TOULOUSE, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 09: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool looks dejected after conceding the teams third goal during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 match between Toulouse FC and Liverpool FC at Stadium de Toulouse on November 09, 2023 in Toulouse, France. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Liverpool's perfect record in the UEFA Europa League group stages came to an end after losing 3-2 to Toulouse on Thursday night.
UEFA Europa League
Result: Toulouse 3-2 Liverpool
Date: 09 November 2022
Venue: Stadium de Toulouse
Reds coach Jurgen Klopp has once again re-shuffled the side for tournament, with Alexis MacAllister, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott and goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher getting starts.The Reds nearly got the breakthrough after three minutes when Cody Gakpo' free-kick found Joe Gomez, whose glancing header crashed against the crossbar.
Klopp's charges continued to dominate as the first half went on but they struggled to carve out clear-cut openings for Gakpo, who cut a lone figure in the Liverpool attack.
However, Rennes managed to find the breakthrough ten minutes before the halftime break as Aron Donnum took possession off Kostas Tsimikas to race clear and fire past Kelleher via a deflection.
Klopp responded by throwing on Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold at the start of the second, as they aimed to maintain their perfect record.
However, the hosts bagged a second goal just before the hour mark when Vincent Sierro won possession off Diaz before sending in an inviting cross for Thijs Dallinga to slot home from close range.
Liverpool did manage to pull a goal back in the 73rd minute when Cristian Cásseres Jr. turned Alexander-Arnold's cross into his own with Salah lacking at the far post.
That joy was short-lived though, as Toulouse bagged a third goal three minutes later after Kelleher could only parry a low strike into the path of Frank Magri, who calmly slotted home with a first-time finish.
There would be fiery finish to the encounter as Diogo Jota reduced the deficit for the Reds on 89 minutes with a neat finish into the far corner, before Jarell Amorin Quansah had an equaliser disallowed for a handball by MacAllister in the build up, as the French outfit held on for a famous win.
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