GFX Info Liverpool Toulouse 2023Getty/GOAL

Liverpool player ratings vs Toulouse: Kostas Tsimikas is a mess! Left-back has a howler and Cody Gakpo goes missing as Reds outclassed in Europa League loss despite late fightback

VAR was the enemy once again for Liverpool as they suffered a shock 3-2 defeat to Toulouse in the Europa League on Thursday.

The Reds were second best for much of the game but a late fightback saw them pull level right at the end when Jarell Quansah fired into the net. But a replay review in the last minutes of stoppage time saw an Alexis Mac Allister handball in the build up and the strike was disallowed, ensuring the visitors left with nothing.

Jurgen Klopp's team were off to a decent start, but a Kostas Tsimikas howler gifted the French side the lead and the Reds were unable to seize control afterwards. With Cody Gakpo anonymous throughout, Wataru Endo lucky to make it to half-time without being sent off and their defence looking terribly sloppy, Liverpool never really got going.

Even the half-time introductions of Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold failed to get Liverpool into gear, as Toulouse emerged from the break confident and eager to go for the second, which was delivered through a quality finish from Thijs Dallinga.

Liverpool did pull a goal back thanks to a bizarre mistake from defender Cristian Casseres, who wasn't even looking in the right direction as it struck his shoulder and went into the net. But Toulouse showed their resilience by scoring another fine goal right after.

Diogo Jota finished off a fine move to reduce the deficit once again and then Quansah lashed in a 97th minute equaliser, but it just wasn't to be for Liverpool.

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