Liverpool experienced an unexpected 3-2 defeat against Toulouse in Europa League Group E on Thursday, while Brighton & Hove Albion advanced closer to the knockout stages with a decisive 2-0 victory against Ajax Amsterdam.
Despite the loss, Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool maintains the top position in the group standings with nine points, holding a two-point lead over Toulouse. The team was denied an equalizer in the final minute of added time due to a VAR decision.
LASK, positioned at the bottom, secured their initial points with a 3-1 home victory against Union Saint Gilloise, who maintained their third-place standing in the group.
Liverpool initiated the match on a strong note, and Joe Gomez’s header from a set piece hit the crossbar.
The home team took the lead in the 36th minute when Aron Donnum intercepted the ball in midfield, penetrated the box, and scored with a deflected shot. Thjis Dallinga then doubled the advantage in the 58th minute.
Liverpool narrowed the gap in the 73rd minute with an own goal from Cristian Casseres, but Frank Magri swiftly reinstated the hosts’ two-goal lead three minutes later, converting a deflected cross from close range.
Luis Diaz, who played despite his father’s earlier release from kidnappers on Thursday, had a limited impact and was substituted by Diogo Jota in the 81st minute.
Jota revived hope for the Premier League side with a skillful dribble into the box and a well-placed shot into the bottom corner of the net.
In the dying moments, Liverpool believed they had secured a draw when Jarell Quansah scored in the seventh minute of stoppage time. However, VAR disallowed the goal due to a handball by Alexis Mac Allister earlier in the play.
Brighton clinched their second triumph in the competition with a convincing victory at Ajax, courtesy of goals from Ansu Fati and Simon Adingra.
Fati broke the deadlock by calmly slotting the ball into the net after 15 minutes, and Adingra extended the lead in the 53rd minute from close range.
Brighton edged closer to the knockout stages, claiming the top spot in Group B with seven points, leading by two points over Olympique de Marseille, who are set to face AEK Athens later on Thursday.
AS Roma faced an unexpected setback with a 2-0 loss against Slavia Prague, sliding to second place in Group G. They are now tied on nine points with the Czech side, which leads the standings.
Bayer Leverkusen secured a last-minute 1-0 victory against Qarabag in Group H, maintaining their flawless start and ensuring their qualification for the knockout stages