Liverpool leads Group E with Toulouse in the third position. Liverpool dominated Toulouse with a 5-1 victory at Anfield a couple of weeks ago.
Liverpool is cruising towards the Europa League knockout stages with an impressive run of three consecutive victories. Manager Jurgen Klopp has consistently made significant changes to the starting lineup in Group E matches, but this hasn’t hindered their progress. Toulouse is still reeling from their 5-1 loss at Anfield. Klopp is once again expected to introduce squad players, including goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, center-back Jarell Quansah, and midfielder Wataru Endo.
Klopp will stick to his tried-and-true 4-3-3 formation, with international stars like Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo likely leading the attack.
Unfortunately, Thiago Alcantara and Andy Robertson remain sidelined due to injuries.
Toulouse’s notable summer signing, Dutch winger Ibrahim Cissoko, recently returned from injury and made a brief appearance in a 2-1 loss to Le Havre. The question remains whether Cissoko, who has just recovered from a broken foot, will be risked by manager Carles Martinez, especially since winger Zakaria Aboukhlal is out for the season.
Toulouse has struggled, winning only two of their last 13 matches, one of which was a 1-0 victory over LASK, who are at the bottom of Group E. Notably, Toulouse has not trailed at halftime in their last eight competitive home matches.
Liverpool has scored in all 16 competitive games this season, with their last goalless draw dating back to April in a Premier League match against Chelsea. Both teams have shown an ability to score, with only four of their 16 fixtures this season ending without both teams finding the net.
Liverpool, following a disappointing draw in the Premier League against Luton, is expected to be more clinical in the Europa League match against Toulouse. Two weeks ago, these teams faced off at Anfield, and what could have been a closely contested match turned into a convincing 5-1 victory for Liverpool, almost guaranteeing their qualification for the knockout rounds.
Liverpool controlled the match with 20 shots and 63% possession. Even with several lineup changes, they easily secured the victory. While playing away from home presents a different challenge, Toulouse is currently struggling in Ligue 1 and is barely above the relegation playoff spot. Since their loss at Anfield, they suffered defeats against Montpellier and Le Havre. Their upcoming match against high-flying Lille holds more significance, but with four points from previous Europa League matches, they are still in contention to advance alongside Liverpool.
Despite the expected changes in the lineup, Liverpool remains the stronger side. Cody Gakpo, who recently returned from an injury, could be a key player in securing another comfortable victory. His performance, potentially including scoring the final goal, might be pivotal in the upcoming match against Toulouse.