Reds stay perfect, Brighton get first win in Europe
Liverpool took full control of their Europa League group by routing Toulouse 5-1 on Thursday as five different goal scorers helped the Merseyside club remain perfect after three games. Diogo Jota opened the scoring in the ninth minute when he beat several defenders before netting. Thijs Dallinga equalized seven minutes later through the legs of goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, but it wouldn't matter. Wataru Endo headed in a Trent Alexander Arnold cross on the half-hour mark for his first goal in a Liverpool jersey, and Darwin Núñez added another four minutes later. Ryan Gravenberch scored in the 65th before substitute Mohamed Salah finished it off in stoppage time. The win at Anfield moved Liverpool five points clear of Toulouse and Union Saint-Gilloise in Group E. In Group B, Brighton earned their first-ever win in a European competition by beating Ajax 2-0.  João Pedro scored three minutes before halftime and Ansu Fati sealed a 2-0 victory for the Seagulls early in the second-half. Brighton are playing in Europe for the first time in the club’s 122-year history. In Greece, Olympiacos handed West Ham the first setback of their campaign with a 2-1 victory. Lucas Paquetá volleyed home in the 87th minute but the Premier League club couldn't find an equalizer after captain Kostas Fortounis and Brazilian defender Rodinei scored before halftime. Freiburg joined West Ham atop Group A with six points after a 3-1 win at Serbia’s TSC Bačka Topola. Roma made it three wins from three with a 2-0 victory over Slavia Prague. The Italian club needed just 45 seconds to score at Stadio Olimpico when Stephan El Shaarawy set up Edoardo Bove to net from outside the area. El Shaarawy then found Romelu Lukaku, who clinically finished with a left-footed first-time shot into the roof of the net in the 17th minute. Roma lead Group G, with Slavia three points behind. While Leverkusen remained perfect after Alejandro Grimaldo’s two goals helped the Bundesliga leader ease past Qarabag 5-1 and lead Group H by three ahead of their Thursday opponent. Rangers and Sparta played to a goalless draw in Prague to place two points behind Group C leader Real Betis, who won 1-0 at Aris Limassol. And in the Europa Conference League, Aston Villa routed AZ Alkmaar 4-1 in the Netherlands. Leon Bailey and Youri Tielemans scored in the first half, and Ollie Watkins and John McGinn netted after the break. Ibrahim Sadiq had a consolation goal for the hosts. (AP)