Third win for Liverpool in Europa League as they score five on Toulouse

THREE FROM THREE: James McConnell of Liverpool on the ball whilst under pressure from Denis Genreau of Toulouse. Pic: Matt McNulty/Getty Images

Europa League

Liverpool 5 Toulouse 1 

Ryan Gravenberch produced a highly-impressive performance as Liverpool made it three wins out of three in their Europa League group.

The Dutchman has been used mainly from the bench since his £34m from Bayern Munich on deadline day but he gave Jurgen Klopp plenty of food for thought with his eye-catching display against Toulouse.

Gravenberch's driving runs from midfield were a big feature in the victory and a constant threat to the French club. He created the third goal for Darwin Nunez and then scored Liverpool's fourth - after an incredible miss by Nunez.

Diogo Jota, Wataru Endo - with his first goal for the Merseyside club - and Mo Salah were also on the scoresheet but Toulouse, who earned their place in the competition by virtue of winning the French Cup last season, gave Liverpool some anxious moments despite the score line.

The victory underlined Liverpool's exciting creative and goalscoring strength but again raised one or two question marks about their defending.

Klopp made eight changes following the Merseyside derby victory, including giving 19-year-old Academy graduate Luke Chambers his first start, but it didn't stop Liverpool cruising into a 3-1 lead at the break.

Jota put them ahead after nine minutes. After Joe Gomez had won the ball in midfield, Jota turned sharply, held off two chasing defenders then beat a third before producing a composed finish into the corner of the net.

But Toulouse stunned Klopp's side only six minutes later with an equaliser following a fine pitch-length move with Thijs Dallinger matching Jota's cool finish after being put through by striker partner Aron Donnum's clever pass.

Caoimhin Kelleher could nothing about the strike that wrecked the Republic of Ireland international's hopes of an 11th clean sheet in his 24th appearance.

The goal encouraged the French club but Liverpool regained control with two goals in four minutes. First Endo - the smallest player on the pitch - sent a well-directed header into the corner of the net from Trent Alexander-Arnold's pin-point cross. It was also Liverpool's first headed goal of the season.

The third followed a shrugging run by Gravenberch with Nunez firing the ball high into the net from close range after Curtis Jones' shot had rebounded to him.

Toulouse wasted a great chance to pull a goal back early in the second half after Kelleher's clearance was intercepted. The ball was squared to Gabriel Suazo who had the whole goal to aim at but struck his shot straight at the covering Alexander-Arnold - much to Kelleher's relief.

Liverpool responded well to the let-off with Endo sending a shot wide and the impressive Gravenberch twice being denied by Resta.

But the fourth goal finally arrived when Nunez ran clear onto Jota's pass, rounding the defender and keeper Resta only to send his shot against the post when left with an open goal. Fortunately for him and Liverpool Gravenberch was following up to take the ball round Resta and slide home.

The goal signalled a raft of changes from Klopp with Salah coming on and, inevitably, getting on the scoresheet, with the last kick of the game as Liverpool took firm control of the group.

Now a win in Toulouse in their next match will clinch qualification for the knock out stages with two games to spare.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Kelleher 7; Alexander-Arnold 7 (Gakpo 66, 6), Matip 7, Gomez 7, Chambers 7 (Quansah 66, 6); Jones 7 (McConnell 90), Endo 7, Gravenberch 9 (Salah 68, 6); Elliott 7, Jota 7, Nunez 8 (Scanlon 66, 6).

Subs not used: Alisson, Jaros, Van Dijk, Diaz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Tsimikas.

Goals: Jota, 9, Endo 30, Nunez 34, Gravenberch 65, Salah 90.

Booked: Elliott.

Toulouse (5-3-2): Restes 6; Desler 6 (Kamanzi 72, 5), Costa 6, Nicolaisen 6, Diarra 6, Suazo 6 (Magri 66, 5); Desler 6; Casseres 6 (Cesar 66, 5), Sierro 6, Schmidt 6; Dallinga 7 (Begraoui 79, 5), Donnum 6 (Genreau 66, 5).

Subs: Dominguez, Lacombe, Mawissa, Bangre, Keben.

Goal: Dallinga 15.

Referee: Rade Obrenovic (Slovenia) 7.