Liverpool wasn’t good enough, yet for some reason, another horrible VAR judgement kept them from a tie.
Toulouse 3-2 Liverpool
Europa League group stage (4), Stadium TFC
November 9, 2023
Goals: Donnum 35′, Dallinga 57′, Magri 75′; Casseres OG 73′, Jota 89′
Defeat hardly a disaster
In football, it’s a reality that a team with nine changes may occasionally make you pay for the lack of harmony on the team.
Such a big rotation greatly increases the likelihood of defensive errors or of your attacking performance becoming so unfluent as to be subdued by subpar opponents.
This is particularly true when facing rivals playing in a heated, partisan environment and competing in their biggest game in many years.
Oh, and it’s not really helpful when you have a good goal eliminated at the last minute.
Liverpool is still in control of their Europa League group, so they shouldn’t focus too much on a performance and outcome that are too similar to their Champions League victory against Red Star Belgrade in 2019.
Endo casts doubt on his weekend duty
Without a doubt, Wataru Endo’s halftime removal was a prearranged move with an eye on this weekend’s game against Brentford.
It would have been foolish to put the entire ninety minutes into the legs of the Japan international here, as he is the clear choice to take Alexis Mac Allister’s position in the holding midfield role while he is suspended.
But you have to question if Endo’s performance here has made Jurgen Klopp reconsider if he’s in a position to start for the team on Sunday.
The 30-year-old was quite impressive during the 45-minute game at home against Toulouse, but he was fortunate to finish the 45 minutes without being sent off and without recording any tackles.
It’s possible that the decision regarding Brentford’s visit to Anfield won’t be as simple as initially anticipated.
Mac Allister is unconvincing of a switch
You may have anticipated Mac Allister to make a compelling case here, with the general outcry for him to be forced out of the No. 6 into offensive midfield.
However, despite being tested there tonight in the Europa League against ostensibly weaker opponents, the Argentine was unable to secure a more advanced position with his play.
His touches were far fewer than his typical high totals due to his first-half stay higher up the pitch, which may have contributed to Liverpool’s difficulties with ball advancement.
In addition, he only managed one crucial pass, one interception, and zero tackles during the course of the ninety minutes—numbers that are unimpressive from an attacking or defensive standpoint.
Therefore, although though Mac Allister won’t be the anchor this weekend, it appears likely that he will go back there as soon as he becomes available again.
Big left-back call from Klopp is imminent
You would think that Kostas Tsimikas coming off here implies he will start at left-back against Brentford, even after his terrible mistake this evening.
And it would be simple to defend that decision considering that, in a match when Liverpool ought to control possession, the Greek’s left-footedness should offer the attacking balance that Luton lacked.
Nevertheless, Klopp must make a critical choice over who starts in that position in a far tougher match that is quickly approaching: a trip to Manchester City.
Even if breadth is crucial in most games, Klopp will undoubtedly be prepared to give it up in order to have a better left-hand defender for his defence.
The fact that the Englishman appears once more in the second half of this implies that this is a carefully examined alternative.
The handball call is incorrect
Manchester United provided two glaring examples of the significant handball rule differences between UEFA and Premier League regulations during their Wednesday loss to Copenhagen.
Even so, it is difficult to think that the referee was correct to call Jarell Quansah’s equaliser in this instance.
The ball not only bounces off Mac Allister’s chest and arms, but it also advances so far before it hits the back of the net that it is considered an inconsequential play.
In the next few days, it will be interesting to see if UEFA decides to support that decision or if they are prepared to acknowledge that the goal should not have been disallowed.
If the former is the case, then the state of handball laws in European competition is genuinely peculiar.
