Liverpool have made winning at Anfield look straightforward this season — and it was no different against Toulouse.
Jurgen Klopp’s side maintained their perfect record in this season’s Europa League with an emphatic victory over the Ligue 1 side in an entertaining encounter.
Our experts analyse the big talking points from another satisfying outing for the Merseysiders…
Gravenberch’s big night
When Liverpool went recruiting in Germany for the final item on their shopping list this summer, they were sure Ryan Gravenberch was the answer.
Endo ends header drought
It’s been a challenging period for Wataru Endo.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have quickly adapted to life at Liverpool, nailing down places in Jurgen Klopp’s first-choice midfield. In recent weeks, fellow summer signing Ryan Gravenberch has increasingly looked the part.
However, Endo has been watching on from afar. An unused substitute against both Brighton and Everton, the trip to Newcastle in August remains his only Premier League start since his surprise £16.2m move from Stuttgart with Mac Allister Klopp’s preferred option as the No 6.
The Japan international has been desperate to prove he’s worthy of more game time and this was a big night for him.
Wataru Endo heads in his first Liverpool goal (Oli Scarff /AFP via Getty Images)
Snapping into tackles and shutting down space, Endo provided protection for a much-changed backline. In possession, he got his head up early and repeatedly helped turn defence into attack with his pin-point distribution. Endo completed 67 of his 70 passes (96 per cent) and won 11 of his 15 duels (73 per cent) as well as making six tackles and three interceptions.
After Thijs Dallinga had taken advantage of Liverpool’s high line to cancel out Diogo Jota’s classy opener, the 30-year-old put the hosts back in control.
A short corner routine between Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones ended with Endo powering a header past Guillaume Restes from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s inviting cross.
Not only was it his first Liverpool goal, it was also the first headed goal of the season for Klopp’s side — and Liverpool’s first headed goal since Joel Matip scored against West Ham in April. How ironic that the 5ft 10ins midfielder should provide it.
His beaming smile lit up Anfield as the Kop chanted his name for the first time.
Headed goals in all comps 2023-24
Team
Headed goals
West Ham United
9
Manchester United
6
Aston Villa
5
Nottingham Forest
5
Manchester City
4
Wolverhampton Wanderers
4
Newcastle United
4
Tottenham Hotspur
3
Brighton and Hove Albion
2
Arsenal
2
Everton
1
Burnley
1
Brentford
1
Liverpool
1
Luton Town
1
Crystal Palace
0
Bournemouth
0
Sheffield United
0
Fulham
0
Chelsea
0
He almost grabbed a second after the break when he shrugged off Niklas Schmidt but dragged wide. Even so, Endo could hold his head high.
James Pearce
Six seconds that summed up Nunez
Darwin Nunez was substituted to the loudest cheer of the night from the understanding Anfield crowd after a moment of madness contributed towards Liverpool’s fourth goal. He was smiling, but almost in disbelief at the passage of play that had preceded his exit.
In six seconds of utter chaos that summed up his Liverpool career so far, Nunez raced forward…
rounded a Toulouse defender with ease…
then skipped past the goalkeeper…
… before somehow smashing the post instead of converting into an empty net. Typical Nunez.
Even with Gravenberch putting the finishing touch on the move, Nunez was down on the ground cursing, wondering how on earth another glorious opportunity in front of the Kop had gone begging again.
Yet still he remains so likeable. The crowd got behind the big Uruguayan all night, appreciating his hard running and hold-up play with chants after every impressive moment. And he did, after all, score from a tight angle in the first half – making his second-half miss all the more curious.
There’s a real hero there if he can only find those shooting boots on a consistent basis.
Gregg Evans
Proud night for the acacdemy
The Europa League isn’t where Liverpool want to be but at least it gives Klopp the luxury of being able to utilise his squad.
Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Kostas Tsimikas, Dominik Szozbozlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz all had the night off, while Mohamed Salah, who scored Liverpool’s fifth, made just a short cameo ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest.
The Europa League is providing some great opportunities for the club’s youngsters and 19-year-old left back Luke Chambers, who has been on the books since he was six, was the latest to be handed his full debut.
Luke Chambers impressed for Liverpool (Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)
With Andy Robertson set to be sidelined for around 12 weeks after undergoing surgery in Manchester on Wednesday, Klopp has to ease the burden on Tsimikas. The Greece international can’t play every game in such a busy schedule.
Chambers, who enjoyed a productive loan spell at Kilmarnock last season, settled well after some early nerves.
In the second half there were senior debuts for fellow teenagers Calum Scanlon and James McConnell. What an experience for them on the big stage. It should whet their appetite.
There was also more minutex for Jarell Quansah, who has benefited greatly from Liverpool’s decision not to buy another centre-back this summer.
Calum Scanlon came on as a second-half substitute (Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
Throw into the mix that Trent Alexander-Arnold was wearing the captain’s armband and Curtis Jones was pulling the strings in midfield, and it was a proud night for the club’s academy staff.
If Liverpool beat Toulouse away in a fortnight they will have won the group with two matches to spare. Expect to see a lot more of these kids.
James Pearce
(Additional reporting: Mark Carey)
(Top photo: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
