Europa League LIVE: Liverpool TWO down in Toulouse as Luis Diaz starts following the release of his father with Reds needing a comeback win to progress tonight, while Brighton lead Ajax 2-0 in Amsterdam

Brilliant goal from Jota!

Off goes Dallinga for Cesar.

A free-kick out on the right for Liverpool to maybe craft something from.

But it’s a woeful delivery from Szoboszlai that sails clean over the top of every player in the box and out for a throw.

Liverpool are entering last chance saloon now, but there’s nothing really in the way of chances being created.

The home side are now not so much leaping off their seats and screaming as they have been in a fervour, but holding up their phones with lights and torches showing in the stands.

It makes for a very strange atmosphere.

And final throw of the dice for Klopp, who sends on Jota for Diaz

Sub for the hosts, as Donnum makes way for Kamanzi

And while all that was happening, Ajax spurned a chance to pull one back against the Seagulls.

Forbs plays it in to Brobbey, who on the volley has an effort from inside the box clatter off the inside of the near post before rolling across every inch of the line to the left-hand post.

Had there been a slightly stronger breeze it would 2-1 in Amsterdam, but as it stands, the Seagulls’ lead remains intact.

That didn’t last long, did it!

Wow that was an incredible response.

More or less straight from the kick-off Toulouse are on the attack and it comes to Suazo at the back post.

The winger has an effort saved low in the centre of the goal by Kelleher but it’s straight into the path of super-sub Magri, who taps home into the open net!

Liverpool have one back!

It’s hardly a work of art, but the ball is in the back of the net off Casseres’ shoulder!

The ball comes in from the left hand side at the far corner, and was arcing dangerously in, but with the goalkeeper in the wrong position, Casseres and Nicolaison both go for it.

The latter misses it, but as the former’s jump takes him beyond his team-mate at the back stick, it cannons in off his back and trickles over the line!

Lifeline for Liverpool!

Well, literally as we say that Gakpo goes off for Nunez.

Alexander-Arnold has at least brought some energy with him off the bench.

The defender is making a nuisance of himself off the right, but there is not so much movement in the middle as he might be used to.

Gakpo has done very little so far, and perhaps Nunez might have a better time of things running at this somewhat rigid back line.

Off goes Schimdt for Magri.

There isn’t much time to waste now for Liverpool.

They’re not really at risk of missing out on progression – they can just give the heavies a run out next match and ensure it then – but this has been really poor.

Luis Diaz has a first real run at goal out on the left before cuting in and bending a cross at the far post, but it’s beyond Salah.

It’s three! Or is it…

It’s not. Dallinga and Donnum once again combine well down the right, and the forward finds himself in space in behind to poke past Kelleher but the flag does rightly go up.

Toulouse have been stunning this hald, and the Reds have been, well, the opposite.

Better from Liverpool.

Alexander-Arnold looks to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and fire in an early cross but Nicolaison blocks it well.

Sierro concedes a corner a few phases later, and the Reds can fire a dangerous ball in here.

It comes in from Alexander-Arnold but it’s uncharacteristically poor.

Liverpool aren’t getting many chances – they need to do better with the ones they are handed.

There were a few questions around the defending for the first goal, but that second one was all about Dallinga’s work.

‘What a really good goal after the disappointment before from Dallinga,’ said McManaman on TNT Sports.

‘Stayed alert, lovely first touch, smashed it past Kelleher. Lovely, lovely finish. Since half-time, if anything, it’s Toulouse who have come out the much better side, the much livelier side, the much more dangerous side, and they’ve doubled their advantage.

‘First goal was sloppy by Liverpool, second was really good play by Toulouse.’

Dallinga with the goal!

Toulouse were beginning to flex their muscles a little bit with some Cruyff turns in midfeld, and they’ve made Liverpool pay for a lax first 13 or so minutes.

The ball comes in for Dallinga from Sierro, and the forward simply takes a touch and turns inside the box, firing past Kelleher at the near post.

Game very much on now for Liverpool.

Well while all that has been kicking off, Brighton have made it two in Amsterdam.

It’s Adingra with the goal, which was a well taken effort from the top right of the penalty area into the top corner after a simple move from left to right fro the visitors.

Massive job now for Ajax to rescue something.

Liverpool went straight down the other end but the ball in to Salah was long and the Egyptian was not getting anywhere near it.

He’s stayed down, though, after a knock from Restes in goal.

The forward has stayed down holding his head, and there’s a precautionary check on Salah, but it looks like he’ll be ok.

Well there’s some confusion here now.

Dallinga has the ball in the back of the net after latching onto a pass inside the box, cutting in from the left and curling it into the near top corner.

He did make contact with Matip as he looked to get around the defender, and although the whistle didn’t go at first, it has now, and it’ll just be a free-kick to Liverpool.

Phew – it’s all kicking off now.

Schimdt wins Toulouse another corner, and he goes on to ask the fans for even more noise.

It doesn’t feel possible, but it works.

The ball is better this time and finds Nicolaison at the back post, but the header is straight at Kelleher.

Oh it should be two.

Liverpool are all at sea at the moment.

Suazo is released inside the box by Dallinga but cuts back onto his left foot to take his shot, but Alexander-Arnold comes back to put enough pressure on and force the error.

Not too sure why Suazo hasn’t gone with his right foot – there was acres of room and it was the bigger half of the goal with Kelleher covering the near post.

Let off for Liverpool.

It’s very nearly an early chance for Toulouse, with Desler picking up the ball in the box, but he’s shepherded out away from goal by Matip, and his shot is rash and wild and misses the mark.

We’re also back underway in Amsterdam now for the second half of that one.

And after that, we’re back underway now in Toulouse.

There is indeed a triple change.

Skipper Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Szoboszlai on for Doak, Endo and Tsimikas.

Come on Jurgen, tell us what you really think.

Well then, will we have some changes in the second half?

For Brighton, though, it’s been almost the perfect start against Ajax.

The early goal from Fati puts them in a comfortable position at the Dutch giants, but that injury to Milner will be taking a bit of the edge off of the joy.

Big half still to come in that one.

It was Tsimikas’ error that has been the main moment in the first half, and Reds legend Steve McManaman was far from pleased on TNT Sports.

‘Tsimikas fast asleep, too sloppy, attack on goal comes off Quansah and flies into the goalkeepers’ net.

‘This is just poor, allowing the opposition the opportunity to get into the game, the shot was nothing but cannons off Quansah’s leg and flies past Kelleher who’s got no chance.

‘Really disappointing play [at left-back]. Has been indicative of the performance tonight. No energy, no pace, and they got caught.’

A frustrating half for Liverpool.

All the possession, and most of the territory, but one lapse from Tsimikas gifts the hosts the lead at the break.

Plenty for Klopp to address in the break.

Whistle goes in Amsterdam, too, after a couple of corners for Brighton.

The Seagulls lea 1-0 still, thanks to Fati, and the hosts have been pretty poor all told, hardly troubling the Brighton goal.

Well now, not many of us will have been expecting that.

The one added minute is played out, and the whistle goes for half-time.

Corner to the hosts now, as Dessler draws a deflection off Tsimikas.

The crowd are loving that and they have been in fantastic voice since that goal went in.

Schmidt takes the corner, but Nicolaison is well defended by Gomez and Liverpool clear their lines.

Doak comes in very meatily on Donnum, but he gets all of the ball and there is nothing mroe than a throw in.

That could have gone very wrong for the youngster, though, and Klopp will want his senior players to make sure he doesn’t lose his head.

Meanwhile back in France Liverpool are starting to pry and prod with a little more thrust in and around the box, but Doak gives away a foul.

Suazo comes in well to pinch the ball off the youngster, and knows exactly what he’s doing as he feels a slight touch on his shoulder and throws himself to the ground.

Another let off for Toulouse.

The Seagulls skipper went off for some treatment but is back on the field now, although he’s moving a little stiffly.

Just a few more minutes of the half, where he can be assessed fully by his side.

Is there some more woe for Brighton?

Milner has already gone off, and now Dunk is down holding his groin.

There was nobody around him when he went down, which we all know usually spells trouble…

Endo is a very, very lucky boy.

On a yellow he dives into a challenge on Casseres of his feet and gets none of the ball.

He gets very little of the player, but you can’t fly into challenges like that on a yellow and expect to spend much more of the game on the pitch.

Just the free-kick this time round.

An immediate chance for Liverpool to strike back from the corner, but centre forward Dallinga is back to help out his defence and thumps his header clear.

Gakpo and Doak are surrounded by a number of purple-and-white shirts, but Gakpo catches a defender and gives away a cheap foul that allows Toulouse to clear their lines.

Out of nowhere!

Toulouse take the lead through Donnum!

Tsimikas is fast asleep as he looks to turn back and pass to Kelleher, but Donnum reads his mind and pounces on the opportunity to run at goal.

He is given a free run, and cuts inside to shoot, but the shot cannoncs off Quansah and beats Kelleher!

The hosts lead massively against the run of play!

Endo does now go into the book after a late challenge catches the top of Dallinga’s boot.

A fair booking, even if he wasn’t in last chance saloon already for an earlier tug back.

One apiece in the book now.

Joao Pedro has picked up a very soft yellow card in Amsterdam after his arm catches the faintest outline of an Ajax chin, and the forward is shown a yellow card.

Very soft.

A corner for Liverpool on the half hour mark, and Tsimikas sends it in from the left towards Diaz, but the Colombian is beaten to it.

After Toulouse clear their lines initially, Restes makes a real mess of the resulting cross, flapping at the ball and letting it drop right in front of Doak, who maybe catches it too well and Restes recovers to concede another corner.

This one from Gakpo is poor, though, and barely beats the first man.

There’s been a game in Austria as LASK take the lead over Union Saint Gilloise.

Should things stay that way, and Liverpool win tonight, then the Reds will secure top spot in the group and ensure an immediate pass into the next round.

But there’s still wark to do here, as Toulouse threaten with their first bit of quality with a ball flashed in across the goal for Suazo to throw himself at, but he can’t quite get the contact he wants.

Liverpool have been dominant in France – there’s no disputing that – but they haven’t actually had much in the way of chances.

They’re all over Toulouse in their own half, but the bitty, gritty tackles of the French side’s defence have done well in preventing any real fluidity from forming for the visitors.

Brighton have already got their goal, of course, but the Seagulls have looked very confident and assured in Amsterdam.

Ajax are creating issues for themselves constantly trying to play heir way out of danger, and on a number of occasions have either passed it straight off the field, or to a Brighton player.

Not the best start from the home side, but perhaps what you might expect of a team so low on confidence.

Doak i lready proving himself a bit of a handful for the Toulouse defence.

The forward picks up three or four fouls as he tries to sprint Liverpool up the pitch, and is at lasted awarded a free-kick after a tug on his arm.

He’s been bright, but he is being afforded a fair amount of space by Diarra at left back, and is being punished for it.

First real chance for Doak to stretch his legs.

The youngster does really wll to cut in from the right flank and pull it back to Gomez inside the box.

The cross-cum-shot is deflected back to Mac Allister, but the Argentine’s shot cannons off a defender for a corner.

Matip climbs highet from the set-piece, but can’t get his effort on target.

Liverpool starting to turn the screws a touch now.

We’ve already had a goal in Amsterdam.

It’s terrible work in midfield as the hosts look to pass their way out, but Vos gives it traight to a green-and-black shirt.

The pass comes in to Fati on the edge of the box, and the youngster cuts across his man and finishes with aplomb!

Well Toulouse have not learnt their lesson from Gomez’s oh-so near miss in the opening few minutes.

They’ve conceded three free-kicks in about as many minutes.

This time it’s short to Elliott, who has a dig from range, but it’s well blocked before it can reach Restes’ goal.

Yellow card for Schimdt, who sort of tackled-sort of fell into Mac Allister.

A very strange, and very soft, booking.

This time the ball to the back stick, but the header from a crowd of bodies back across goal is nudged clear.

Elliott does really well to keep composed and slow things down to get the ball away.

Liverpool work it down the other end and earn themselves a free-kick, although Gakpo’s delivery is headed to safety.

Toulouse have a corner right in front of the Liverpool fans, but Matip can head clear under little pressure.

The French side take the throw quickly, and earn themselves another corner!

Milner can’t continue, and he’s off for Billly Gilmour after eight minutes .

Endo commits a foul on Sierro as he pulls him back on the counter.

No yellow card, though, although it was a fairly cynical one.

The Japan star shakes hands with his opposite number, and play continues, although he’ll likely be on his last life now.

Bit of concern in Amsterdam as Milner receives some treatment already.

He’s been down for around a minute and is being asked to leave the play – he’s stretching out his left leg and holding his hamstring after some good defensive work, but it looks like he’ll continue.

Gakpo clips it towards the front post, and Gomez gets a flick on it and it’s off the bar!

Restes was rooted to the spot, and Gomez is completely unchallenged as he comes a whisker awy from a first ever goal for club or country.

Harvey Elliott seeks out Luis Diaz early on with a raking ball over the top, but it runs striaght through to Restes, who mops up the danger.

A fairly sedate start so far in France as the two get the measure of one another.

Diaz is hustled in the near left corner and wins a foul in a useful area for his side.

The hosts get us underway in France.

We’re underway in Amsterdam, too. We’ll be bringing you any major updates from that game too, remember!

It’s a sea of purple flags in the crowd ahead of kick-off, and it might not be the biggest stadium in France, but there’s quite the atmosphere building up in Toulouse.

Right, well the players are already in the tunnel awaiting their cue to enter the field.

A few massive Tifos are already being unfurled around the home end – and let’s just say bright purple and gold are fairly eye-catching colours in combination.

The Toulouse players look very starry-eyed as they prepare to take on the European heavyweights, while Liverpool look extremely focused on the task at hand.

Maybe not a full strength side, but there’s not likely to be anything taken for granted tonight by Klopp’s side.

And if you missed it earlier, Klopp was asked by TNT before kick-off about Diaz and the decision to play him tonight.

The player reportedly asked to be a part of the side, and that was enough for Klopp, who brings him in from the start over in France.

For more on that one, there’s just enough time to check the story below before kick-oof in a little over five minutes!

Here’s a bit more from that Liverpool warm up from a few moments ago…

Cheeky shoulder from Ben Doak and a lovely rabone from Cody Gakpo the highlights.

We spoke about Ajax’s poor form, but Toulouse have hardly been uprooting trees of late.

The French side are 14th in Ligue 1, and have won just two of their first 11 league games this season, scoring 12 and conceding 15.

They’ve not actually won since the start of October and have lost their last three in all competitions.

They did manage to get on the scoresheet against Liverpool at Anfield, but they’re firmly in the ‘underdog’ category tonight at home as they look to pull off a massive upset.

What should we expect tonight from Brighton?

Why, more of the same, of course!

Check out Roberto De Zerbi’s pre-match comments at the link below ahead of their massive duel with Ajax.

Firmino, Salah and Mane built a reputation as one of the most prolific attacking trios that the Premier League has ever seen, as they thrived on the pitch for Liverpool.

For more on the Mane-Salah rift, check out the story below…

Massive game for both sides tonight in Amsterdam.

Brighton – third in the group – could do with a win to solidify their chances of getting out the group, and can take first sport until Marseille take on AEK Athens later on tonight.

For Ajax a win in front of the home support could be their first of the tournament proper, and could provide such a confidence boost in such a trying time – and would put the Seagulls bottom of the pile!

It looks like it’s been all smiles from the majority of the Liverpool players ahead of kick-off,

A very relaxed build up to the game so far, with the Reds able to ensure qualification with a win here, prolonging their perfect start to the Europa League campaign.

But for Diaz to be able to smile and relax – not to mention play an entire game of football – after what his family have been through in recent days, is quite frankly incredible.

Who would have thought in 1963, when Brighton were relegated to the Fourth Division, that 60 years later they would be travelling to Amsterdam to face four-time European Cup winners Ajax?

The Seagulls have spent most of their 122-year history yo-yoing between the second, third and fourth tiers, and didn’t reach the First Division until 1979.

Even in the 1990s, Brighton came close to extinction amid shoddy ownership and financial strife, spending two seasons playing their ‘home’ games at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium and almost dropping into non-league.

To read more about Brighton’s rise check out the link below for some incredible pictures from times gone by for the Seagulls.

Ahead of the game Klopp has been asked about Diaz’s fther’s release and whether the player was in the right headspace to play tonight.

It must understandably be a hugely emotional time for the forward, but Klopp insists that he is ready to play and ‘wanted to start’.

‘Lucho is really happy, thumbs up all the time, it looks good,’ he told TNT Sports.

‘Obviously timing wise couldn’t have been better, if it’s today then great, but that’s all I can say.’

‘Yes, we asked him and he wanted to (start) so he will.’

Mo Salah doesn’t look like he’s stopped smiling since he arrived at the ground this evening.

Could it be the prospect of a handful of goals tonight? Or maybe he just really loves the souther France scenery.

A slightly more subdued arrival for the home side in Amsterdam compared to the purple carpet rolled out for Toulouse.

In fairness, things aren’t exactly going to plan at Ajax at the moment.

The Dutch giants are up to 11th in the league after a third win of the season at the weekend, but have already lost five of their 10 games and conceded 22 times.

Looks like Liverpool fans will be kept behind a net for tonight’s game in France…

Mail Sport’s Liverpool expert Lewis Steele is on the ground at the Stadium de Toulouse this evening.

And at long last, it’s the Toulouse XI for tonight…

And the Ajax team that will be lining up against them tonight…

The Brighton XI to take on Ajax tonight – and it’s a return to his former club for Veltman.

And how about that for a welcome for the home side in southern France!

Maybe we should see a bit more of that in the Premier League… just me?

Over in Amsterdam, Brighton have arrived for their clash with Ajax.

The Seagulls go there knowing that the struggling Dutch giants have not actually beaten an English side in their last eight attempts, losing the last five on the bounce.

Their last win in fact came against Spurs in 2019, in that oh-so dramatic Champions League tie that produced one of the finest second leg comebacks of all time.

So Luis Diaz starts just minutes after his father was rescued.

There are also starts for youngsters Quansah and Doak in Toulouse.

It’s a real blend of youth and solidity in this team, with Klopp perhaps confident of a strong performance and a result from his side look to secure qualification as early as possible.

Here’s the Liverpool XI for tonight…

Big news from Liverpool is that Luis Diaz’s father has been RESCUED after his kidnap in Colombia.

He had been abducted at gunpoint on October 28 by ELN – a left-wing Guerrilla group – but has now been rescued after 13 days.

For more on that one check out the story below.

A lot of the focus has been on Liverpool’s attacking threat this season – for both the good reasons and the bad.

There has been plenty of talk about who should be playing through the middle – Nunez or Gakpo – and even talk of who should be coming off the left wing – Jota or Diaz – but their defensive unit have quietly been going about their business in Europe.

No team has seen fewer opposition passes per defensive action in the Europa League this season, and the Reds can also boast more defensive actions in the middle or final thirds of the pitch than any other sides.

Admittedly, the calibre of opposition has not exactly been on par with that of the Premier League in general, but the Reds’ high press seems to be paying huge dividends for them in Europe’s second-tier competition.

However, be that as it may, Liverpool have not exactly had the best of luck on the road in France…

In four attempts they have drawn twice and lost twice (draws with Lyon and Bordeaux, defeats to PSG and Lille).

They may be something of a bogey team for Toulouse, but it would appear that games in France aren’t exactly Liverpool’s bread and butter – at least in recent years.

This is not the first time the Reds have made the trip to southern France to take on Toulouse.

All threee of the French side’s defeats against English sides in European competitions have come against Liverpool.

The two teams first met back in August 2007 – with Liverpool winning both – while Jurgen Klopp’s side also won the reverse fixture last month.

Could it be a huge first win over English teams for Toulouse tonight?

Good evening everyone and welcome to tonight’s Europa League live action!

We will be bringing you all the action from Liverpool’s clash with Toulouse, as well as updates from Brighton’s date in Amsterdam wityh struggling Ajax.

The Reds will be getting underway at 5.45 in France, with Brighton kicking off at the same time, so sit back and relax as we build up to what should be two fascinating European ties in the early kick-offs!