Liverpool 5-1 Toulouse: Gravenberch shines, Nunez’s crazy six seconds – and a headed goal – The Athletic

Liverpool have made winning at Anfield look easy this season – and it was no different against Toulouse.

Jurgen Klopp’s side maintained their perfect record in this year’s Europa League with a comfortable win over the Ligue 1 side in an entertaining encounter.

Our experts analyze the key talking points of another satisfying game for the Merseysiders…

Gravenberch’s big evening

When Liverpool searched for the final item on their list in Germany this summer, they were sure Ryan Gravenberch was the answer.

Endo ends the header drought

It was a challenging time for Wataru Endo.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have quickly adapted to life in Liverpool and secured places in Jürgen Klopp’s first-choice midfield. In recent weeks, Gravenberch, another summer signing, has increasingly looked like he fits in.

However, Endo was watching from a distance. An unused substitute against Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton, August’s trip to Newcastle United remains his only Premier League start since his surprise £16.2m move from Stuttgart, with Mac Allister Klopp’s preferred option as No.6.

The Japan international was desperate to prove he deserves more playing time and it was a big night for him.

Endo heads his first Liverpool goal (Oli Scarff /AFP via Getty Images)

Endo mastered the tackles and provided players with protection for a much-changed defensive line. When he had the ball, he took the lead early on and his precise distribution repeatedly helped to convert the defense into an attack. Endo completed 67 of his 70 passes (96 percent) and won 11 of his 15 duels (73 percent), as well as six tackles and three interceptions.

After Thijs Dallinga exploited Liverpool’s high line to cancel out Diogo Jota’s superb opener, the 30-year-old brought the hosts back under control.

A short corner routine between Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones ended with Endo firing a header past Restes after an inviting cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Not only was it his first Liverpool goal, it was also the first headed goal of the season for Klopp’s side – and Liverpool’s first headed goal since Joel Matip scored against West Ham in April. How ironic that the 178 cm tall midfielder can do this.

His beaming smile lit up Anfield as the Kop called his name for the first time.

Headed goals in all competitions 2023–24

After the break he almost secured a second when he fended off Niklas Schmidt, but his shot went wide of the goal. Still, Endo was able to hold his head up.

James Pearce

Six seconds that summed up Nunez

Darwin Nunez was substituted to the loudest cheers of the night from the sympathetic Anfield crowd after a moment of madness contributed to Liverpool’s fourth goal. He smiled but was almost in disbelief at the play that had preceded his departure.

In six seconds of utter chaos that summed up his Liverpool career so far, Nunez stormed forward…

went around the Toulouse defender with ease…

then skipped past the goalkeeper…

…before somehow smashing the post instead of turning it into an empty net. Typical Nunez.

Although Gravenberch put the finishing touches to the move, Nunez lay on the ground cursing and wondering how on earth another great opportunity in front of the Kop had been squandered.

Yet he is still so likeable. The crowd stood behind the Uruguayan great throughout the evening, acknowledging his hard running and raiding game with chants after each impressive moment. And finally, he scored from a tight angle in the first half – which made his miss in the second half all the more curious.

There’s a real hero if he can just find these shooting boots on a regular basis.

Greg Evans

Proud evening for the academy

The Europa League isn’t where Liverpool want to be, but it at least gives Klopp the luxury of being able to use his squad.

Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Kostas Tsimikas, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz all had the evening off, while Mohamed Salah – who scored Liverpool’s fifth goal, becoming the highest-scoring player in Europe for an English club – made a cameo appearance ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest.

Most goals in Europe for an English club

The Europa League offers some great opportunities for the club’s young players and 19-year-old left-back Luke Chambers, who has been in the squad since he was six, was the latest to make his full debut.

With Andy Robertson set to be sidelined for around 12 weeks following his operation in Manchester on Wednesday, Klopp will have to relieve Tsimikas. The Greek international cannot play every game in such a busy schedule.

Chambers, who enjoyed a productive loan spell at Kilmarnock last season, coped well after initial nerves and went on to have a memorable evening.

“When I came through the academy ranks as a boy, that was my dream,” he said. “I found out yesterday that I started training. It just really dawned on me this morning. The manager told me: ‘No pressure, just enjoy it and play your usual game.’ I’m hungry for more opportunities.”

Luke Chambers impressed for Liverpool (Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)

In the second half, the two teenagers Calum Scanlon and James McConnell made their senior national team debuts. What an experience for her on the big stage; it should stimulate their appetite.

There have also been more minutes for Jarell Quansah, who has benefited greatly from Liverpool’s decision not to buy another centre-back this summer.

In addition, Alexander-Arnold wore the captain’s armband and Jones held the reins in midfield. It was a proud evening for the club’s youth team.

If Liverpool beat Toulouse away from home in two weeks, they will have won the group with two games to spare. Expect to see a lot more of these kids.

James Pearce

(Additional reporting: Mark Carey)

(Top photo: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)