Liverpool suffered their first loss of points in the group stage of the Europa League on Thursday. A refined B choice from Jürgen Klopp lost out on a visit to Toulouse: the score was 3-2. In minutes 90+8, Liverpool seemed to make it 3-3, but the VAR ruled out the goal due to handball. Thijs Dallinga shared in the French goal production.
Liverpool had been unbeaten in all competitions for seven games in a row before Thursday. This was especially true in a European context the Reds for the wind. They won each of their first three group matches, putting them top of Group E with a goal difference of 10 to 2. It gave Klopp the opportunity to rotate.
The German coach gave other talents Caoimhín Kelleher, Jarell Quansah and Ben Doak a chance in the starting eleven. Virgil van Dijk (ill) and Ryan Gravenberch (knee problems) were missing from the selection. Cody Gakpo started as striker and almost saw the net fill after three minutes. The Eindhoven native swung a free kick in front of the goal, where Joe Gomez hit the ball on the crossbar.
Klopp’s men dominated, but could not get the ball behind Toulouse goalie Guillaume Restes. After more than half an hour, the French took the lead. Kostas Tsimikas easily stole the ball from him, after which Aron Dønnum was able to head towards the penalty area. The Norwegian wanted to push the ball into the far corner, but saw it end up past Kelleher via Quansah on the other side of the goal: 1-0.
Was this goal by Thijs Dallinga rightly disallowed? ???? The striker has now scored his goal after all! Toulouse leads 2-0 at home against Liverpool! ????
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) November 9, 2023
Klopp decided to intervene and bring on Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold at half-time. Wataru Endo, Doak and the unfortunate Tsimikas were allowed to take a shower. It had no effect, as Toulouse quickly doubled their margin. Dallinga was the creator: the striker scored flawlessly after a cross from Vincent Sierro.
It could have been Dallinga’s second: five minutes earlier, his goal was disallowed for pushing. However, it was his second against Liverpool this Europa League year: the Groningen player had also scored at Anfield.
Fifteen minutes before the end, Toulouse ended up in dangerous waters. Cristian Cásseres headed the ball behind his own goalkeeper and brought Liverpool back into the match. Toulouse, however, quickly restored the margin: Frank Magri was the end point of an attack that he had set up himself.
Liverpool still made it exciting in the final phase. Diogo Jota went for a walk and shot the 3-2 against the ropes with one minute of official playing time left. It also seemed to make it 3-3 moments later. Quansah hit the target, but before that there was hands made by Alexis Mac Allister.
Toulouse still took the three points. Les Violets climbing to second place in Group E. Despite the defeat, Liverpool still remains the leader. The remaining match in Group E, LASK Linz – Union Sint-Gillis, ended 3-0.