Europa League: Liverpool lose on Diaz return, West Ham go top
Thijs Dallinga of Toulouse celebrates after scoring a goal against Liverpool during their Europa League group match at Stadium de Toulouse in Toulouse, France, November 9, 2023. /CFP
Thijs Dallinga of Toulouse celebrates after scoring a goal against Liverpool during their Europa League group match at Stadium de Toulouse in Toulouse, France, November 9, 2023. /CFP
Liverpool suffered a shock 3-2 loss at French side Toulouse in Europa League Group E on Thursday.
Juergen Klopp's Liverpool still top the group standings with nine points, two ahead of Toulouse, despite being denied an equalizer in the last minute of added time by the VAR.
Liverpool started strongly and Joe Gomez's header from a set piece struck the crossbar.
The hosts broke the deadlock after 36 minutes when Aron Donnum intercepted the ball in midfield, broke into the box and scored with a deflected shot before Thjis Dallinga doubled the advantage in the 58th minute.
Liverpool pulled one back in the 73rd minute through an own goal from Cristian Casseres, but Frank Magri restored the hosts' two-goal advantage three minutes later, slotting home a deflected cross from close range.
After being released by kidnappers, Liverpool striker Luis Diaz's father (C) waves to neighbors outside his home in Barrancas, Colombia, November 9, 2023. /CFP
After being released by kidnappers, Liverpool striker Luis Diaz's father (C) waves to neighbors outside his home in Barrancas, Colombia, November 9, 2023. /CFP
Luis Diaz, whose father had been released by kidnappers earlier on Thursday, started the match for Liverpool but was replaced by Diogo Jota nine minutes from time after making little impact.
Jota gave the Premier League side hope when he dribbled into the box and placed the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Liverpool thought they had salvaged a draw when Jarell Quansah found the net in the seventh minute of stoppage time, but the VAR disallowed it due to a handball by Alexis Mac Allister earlier in the move.
Jarrod Bowen (#20) of West Ham and Jackson Porozo of Olympiacos battle for the ball during their Europa League group match at London Stadium in London, England, November 9, 2023. /CFP
Jarrod Bowen (#20) of West Ham and Jackson Porozo of Olympiacos battle for the ball during their Europa League group match at London Stadium in London, England, November 9, 2023. /CFP
Last year's Europa Conference League winners West Ham ground down Olympiakos with a Lucas Paqueta goal on 73 minutes being the difference between the two sides.
"I'm really pleased that we got the result. We didn't play as well as we'd have liked but Olympiakos are a decent team," said West Ham manager David Moyes to TNT Sports.
The win moves them top of Group A and with nine points they are assured of either Europa League or Europa Conference League football in the new year.
Europa League match results on November 10
Group A: Freiburg 5-0 TSC Backa Topola, West Ham 1-0 Olympiacos
Group B: Ajax 0-2 Brighton, AEK Athens 0-2 Marseille
Group C: Real Betis 4-1 Aris Limassol, Rangers 2-1 Sparta Praha
Group D: Atalanta 1-0 Sturm Graz, Sporting CP 2-1 Rakow
Group E: LASK 3-0 Union SG, Toulouse 3-2 Liverpool
Group F: Rennes 3-1 Panathinaikos, Maccabi Haifa 1-2 Villarreal
Group G: Servette 2-1 Sheriff, Slavia Praha 2-0 Roma
Group H: Qarabag 0-1 Leverkusen, Hacken 1-3 Molde
(With input from agencies)
