UEL: Liverpool suffer shock loss against Toulouse

• Toulouse defeated Liverpool 3-2, and a subpar Liverpool team lost the opportunity to secure a spot in the Europa League’s final 16.
• Just before the match began, encouraging news came out of Colombia: Luis Diaz’s father had been freed 12 days after being abducted.

In a thrilling Group E match at Stadium Municipal, Toulouse defeated Liverpool 3-2, and a subpar Liverpool team lost the opportunity to secure a spot in the Europa League‘s final 16.

Just before the match began, encouraging news came out of Colombia: Luis Diaz’s father had been freed 12 days after being abducted with his wife by the rebel organization ELN.

In a new-look assault led by Ben Doak and Cody Gakpo, Diaz started for the first time for the Reds since his parents’ ordeal. Four minutes in, Diaz’s inswinging free-kick found Joe Gomez, who with his back to goal, flicked a header onto the bar.

The first half saw Klopp’s men control possession of the ball, however, Guillaume Restes was not given much of a task until the 31st minute when Doak stung the palms of his fellow youngster with a close-range volley.

Liverpool handed their first loss in the Europa League Photo/ The Hindu

Toulouse, however, needed just one chance—and one error—to stun their Merseyside rivals. Five minutes after Doak was foiled, Donnum advanced into the area, let loose, and saw his strike deceive Caoimhin Kelleher via a slight deflection off of Quansah, robbing a dawdling Kostas Tsimikas of the ball on the left.

Dominik Szoboszlai, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Mohamed Salah were all introduced by Klopp in a triple substitution during the half, but the changes had little effect on fan fervor for the Reds.

Guillaume Restes was not given much of a task until the 31st minute when Doak stung the palms of his fellow youngster with a close-range volley.

Gabriel Suazo wasted a fantastic opportunity to extend Toulouse’s lead three minutes into the restart, shooting wide from ten yards out. Dallinga was then called for a foul on Joel Matip, and he finished the goal.

When Diaz was crowded out on the wing and Vincent Sierro put in a wonderful cross for Dallinga, who took a touch before unleashing a wicked low effort across Kelleher’s goal in the 58th minute, the Dutch marksman, however, was not to be denied by the linesman’s flag.

A mild Liverpool had no complaints over the score, but in the 73rd minute, Klopp’s team unexpectedly returned to the game after Gomez headed an Alexander-Arnold cross to the back stick. This resulted in a mid-air scuffle, with the ball rebounding into the net off of Casseres Jr.’s shoulder.

Toulouse celebrate beating Liverpool. Photo/Reuters

But Liverpool’s terrible defense quickly came back to haunt them, as Magri’s first-time strike three minutes later gave Toulouse their two-goal lead back after Kelleher had palmed Suazo’s low cross out of Dallinga’s path.

In the 89th minute, the visitors did manage to set up a suspenseful finish when Jota, assisted by Alexis Mac Allister, broke through the Toulouse defense and skillfully found the bottom corner to cut the lead in half.

Quansah’s injury-time strike put the away end into a frenzy, but after a long delay, Mac Allister was judged to have touched the ball during the build-up, and Liverpool were left to lament what could have been when the goal was disallowed.

Sunday afternoon will see Liverpool take on Brentford at Anfield in their last match before the international break. In Ligue 1, Toulouse will be playing at Lille at the same time.