Match reportLiverpool beaten 3-2 in Europa League clash at Toulouse

Goals from Aron Donnum, Thijs Dallinga and substitute Frank Magri condemned Jürgen Klopp’s side to a loss in southern France.

The Reds’ responses came courtesy of an own goal from Cristian Casseres and a late solo effort by Diogo Jota, while a Jarell Quansah strike in the final seconds of stoppage time was disallowed following a VAR review.

Liverpool remain top of Group E despite the result, and will have another chance to guarantee progress to the knockout stages if they claim a win against LASK next time out.

Team news

Klopp opted to make nine changes from the side that started the 1-1 draw at Luton Town on Sunday, with Joe Gomez and Alexis Mac Allister the only players to retain their place in the XI.

Gomez captained a line-up containing Caoimhin Kelleher in goal, and Joel Matip, Quansah and Kostas Tsimikas also in defence.

Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott joined Mac Allister in midfield, while Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo started in attack, with teenager Ben Doak making just his third Reds start on the right wing.

Liverpool: Kelleher, Gomez, Matip, Quansah, Tsimikas (Alexander-Arnold, 46), Endo (Szoboszlai, 46), Elliott, Mac Allister, Doak (Salah, 46), Gakpo (Nunez, 72), Diaz (Jota, 81).

Unused subs: Alisson, Mrozek, Konate, Chambers, Scanlon, Gordon, McConnell.

First half

Liverpool were close to taking the lead early on, with Gomez glancing Gakpo’s free-kick against the crossbar inside the opening four minutes.

Mac Allister saw his well-struck volley deflected behind for a corner that Matip headed over the bar, as the visitors dominated possession and looked to turn their confident start into goals.

Diaz drew the first save of the night from Guillaume Restes in the Toulouse goal after 25 minutes, and Gabriel Suazo slid an effort wide for the home side soon after.

Doak was denied by Restes, but the Reds found themselves behind nine minutes before half-time as Donnum dispossessed Tsimikas before running through and seeing his shot deflect off Quansah past a wrong-footed Kelleher.

Second half

Liverpool made three changes at half-time, bringing on Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold for Doak, Endo and Tsimikas.

But it was Toulouse who had the first chance of the half, with Suazo scuffing an effort wide after being played in by Dallinga, who then had a goal disallowed for a foul on Matip shortly after.

There was no denying Dallinga on 58 minutes, however, as the striker collected a cross from Vincent Sierro before sending a low shot across Kelleher and into the far corner.

Mac Allister had an effort deflected off target as the Reds looked to respond, while the hosts had another goal ruled out for offside before Liverpool reduced the deficit with 16 minutes left as Gomez’s header across goal struck Casseres and ended up in the net.

But Toulouse restored their two-goal advantage almost immediately as Magri fired in at the far post.

Jota reproduced his run and finish from the meeting between the clubs at Anfield to set up a potential grandstand finale with 89 on the clock – and Klopp’s men did think they had salvaged a point.

Deep into seven minutes of added time, Quansah forced the ball home from inside the box, but a VAR review judged Mac Allister had handled in the build-up and Toulouse held on to three points.