Toulouse v Liverpool LIVE: Europa League result and final score as VAR rules out late Jarell Quansah equaliser
Toulouse 3-2 Liverpool: The Reds remain in a strong position to qualify as Group E winners but missed the chance to wrap up top spot in France after a controversial VAR intervention
Liverpool still have work to do to qualify for the Europa League knockout stages after the Reds’ perfect start to Group E came crashing to a halt following a dramatic 3-2 defeat by Toulouse.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were well below their best, but thought they had scored a 98th-minute equaliser when Jarell Quansah’s goal was controversially ruled out by VAR, following an earlier handball by Alexis Mac Allister.
The Reds thrashed their French opponents 5-1 at Anfield two weeks ago, but the side who are 14th in Ligue 1 flipped the script as Liverpool suffered just their second defeat in all competitions this season.
Before kick-off, Liverpool were boosted by the news that Luis Diaz’s father had been released by his kidnappers in Colombia, 13 days after he was seized by gunmen from the guerrilla group National Liberation Army.
Follow all the live action in the blog below and get all the latest match odds and tips.
FT: Toulouse 3-2 Liverpool
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits he is more concerned with side’s defensive display than the role VAR played in denying his side a late Europa League draw in Toulouse.
“I only saw the video back now and for me it’s not a handball – but how can I decide that?” said Klopp.
“Actually, I am a bit more concerned about (the fact that) I would have loved us to have played better, to be honest. That’s my main issue tonight.
“In the end, we were intense, we threw everything in, but the problem is in a football game you have to make the decisive things in the right moment to do them right.”
More below:
Jurgen Klopp reveals his ‘main issue’ after VAR denies Liverpool in Toulouse
Liverpool were well beaten as individual mistakes and a lack of collective cohesion saw the hosts take control of the Europa League tie
FT: Toulouse 3-2 Liverpool
Here’s the match report:
Academy graduate Jarell Quansah was denied a dream first goal by VAR in the final minute of added time as Liverpool squandered the chance to secure qualification for the Europa League knockout stage with a 3-2 defeat in Toulouse.
The 20-year-old, replacing ill captain Virgil van Dijk in the side, poked home in the seventh additional minute to claim what would have been a barely-deserved point in southern France.
However, VAR alerted referee Georgi Kabakov to a potential handball after the ball bounced up off Alexis Mac Allister’s chest in the build-up and the Georgian official contentiously chalked it off.
Liverpool angered by VAR as Jarell Quansah goal ruled out in Europa League defeat
Toulouse 3-2 Liverpool: The Reds missed the chance to qualify for the Europa League knockout stages on a dramatic and controversial Group E clash
FT: Toulouse 3-2 Liverpool
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was outraged when VAR controversially ruled out Jarell Quansah’s late equaliser in the Reds’ dramatic 3-2 defeat to Toulouse, but Joe Cole insisted the “referee got it right” after disallowing the goal because of an earlier Alexis Mac Allister handball.
Quansah was denied his first Liverpool goal after bundling in a 98th minute equaliser when Mac Allister was ruled to have used his arm to control the ball as the Reds pressed for a late draw in the Europa League clash.
Joe Cole splits opinion after VAR denies Liverpool late equaliser
Jarell Quansah was denied a late equaliser after Alexis Mac Allister was ruled to have handled the ball in the build-up
FT: Toulouse 3-2 Liverpool
Rachel Brown-Finnis added: “Liverpool arguably didn’t deserve the equaliser tonight.
“The quality in the play and the build up all came from Toulouse. They justifiably shot into the lead, their fans were all on their feet creating quite the noise.
“Perhaps that is the reason Liverpool didn’t perform?
“Nevertheless they were in second gear both in and out of possession, and never really got going - that is why in the end they did not get the result.”
FT: Toulouse 3-2 Liverpool
We will bring you any more reaction as and when we have it so stay tuned on the blog.
FT: Toulouse 3-2 Liverpool
Joe Cole, also said on TNT Sports: “I think it was a handball.
“It was a strange situation because we were all wondering what was going to be the decision given the handball happened quite a while before the goal went in, but the ref got it right.
“Much to the dismay and frustration of Liverpool fans and players, it was the right call.”
FT: Toulouse 3-2 Liverpool
Ex-England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis said on TNT Sports: “The game was a slow burner but it did catch fire in the end didn’t it?
“A great finish by Quansah who thought he had equalised but I think it was rightly ruled out in the end.
“He showed real determination to get his side back in the game, like I said a good finish from the defender, but it is a handball.”
FT: Toulouse 3-2 Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp went over to have a lengthy discussion with the officials at the end of the game.
FT: Toulouse 3-2 Liverpool
Jamie Carragher took to X, formerly known as Twitter and said: “The game has gone! Get rid of VAR, that’s a disgrace. #ChampionsLeague“
FT: Toulouse 3-2 Liverpool
Joe Cole on TNT Sport punditry insists the decision was right, because it was a handball, but there could well be a lot of different opinions firing around when some of the players and manage have their say.
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