Both teams are aiming to maintain their unbeaten records in this year's group stage. Liverpool recently bounced back from dropping points in their last two Premier League matches before the international break by securing a 2-0 victory over local rivals Everton at Anfield.
Although Ashley Young's first-half dismissal worked in Liverpool's favor, they had to wait until the 75th minute for Mohamed Salah to open the scoring from the penalty spot, with Salah adding a second deep into stoppage time. This win helped Liverpool maintain their place in the top four of the Premier League.
Jurgen Klopp's team is looking forward to carrying the momentum from their derby win into upcoming league fixtures against Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, and Luton Town. However, their immediate focus is on the Europa League, where they face Toulouse. Remarkably, Liverpool last met Toulouse in Champions League qualifying in 2007, winning 5-0 on aggregate.
Liverpool has a perfect record in Group E so far, with a comeback 3-1 victory over LASK Linz in the first matchday, followed by a routine 2-0 home win against Union SG three weeks ago. They have now gone 10 matches unbeaten in the Europa League group stage.
Playing at Anfield, where they have won all six matches in all competitions this season and have only lost two of their last 15 European home games against French teams, Liverpool can open a five-point lead over second-placed Toulouse with a win on Thursday, putting them in firm control of Group E at the halfway point.
Toulouse enters the contest on a four-match unbeaten streak in all competitions. In their most recent Ligue 1 fixture, they managed a 1-1 draw against Reims. Thijs Dallinga scored a close-range header to equalize after Amir Richardson's early opener for Reims. Toulouse now has five league draws this season, the joint-most in Ligue 1 alongside Rennes, after nine games.
With two wins and two defeats in the current season, Carles Martinez's team is in the middle of the Ligue 1 table, sitting three points above the relegation zone and four points behind the European qualification places.
Toulouse is making its return to European competition after 14 years and has collected four points from their first two matches in Group E, including a 1-1 draw against Union SG in the first matchday and a narrow 1-0 home win over LASK Linz three weeks ago.
However, their recent away form has been less than stellar, failing to win in their last five away matches in all competitions. Despite being underdogs, a victory over Liverpool would see them achieve back-to-back European victories in the same season for the first time since 1987-88 when they defeated Panionios home and away in the UEFA Cup first round.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Liverpool will have to make do without Andrew Robertson, who is nursing a shoulder injury, as well as Thiago Alcantara, sidelined with a hip issue, and Stefan Bajcetic, who is dealing with a calf injury. Additionally, young forward Ben Doak is likely to miss the upcoming game due to a muscle problem. On a positive note, Cody Gakpo, who had been out with a hamstring problem, is back in contention for selection after missing the last three matches.Curtis Jones is now available to return after serving the second match of his three-game domestic suspension. The midfielder may step in for Dominik Szoboszlai in the starting lineup. In the deep-lying midfield role, Wataru Endo will be in competition with Alexis Mac Allister for a starting position.
In the defensive lineup, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, and Jarell Quansah will be vying for a starting role. In the attacking front, Darwin Nunez is hoping to make a comeback in the front three, potentially displacing either Luis Diaz or Diogo Jota. Diogo Jota has been in good form, scoring seven goals in his last six Europa League games.
On the Toulouse side, Zakaria Aboukhlal and Oliver Zanden are both unavailable due to ankle and hip injuries, respectively. Summer signing Ibrahim Cissoko, who hasn't made his debut this season because of a foot problem, may still not be ready for Thursday's game.
Stijn Spierings, who served a one-match domestic suspension last weekend, is expected to return to the first XI, likely replacing either Vincent Sierro, Niklas Schmidt, or Cristian Casseres Jr in the center-midfield position.
Logan Costa, who missed the previous Europa League game against LASK Linz due to suspension, is set to rejoin the defense and partner with Rasmus Nicolaisen at the heart of the backline.
POSSIBLE LINE-UP
Liverpool possible starting lineup:Alisson; Alexander-Arnold; Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Jones, Endo, Gravenberch; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Toulouse possible starting lineup:
Restes; Keben, Costa, Nicolaisen, Suazo; Spierings, Sierro, Casseres Jr; Donnum, Dallinga, Gelabert
EXPERT PREDICTION
Liverpool 3-1 Toulouse
Liverpool shouldn't underestimate Toulouse, who have maintained an unbeaten record in Group E and have also managed to secure draws against top French teams like Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille in Ligue 1 this season.
Nevertheless, Liverpool possesses superior quality, and even if Jurgen Klopp opts to give some first-team players a break, they should have enough firepower to secure a straightforward victory. This victory would take them a step closer to advancing to the knockout stages of the competition.
