Liverpool loses 3-2 at Toulouse in Europa League; Luis Diaz still has reason to celebrate

Liverpool's Luis Diaz, right, in action against Mikkel Desler of Toulouse during an UEFA Europa League match in Toulouse, France on Thursday. [EPA/YONHAP]

Liverpool's comeback fell short in a 3-2 loss at Toulouse in the Europa League on Thursday but it was still a victorious day for striker Luis Diaz.

Diaz's father was released hours before the match, 12 days after his kidnapping in northern Colombia by members of the guerrilla group National Liberation Army, or ELN.

Diaz had appealed for his father’s release after scoring Sunday in a Premier League match, revealing a T-shirt saying “Freedom for Papa” in Spanish.

On Thursday, Diaz didn’t score but still tested Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes with a low right-footed shot from outside the area in the first half.

Aron Donnum scored in the first half and Thijs Dallinga doubled the advantage just before the hour mark for the hosts, who lost 5-1 at Anfield two weeks ago.

An own goal from Cristian Casseres made it 2-1 in the 74th minute but Frank Magri quickly restored the two-goal lead.

Diogo Jota came on for Diaz in the 81st minute and scored eight minutes later. Liverpool thought its equalized in stoppage time but Jarell Quansah's goal was disallowed by VAR.

The game was Jurgen Klopp's 450th as manager for Liverpool.

Before it, Klopp told told TNT Sports the Colombia striker was “really happy” with the news that his father was freed.

After the game, he was not that happy with his team's performance.

"It was well deserved to lose because they won pretty much all the decisive challenges, battles," Klopp said. “We have too many situations where we should have won the ball but we didn't."

Liverpool leads Group E with nine points from four games. Toulouse trails by two in second.

AP