Daniel’s Debrief: Toulouse 3-2 Liverpool

Does it feel different to Sunday?

In some ways, yes.

It’s not a particularly costly result and we all know that Liverpool are almost guaranteed to still finish top of this group and qualify for the last 16. Whereas the two points dropped on Sunday could be important.

In some ways, no.

It’s an unacceptable performance again, going away from home to opposition that we shouldn’t be having such problems with. It’s a performance full of lethargy and arrogance and one that lacks quality and commitment.

It’s a lineup that tells us Jurgen Klopp knows Liverpool don’t *need* to win tonight, but the substitutions he makes during the game confirms that he would certainly like to.

It’s a chance for the likes of Kostas Tsimikas, Caoimhin Kelleher, Wataru Endo, Cody Gakpo and Ben Doak to stake their claim, but none of them succeed. 

There’s a lot of possession in that first half with very little end product. A series of free-kicks on the left flank produce a solitary chance - Joe Gomez’s glancing header touching the bar - but other than that, there’s nothing.

Liverpool have control but lack the cutting edge or pace of play to carve out any threatening openings. Again, we see that a raft of changes leaves us with a lineup that is bereft of connection or familiarity.

Harvey Elliott and Luis Diaz are both bright and lively but they are pretty much on their own. Diaz is the biggest threat but doesn’t really get involved with his teammates, and it’s a poor half for Alexis Mac Allister, who finally gets a start in his preferred position.

And then, one stupid mistake from Tsimikas and Liverpool are behind. He’s caught in possession, fucking around on the ball and loses out to Aron Donnum. The winger progresses forward and sees his strike deflect home.

There’s a bit of indecision from Jarell Quansah and a lack of proactivity from Kelleher, but this goal is entirely on Tsimikas. He’s just asleep and finds himself paying the price for it.

With Andy Robertson out, this was his chance to showcase himself and he’s done the exact opposite. He’s taken off at half-time after another mistake moments later - a truly atrocious cross when Liverpool find themselves in good territory.

Klopp sees a right-footed centre-back in Joe Gomez as a better option than Tsimikas right now and that’s a damning indictment of him.

Klopp wants this game won and brings on Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold on at half-time. Mac Allister finds himself back in the six role again after a woeful first half from Endo in which he is remarkably lucky to stay on the field after two obvious yellow card offences.

Salah and Szoboszlai (and later Darwin Nunez) make next to no impact while Alexander-Arnold has a tricky half, during which he shoots wildly from distance, wastes some set-pieces and is nowhere to be seen for the third goal. Have those three played too much?

The Reds go 2-0 down - not long after they are very fortunate to see a Toulouse goal disallowed - Diaz runs down a blind alley, there’s indecision from Quansah and Joel Matip, and then a good finish from Thijs Dallinga.

Eight minutes later, they have the ball in the net again. This one is also offside but Liverpool’s defence is all at sea.

A joke of a performance in all areas of the pitch hits its nadir when a completely undeserved route back into the game is offered through an own goal, only for Liverpool to piss it away two minutes later, Alexander-Arnold giving the ball away then failing to get enough on a cross, before Kelleher palms the ball out into a dangerous area, and Frank Magri slots home for 3-1.

The ineptitude and the lack of respect for the game here is criminal.

Toulouse create 1.04 worth of xG yet score three times from it, and have the ball in the net a further two times. It’s a very poor performance from Kelleher who has looked hugely unconvincing this season and appears to have regressed hugely, despite already playing more games this season than last.

Diogo Jota, also on from the bench, pulls one back with a gorgeous solo goal, before a mental turn of events sees Quansah believe he’s equalised.

And it’s disallowed for a handball by Mac Allister. 

Despite the fact it touches his chest first.

Despite the fact it’s nineteen seconds before the goal.

Despite the fact the call goes in, out and back in the box in the time that elapses after the handball.

The ref is shown a still image (WHY) and disallows a perfectly legitimate goal.

Liverpool would not have been good value for an equaliser but this was a scandalous piece of officiating.

More should be focused on Liverpool’s performance though, which ranges between lacklustre and pathetic.

Elliott is easily Liverpool’s best player, while Diaz and Jota are also respectable. Other than that though, it’s not good enough across the board, just like Luton.

The lack of cohesion in attack was concerning. Diaz is playing on his own because of the lack of effectiveness of Doak or Gakpo. Doak is a bright talent but looked out of place, while Gakpo is still waiting to properly arrive this season. His biggest strengths are his playmaking and possession but with Liverpool relying so much on counter-attacking this season, he’s definitely fifth of the attackers right now.

The inverted wing-back system is starting to become a real discussion point, and is it offering us more problems than solutions right now? Endo and Mac Allister don’t win a single duel in the first half between them, and the latter wins just two of thirteen across the game, while Szoboszlai wins just one of four.

Mac Allister as a six isn’t ideal but part of why he struggles there is that he’s far too busy and has far too much work to do - and that’s a systemic problem.

This game was crying out for Curtis Jones, just as the weekend’s did. He provides so much midfield control and professionalism when he’s on that left side.

For the second game in a row, Liverpool’s attitude away from home against this lively, but significantly worse, opponent, was extremely unprofessional.

They are 14th in Ligue 1. A league that, PSG apart, is dire.

The lack of commitment and quality that Liverpool show is appalling, really, and there’s no reaction to Sunday whatsoever - in some ways this was even worse.

Shambles.

Attitude is an issue, and away form is an issue. I don’t think Liverpool have played well away from home all season, despite having a few wins. We never seem to exert any control or break teams down away from home and the ones we have won - Newcastle, Wolves, LASK and Bournemouth - have all been dramatic or relied upon moments of individual brilliance.

The effects of this game aren’t far-teaching in the sense that Liverpool’s next Europa game is LASK at home, the easiest fixture of the group on paper. 

What’s frustrating is that, while the group is still firmly in their hands, Liverpool have used most of their big hitters tonight, and given them unnecessary minutes.

The last two games haven’t been good. Luton was a bad day at the office, which can happen, I guess. Tonight is a shocking performance with a changed team away from home in Europe. You can possibly write these two off.

But Sunday is an enormous game for Liverpool. It’s their first must-win of the season, not only to get back on the horse and not lose any more ground, but to ensure some positivity is restored before the international break and the trip to Manchester.

It’ll be a makeshift team with no Mac Allister, Jones or possibly Ryan Gravenberch, so we may see a midfield of Endo-Szoboszlai-Elliott, or Gakpo may drop back into that role. I’d start Jota up top and Christ knows who at left-back.

I’m willing to give Liverpool the benefit of the doubt for the last two games. This week is salvageable, but there can be no excuses on Sunday.

Daniel