Toulouse stand in the way of Liverpool reaching the halfway point of the Europa League group stage with a 100% record, with the two teams facing off at Anfield on Thursday night.
The Coupe de France holders currently sit second in Group E, having collected four points from their first two matches, so they too hold a strong position ahead of the sides’ double header over the next fortnight.
They owe their participation in the tournament to their domestic cup triumph, having only finished 13th in Ligue 1 last season, but so far they’re making the most of their spell in Europe.
They go to Anfield 10th in the league, so it looks like they’ll be in the mid-table environs again this term, but Carles Martínez’s men will undoubtedly be determined to leave Liverpool with bloody noses.
Ahead of that clash, we’ve highlighted some of the key players of whom Jurgen Klopp will need to be wary tomorrow night, along with some additional info on Toulouse.
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Key players for Toulouse
Thijs Dallinga
The Dutch centre-forward is their joint-top scorer so far this season, having netted three times and provided two assists, all of which have come in his last six matches, including both of their Europa League games (Transfermarkt).
The 23-year-old has averaged 2.5 shots per match in Europe, by far the highest average in the Toulouse squad, while the 6 foot striker also offers a threat in the air, winning 1.9 aerial duels per Ligue 1 game (third-highest at the club, as per WhoScored).
Niklas Schmidt
The German midfielder, who joined from Werder Bremen in August, has settled in quickly at his new club. Typically alternating between a central and attacking midfield position, he’s netted once so far this term and offers an effective link between the final thirds of the pitch.
He boasts their second-highest match average in Ligue 1 both for key passes (one) and tackles made (1.9), while he’s won more tackles in their European campaign (seven) than anyone else (WhoScored), proving very adept at winning the ball and using it to good effect.
Rasmus Nicolaisen
Standing at 6 foot 3, the Danish centre-back is an imposing presence at the heart of the Toulouse defence, and he’s currently their best-performing player this season according to WhoScored with a fine 7.49 rating.
Unsurprisingly given his height, he’s a colossus in the air, winning 2.6 headers per game in Ligue 1 and already conquering 10 aerial duels in Europe. He’s excellent at averting danger, too, with 12 clearances across their first couple of group matches. The 26-year-old fits the billing of no-nonsense centre-half.
Toulouse form guide for 2023/24
Toulouse travel to Anfield unbeaten in four matches in all competitions, having secured decent draws against Brest and Reims – who both currently occupy places in the top six of Ligue 1 – in their most recent outings.
Martínez’s side have turned a corner after a slow start to the season, going six matches without a win following their opening day defeat of Nantes, the team they beat in last season’s Coupe de France final.
That win at the Stade de la Beaujoire on 13 August remains their most recent away triumph, though, with their subsequent five games on the road resulting in three draws and two defeats.
They’ve been middle of the road so far this term, sitting 10th in the 18-team table, scoring 11 goals while conceding 10 in the league and drawing five of their nine top-flight matches while winning and losing two each.
Toulouse in Europe
Toulouse are playing in European competition for just the fifth time this season, and the first in 14 years, so their history on the continent is relatively minor.
They reached the UEFA Cup in consecutive seasons in 1986/87 and 1987/88, being eliminated in the second round on both occasions, and then had to wait two decades before returning to Europe.
When they did, Liverpool provided the opposition in the play-off round for the 2007/08 Champions League. Andriy Voronin’s goal in France gave the Reds a lead to take back to Anfield, where Rafa Benitez’s side cruised to a 4-0 win to take their place in the group stage.
Toulouse duly dropped into the UEFA Cup but finished bottom of their five-team group, beating Spartak Moscow but losing their other three games.
They returned two seasons later for the inaugural Europa League, beating Trabzonspor in a play-off to reach the group phase. Despite beating Partizan Belgrade home and away, they took just one point from their other four matches and bowed out with a third-place finish.
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