Jarell Quansah noticed a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser controversially disallowed by VAR as Liverpool suffered their first Europa League defeat of the season in a 3-2 loss at Toulouse.
Quansah thought he had scored a 97th-minute leveller, which might have been the academy graduate’s first for the membership, however Alexis Mac Allister was deemed to have dealt with within the build-up after referee Georgi Kabakov went to the pitchside monitor earlier than ruling out the purpose.
Liverpool had been given hope of a late comeback after substitute Diogo Jota, who had changed Luis Diaz just hours following his father’s release by kidnappers in Colombia, scored an 89th-minute purpose to make it 3-2.
However Toulouse substitute Frank Magri’s 76th-minute purpose proved to be the winner after Cristian Casseres’ personal purpose within the 74th minute had halved the French facet’s lead following strikes by Aron Donnum (36) and Thijs Dallinga (58).
Defeat for Group E leaders Liverpool noticed Klopp’s facet miss out on the win that will have certified them for the final 16 as group winners, with Toulouse shifting two factors behind them.
Ought to Quansah’s purpose have counted?
Quansah reveals his frustration after his late leveller is dominated out by VAR
The choice to permit Quansah’s late equaliser for Liverpool appeared harsh – and should have been incorrect.
Mac Allister unintentionally managed the ball together with his arm – which was near his physique – at the beginning of the transfer that ultimately led to the defender’s purpose.
However IFAB legal guidelines state that an “unintentional handball that results in a team-mate scoring a purpose or having a goal-scoring alternative will now not be thought of an offence”.
There isn’t any doubt that Mac Allister did not imply to manage the ball together with his arm, and several other gamers touched the ball earlier than Quansah completed.
How Reds’ excellent begin to Europa League was ended
Liverpool had hammered Toulouse 5-1 at Anfield final month however simply two weeks on they had been overwhelmed within the south of France in a topsy-turvy encounter to see their seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions ended.
Klopp made 9 modifications from Sunday’s draw at Luton with Diaz given a begin after the information earlier than kick-off that his father had been free of his 12-day kidnap ordeal in Colombia.
On the again of that Positive information, Liverpool practically took a fourth-minute lead as Joe Gomez flicked a Cody Gakpo free-kick onto the bar.
The Reds continued to push for an opener but it surely was the house facet who broke the impasse within the thirty sixth minute when Kostas Tsimikas was caught napping on the ball by Donnum, who drove into the field and noticed his shot deflect off Quansah previous Caoimhin Kelleher.
Tsimikas’ error noticed him hooked at half-time together with Wataru Endo, who had been booked, and teenager Ben Doak, with Salah, Szoboszlai and Alexander-Arnold all launched.
But it surely was Toulouse who began the second half stronger because the Ligue 1 facet thought that they had doubled their lead within the fiftieth minute by means of Dallinga, just for referee Kabakov to adjudge the striker fouled Joel Matip within the space earlier than accumulating the ball and ending previous Kelleher.
A win in Toulouse would have seen Liverpool safe their passage to the last-16 as group winners
However simply eight minutes later Dallinga did double Toulouse’s lead with a beautiful end, producing an exquisite first contact from Vincent Sierro’s pinpoint cross earlier than hammering a low shot previous Kelleher into the underside far nook.
Liverpool got a route a again into the sport within the 74th minute following a weird Casseres personal purpose as Gomez’s header throughout purpose hit the midfielder’s shoulder to go in.
However simply two minutes later Toulouse restored their two-goal benefit by means of substitute Magri as he fired house first-time from Kelleher’s save from Gabriel Suazo’s low cross.
Jota then arrange a nervy end with a neat 89th-minute purpose which practically resulted in a last-gasp Liverpool comeback just for VAR to disclaim Quansah a dramatic leveller and see Klopp’s 450th sport answerable for Liverpool finish in defeat.
What’s next?
Liverpool’s ultimate fixture earlier than the worldwide break comes on Sunday as they host Brentford within the Premier League; kick-off 2pm. Their subsequent Europa League fixture is on Thursday November 30 at house to Linz ASK.
Toulouse face Lille in Ligue 1 on Sunday; kick-off 2pm. Their subsequent Europa League fixture is on Thursday November 30 towards Union Saint-Gilloise.