Liverpool lose to Toulouse but get ‘so lucky’ as Wataru Endo avoids second yellow card
Liverpool lost to Toulouse in the Europa League - but they can consider themselves lucky they weren't reduced to ten men and thus making it a humiliating evening.
Toulouse star Aron Donnum capitalised on a dreadful error from Kostas Tsimikas to run through on goal and score the opener on Thursday night. Goals from Thijs Dallinga and Frank Magri scored in the second half and a miserable night for the Reds.
But Liverpool could have gone down to ten men shortly before half time when Wataru Endo slid in hard on Cristian Casseres.
The Japan international, who has already been booked, escaped a second yellow and a sending-off that would have left the Reds in the lurch.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Dean Ashton insisted Liverpool were fortunate.
He said: "He is so lucky... when you're on that yellow card... he's so lucky.
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"First off, how did he get away with the first challenge when he pulled the player back.
"And then there, when you are on a yellow card, he has miscontrolled it, he has tried to rectify the situation and gone diving in. He is so lucky."
Jurgen Klopp took control of the situation by taking Endo off at half-time, who did not have a good performance regardless of his near sending-off.
Trent Alexander-Arnold came on the 30-year-old as the Reds started the half chasing the game.
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Ashton said of the changes: "What those changes say to me is that Klopp is saying to the first half team, 'that's your chance gone.'"
Liverpool would have hoped for an easier night at the Stadium TFC this Thursday as they look to qualify from their Europa League group.
They had won the previous three matches, including a 5-1 drubbing of Toulouse at Anfield two weeks ago.
But it has been a poor showing so far from Klopp's men while Toulouse have struggled in Ligue 1, just a point above the relegation zone.
Tsimikas was guilty of dawdling when Donnum pinched the ball off him outside the penalty box.
With the defence out of position, the Norwegian raced through on goal and thrashed the ball into the roof of the net past Caoimhin Kelleher.
The French side doubled their advantage when Dutch striker Dallinga arrowed an effort in-off Caoimhin Kelleher's post.
A bizarre own goal by Casseres gave got Liverpool back into things but Toulouse extended their two-goal lead through Frank Magri after yet more poor defending by Liverpool. Diogo Jota's assured finish only proved to be a consolation goal on a disappointing night for the six-time European champions.
Jarell Quansah thought he'd got a stoppage-time equaliser but his strike was disallowed for a handball by Alexis Mac Allister in the build-up following a VAR review.