Europa League: Live scores, team news and updates as Luis Diaz starts for Liverpool against after his father’s release against Toulouse and Brighton travel to Ajax

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!