Liverpool maintained their perfect record in the UEFA Europa League group stages after thrashing Toulouse 5-1 on Thursday evening.
UEFA Europa League
Result: Liverpool 5-1 Toulouse
Date: 26 October 2023
Venue: Anfield
The Reds continued with the front three of Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliot but there were five changes across the park from the team that beat Royale Union in the same competition, as goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Luke Chambers and Curtis Jones were all brought in.
Jurgen Klopp's charges set the tempo of the game with an early goal from their first attack on nine minutes after Jota skipped past a few challenges in the box and fired a shot into the bottom corner.
Toulouse capitalized on a counter-attack seven minutes later, as Thijs Dallinga levelled matters with a strike in the box after racing through on goal.
The Reds were fired up to get back in front as Wataru Endo got the second goal on the half-hour mark with a header into the bottom corner after a cross by Trent Alexander-Arnold from a short corner.
Liverpool remained motivated as Nunez gave them a two-goal cushion four minutes later with a strike into the roof of the net at the near post after a deflected shot put him through on goal.
The visitors were a threat on transitions, as just before the interval, Vincent Sierro had a shot that missed narrowly wide from a quick counter-attack.
The French side pressed Liverpool high from the break and should have reduced the deficit within two minutes after a mistake by Kelleher led to Gabriel Suazo going clear on goal, with only Alexander-Arnold on the line but he fired his shot straight at the English wing-back, who blocked his shot off the line.
Toulouse sent numbers forward and were caught on a counter-attack on 65 minutes after Ryan Gravenberch grabbed the fourth goal with a strike from a rebound after Nunez struck the post facing an open goal after he rounded goalkeeper Guillaume Restes.
Klopp immediately took the opportunity to rest some legs and give other youngsters a chance, as Nunez was withdrawn but there was no rest for Toulouse as the hosts also brought on Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah.
Toulouse still had a fight in them 12 minutes before time as Cesar Gelabert Pina had a chance in the box with a strike forced Kelleher into an out-stretched save.
However, Liverpool ran down the clock in the dying minutes by passing the ball around and they ran riot, as Salah rounded off the scoring in stoppage time with a strike into the top corner.
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