Jurgen Klopp knows better than most there are no short-cuts to success. So this was an unnecessary reminder his new-look Liverpool remain very much a work in progress.

The opportunity to earn early qualification to the knockout stages of the Europa League was spurned on an evening that exposed the issues that have been nagging away at Reds supporters throughout an overall encouraging start to the campaign.

Only a second defeat in 28 games in all competitions, Klopp’s side have earned the right to have a collective off night as there was one heavy rotation too many with Virgil van Dijk, Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch joining those already absent.

LFC RATINGS: Kostas Tsimikas dreadful and five bad vs Toulouse

READ MORE: Liverpool have developed really worrying problem at the worst possible time

But regular observers will not have been surprised by the areas in which the Reds fell short at a boisterous Stade de Toulouse, the home fans who had made themselves heard at Anfield a fortnight ago building a wall of noise that made for a lively if not exactly intimidating atmosphere.

This was their biggest home game in years. For Liverpool, though, it wasn’t even their biggest away game of the week. And the difference in desire was too often horribly apparent.

Not that the Reds were phoning it in. More that, buoyed by their vociferous support and a Kostas Tsimikas-gifted opener, Toulouse had something on which to hold and build after appearing second best for much of the first half.

And they were assisted by an increasingly erratic Liverpool performance that only spluttered into life late on yet could have snatched an unlikely draw with Jarell Quansah’s injury-time leveller – seemingly initially given the all-clear by VAR – chalked off for a debatable handball by Alexis Mac Allister significantly earlier in the move.

The best result of the day had, of course, been secured earlier on with confirmation Luis Diaz’s father had been released in Colombia having been held captive for more than 12 days by a local guerrilla group.

Diaz, who returned to action on Sunday by coming off the bench to score a dramatic Premier League equaliser at Luton Town, started against Toulouse on the left flank, one of nine changes from the weekend.

The emotional strength of the 26-year-old during the recent ordeal – he was unable to return to his homeland – should be hugely commended, and he began the game as though a weight had been lifted during a busy opening.

Not that Toulouse were willing to join the celebrations. Diaz came in for some rough treatment, and it was from one such foul that Liverpool fashioned the game’s first chance early on, Cody Gakpo’s free-kick from the left glanced on to the crossbar by Joe Gomez. The wait for a first goal goes on for the defender.

Diaz, though, was partly culpable for Toulouse’s second, hounded out of possession on the left flank before Vincent Sierro found Thijs Dallinga inside the area to score into the bottom corner.

Gomez could at least claim an assist as Liverpool briefly threatened a comeback, heading substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross to the far post in the 74th minute where it dropped in off the shoulder of Cristian Casseres. Two minutes later, though, Frank Magri was afforded far too much space to thump home a loose ball from the angle.

By then, Gomez – who had started at right-back – had shifted to the opposite wing after Tsimikas was replaced at the break following a dreadful mistake that handed Toulouse a 39th-minute lead, dawdling in possession to allow Aron Donnum to hare down on Caoimhin Kelleher’s goal and strike a shot in off the unlucky Quansah.

The 20-year-old deserved better given a fine performance on only his fifth start while 17-year-old Ben Doak, back fit after injury, was handed a third start. Doak remains extremely raw but the thrilling, direct nature of his game was present here and he tested Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes with one first-half drive.

The greatest intrigue from the starting line-up was Alexis Mac Allister on the left of the midfield three having spent much of the campaign in defensive midfield, a role that was here occupied by Wataru Endo.

Mac Allister may have been making the right noises during interviews but there’s no doubt the number six role isn’t his optimum position, hampering some of his talents and ability to pass his way through stubborn rearguards. He isn’t a natural defender, as shown by the five bookings picked up in 11 Premier League appearances that rule him out of Sunday’s visit of Brentford through suspension.

This, then was an audition for Endo, making a sixth successive start in cup competitions this season but restricted to bench duty in the Premier League since August.

It didn’t go so well for the Japan international. While confident in possession, he was guilty of being far too rash in the tackle – either through positional difficulties or an over-eagerness to impress – and could have picked up more than just the one booking before the break. Indeed, he was hooked at half-time.

Mac Allister had looked lively in the first half but had to revert to the deeper role once Endo departed, although he could claim an assist when substitute Diogo Jota subsequently waltzed through to reduce the arrears to 3-2 with nine minutes remaining. This was the first time the Portuguese had scored for the Reds and finished on a losing side.

Liverpool’s strong position in the group – they lead by two points from Toulouse and only need two more to qualify – means there will be no great harm done with this defeat. But the Reds got what they deserved – nothing.