Europa League: Anfield will Roar for the Visit of Toulouse

Liverpool vs Toulouse  

Liverpool are in Europa League action again this week, when Toulouse are the visitors to Anfield in a battle of the top two teams in Group E.

The Reds have won both their Europa games so far, while Toulouse have picked up four points, beating LASK and drawing with Union Saint-Gilloise, and the French side know they are in for a hot reception when they arrive in Merseyside on Thursday.

The Europa League 2023 betting odds latest make Liverpool the red hot favourites to win this competition at a price of 3.50, with Bayer Leverkusen in second at SBOTOP.

Odds of 11.00 and AS Roma at 12.40. And, after an impressive start to the campaign, Jurgen Klopp’s side is in no mood to ease off. Liverpool came into the game on the back of a 2-0 win over Everton while Toulouse drew 1-1 with Reims, and now the Anfield Kop is set to roar again.

Talking Points

Gakpo could be back for Liverpool

Netherlands striker Cody Gakpo was in superb form before he picked up an injury in Liverpool’s recent clash with Tottenham Hotspur. But he has had the international break to recover and there was some hope he may be fit for the clash with Everton. But Klopp chose to rest him further and Gakpo might be in line to play some part against Toulouse.   

The Merseyside Derby is always a tasty affair and so it proved as Everton had Ashley Young sent off and Mo Salah scored a late double to take all three points and keep the Reds in fourth position, just three points behind leaders Spurs.

Klopp will shuffle his pack a little as he is fighting on three frontiers already this season; he is already missing long-term injury Andy Robertson, but there should be a return for Curtis Jones, who is in the midst of a Premier League suspension.

While Mo Salah is likely to be rested, Liverpool will have a strong attacking line-up, with Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez set to start and Gakpo possibly on the bench.

Sitting handily in the Champions League places in the Premier League table, and with a perfect set of Europa League 2023 results and Carabao Cup results, this has been a strong start to the campaign for the Reds, and I suspect the French visitors will be in for a torrid time on Thursday.  

Toulouse prepare to meet Liverpool twice

Carles Martinez’ Toulouse have made a steady start to the 2023–24 league season, sitting tenth in Ligue 1 with two wins, five draws, and two defeats.

The 2023 Coupe de France winners finished 13th last term, so they are progressing nicely and have made a good start to their Europa campaign, which means they are second favourites to win Group E at a price of 8.50.

But now they face back-to-back games against Klopp’s Reds, and that will put pressure on their final two games unless they can pick up some unexpected points.

Martinez is without the injured Zakaria Aboukhlal, which is a big miss. The 23-year-old Moroccan international is Toulouse’s most threatening striker, but, along with Dutch striker Ibrahim Sissoko, he is on the Toulouse injury list.

This puts more responsibility on 22-year-old Cameroon forward Frank Magri, who is top-scoring for Toulouse in Ligue 1 with three goals, and he will line up alongside the lively Netherlands forward Thijs Dallinga, who scored in the 1-1 draw with Reims on Saturday.

One of the busiest men on the pitch is sure to be 6ft 3in centre back Rasmus Nicolaison, who has been in commanding form this season.

History

Liverpool have won their previous two encounters with Toulouse, 4-0 at home and 1-0 away, in the Champions League group stages back in 2007.

In terms of recent form, Liverpool have won four, drawn one, and lost one, while Toulouse have won two, drawn three, and lost one.

The Reds are unbeaten in 14 games at Anfield and have won the last six on home soil, but their French opponents are unbeaten in five on the road.

Betting Tip

Liverpool are priced at 1.20 to win this game, with Toulouse at 6.37 and the draw at 6.95. Anfield is never an easy place to go, as Union Saint-Gilloise discovered when they were dispatched 2-0 just three weeks ago. Since then, the Reds have gathered more momentum, and now they are beginning to look relentless on home soil.

A 3-0 home win is priced at 6.96, with the most likely score line of 2-0 at 5.99. It could be a long night for Toulouse.

 

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