Liverpool’s hopes of an early progression to the knockout rounds of the Europa League were dashed in a dramatic clash against Toulouse on Thursday night, resulting in their first defeat in the competition this season.
Despite a 5-1 victory in the reverse fixture at Anfield last month, Liverpool faced a lackluster start and conceded goals from Aron Donnum and Thijs Dallinga. An own goal by Cristian Casseres briefly brought Liverpool back into contention, only to fall further behind with a goal from Toulouse substitute Frank Magri.
Although Liverpool’s Diogo Jota managed to score a late goal, the team experienced a 3-2 defeat. The Reds thought they had secured a last-minute equalizer when young defender Jarell Quansah found the net in the 98th minute, but VAR intervention revealed a handball in the build-up, resulting in the goal being disallowed.
Get Instantly Update By: Joining Our Whatapps and Telegram Channel
Liverpool initially controlled the tempo of the game, with a close call from stand-in captain Joe Gomez’s header hitting the crossbar. Toulouse, content to absorb pressure, kept the home crowd subdued. Liverpool struggled to create clear chances, and Toulouse capitalized on cohesive pressing, leading to goals from Donnum and Dallinga.
Despite Jurgen Klopp bringing in star players like Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Dominik Szoboszlai in the second half, Toulouse remained dominant. Casseres’ own goal provided a brief lifeline for Liverpool, but defensive lapses allowed Toulouse to extend their lead through Magri.
Jota’s late goal raised hopes for Liverpool, but the disallowed equalizer added to the frustration. The decision was made as VAR detected a handball by Alexis Mac Allister in the build-up, ultimately denying Liverpool a dramatic comeback. The defeat prompted Liverpool to reset and regroup for upcoming challenges.