Liverpool’s Europa League group stage clash against French side Toulouse at Anfield was a stroll in the park as the game ended 5-1 in favor of the Reds and put them within touching distance of qualifying for the next round of the competition.
The win also maintained Liverpool’s perfect record in the competition as the Anfield giants secured their third consecutive win in the competition to open up a five-point gap at the top of Group E.
The Reds failed to start on the front foot but the individual brilliance of Diogo Jota gave Jurgen Klopp’s side the early advantage in the 9th minute of the game. The Portuguese forward burst through the Toulouse defense, beating Logan Costa, and calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net.
Toulouse responded seven minutes later through a swift counter-attack and Dallinga was through on goal after he was played onside by Alexander-Arnold and put the ball past Liverpool’s second-choice goalkeeper, Caohmin Kelleher to draw his side level.
Jurgen Klopp’s side went ahead again courtesy of a goal from Endo who connected a header from Alexander-Arnold’s cross to score his first goal for the club on the half-hour mark. Darwin Nunez who had failed to score in Liverpool’s last four games struck in the third goal to hand the hosts a firm control going into halftime.
The visitors were handed a way back into the game by Liverpool’s goalkeeper Kelleher, who made a stray pass but receiving Toulouse player, Gabriel Suazo shot straight at Alexander-Arnold in an attempt to get it into the open net.
Moments later, Liverpool grabbed their fourth of the night as Darwin Nunez dribbled past Toulouse goalkeeper, Guillaume Restes but hit the post. However, the rebound fell to Gravenberch who found the back of the net. Salah put the icing on the cake with a stoppage-time goal to further add to Toulouse’s misery and put Liverpool closer to qualifying for the next round of the Europa League.
Liverpool will take on Toulouse in France in their next Europa League fixture and could seal their progress to the next round with a win and a confirmed top-place finish if Union SG fails to grab all three points against LASK Linz.