(Football news) Les Violets are still undefeated and have a chance to advance to the top spot with a historic victory on Merseyside, while Liverpool is looking to hold onto their spotless record in the group stage this year.

Liverpool won their previous two Premier League games at Anfield, 2-0, to get back to winning ways after surrendering points in their final two games before the international break. Everton is a Merseyside rival.

Although Ashley Young’s dismissal in the first half undoubtedly helped Liverpool, they still had to wait until Mohamed Salah broke the scoreless draw with a penalty kick in the 75th minute. The Egyptian then scored a second goal on a counterattack deep into stoppage time to help the Reds stay in the top four.

With favorable-looking league matches against Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, and Luton Town ahead of them, Liverpool will fancy their chances of building on their derby victory over the Toffees. However, they must first turn their focus to the Europa League, starting on Thursday with a matchup against Toulouse, whom they will face for the first time since a 5-0 aggregate victory in Champions League qualifying back in 2007. 

Liverpool’s unbeaten streak in the Europa League group stage now stands at ten games after winning their first two games in Group E—a 3-1 comeback victory over LASK Linz on matchday one and a simple 2-0 home victory against Union SG three weeks prior.

With a win on Thursday, the Reds, who have won all six of their games at Anfield in all competitions this year and only lost two of their previous fifteen European home games against French opponents, can go five points clear of second-place Toulouse and take command of Group E halfway through the season.

Toulouse saved a point last weekend at home against Reims in Ligue 1 to extend their unbeaten streak to four games in all competitions.

Les Violets eventually settled for their fifth league draw of the season, which is tied for the most in Ligue 1 with Rennes after nine games, after Thijs Dallinga scored his second home goal in as many home games to offset an early goal from Amir Richardson.

After a mixed start to 2023–24, Carles Martinez’s team is shockingly in mid-table in Ligue 1 with two victories and two losses thus far this season. They are only three points above the bottom three and four points outside of the European spots.

Toulouse, who are playing in the Europa League for the first time in fourteen years, returned to action on Thursday, having taken four points from their first two games in Group E—a 1-1 draw at Union SG on matchday one and a narrow 1-0 victory at home against LASK Linz three weeks prior.

Les Violets, who have lost their last five away games in all competitions, are heavy favourites going into Thursday’s match at Anfield. However, a win over Liverpool would give them their first European doubleheader since 1987–88, when they defeated Panionios both at home and away in the UEFA Cup first round.

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