging pass.
Four minutes after Endo’s first goal for Liverpool, a blocked Curtis Jones shot dropped kindly for the South American in the left side of the box, and he properly drove a thunderous attempt into the roof of the net at Restes’s near post. Nunez would subsequently ensure that there was not another quick reprieve for Toulouse.
Toulouse had their opportunities in the Liverpool half in the first forty-five minutes, even though they were behind by two goals. In the 47th minute, with Kelleher looking like the most relieved guy in the stadium, Toulouse had a chance to cut the lead.
Gabriel Suazo had plenty of space and time in front of an open goal that was only shielded by Alexander-Arnold after the terrible pass out from the back by the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper was interrupted by a white shirt. However, the Chilean only succeeded in hitting the ball directly at the Reds captain’s thigh.
Ryan Gravenberch celebrating his goal. Photo/Sporting News
In the 65th minute, Nunez produced the second open-goal miss of the game, grabbing Jota’s ball, swerving around Restes, and hitting the post with an empty net at his mercy, sparing Suazo’s blushes slightly.
The ball cannoned back against the post to Gravenberch, who made no mistake from close quarters to rightfully get in.
The result did not really reflect the play of Carles Martinez’s team, who boldly sent several players forward when they saw a chance to counterattack, but Kelleher was mainly unchallenged in goal.
With nine points from nine games in Group E, Liverpool is still in the lead and will host Nottingham Forest in Sunday’s Premier League match. Toulouse, who dropped to third place, will play at Montpellier HSC in Sunday’s Ligue 1 match.
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