Damien Comolli has revealed how Toulouse produced their shock win over Liverpool in the Europa League.

The French club’s president previously spent 18 months as director of football at Anfield, more than a decade ago.

He was one of the first appointments made by FSG and was most notably responsible for the deadline day signings of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll due to the departure of Fernando Torres in January 2011, as well as bringing future sporting director Michael Edwards to the club as head of analytics.

Commoli’s mixed hit rate with signings continued into the summer, with the likes of Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam making their way to Merseyside. Liverpool did win the League Cup during his tenure but he was ultimately sacked in April 2012 after a disappointing league campaign.

It appears that Commolli has learned from his previous experiences, though. Toulouse have been transformed from a recent Ligue 2 side to winning the French Cup and battling Liverpool in the Europa League. Having suffered a 5-1 defeat at Anfield last month, the former Liverpool chief explained how Toulouse masterminded their 3-2 home victory in the reverse fixture.

“Without sounding arrogant, we planned for it,” Comolli said, as reported by The Athletic. “We knew the game at Anfield was going to be hell, but we thought, ‘We can do something at home’, so we approached it differently. It was not unexpected.

“We are extremely data-driven on all our football decisions. How we recruit coaches, players; the way we attack, defend; shoot, don’t shoot; cross, press; even optimise our wage bill. Data is part of our culture.”

Comolli arrived in England as a scout for Arsenal under Arsene Wenger before eventually becoming a director of football at Tottenham Hotspur and then with Liverpool. He has faced plenty of challenges throughout his career but the 50-year-old seems to be a perfect fit for Toulouse.

“We got promoted (in the 2021-22 season) and French football noticed; after the cup, European football noticed; after beating Liverpool, the world of football noticed,” Comolli added.

“I really feel now that I’m at peace. Those years in different jobs and countries are now my toolbox that I peek inside and choose the right tool for the solution.

“I can control more or less everything that is happening day to day but, even in a crisis, there’s no panic. The key is having good people around me and listening to them. Speaking is easy, listening is more difficult.”

READ NEXT:

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah added another record to his resume on Thursday afternoon.

Mohamed Salah enjoyed a record-breaking four-goal haul in his latest appearance for Egypt – cementing his place as his country’s highest-ever goal-scorer in World Cup qualifying.

The 31-year-old, who has been in inspired form for Liverpool this campaign, fired four goals in Egypt’s 6-0 victory against Dijbouti on Thursday. Victory sees the Pharaohs take an early lead at the top of their qualification group for the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States.

Salah, who started the win in Cario, opened the scoring inside 17 minutes before doubling his and Egypt’s tally just five minutes later. By the 69th minute, the Liverpool forward had added another two goals to his performance to conclude a scintillating four-goal outing.

INTERVIEW: Liverpool didn’t expect me in the first team just yet – but I won’t stop until I’m one of the best

If taking the match ball home wasn’t enough of an achievement for the Egyptian though, who fired his 50th, 51st, 52nd and 53rd strikes for his nation, then surpassing the tally of Mohamed Aboutreika’s 14 goals in World Cup qualifying for Egypt will surely represent a solid night’s work for the forward.

Aboutreika had long been Egypt’s most prolific marksman in World Cup qualification with a return of 14 goals in 25 appearances between 2001 and 2013. However, Salah’s four-goal return on Thursday night saw the forward leapfrog the now-retired Aboutreika with a record of 15 goals in 21 World Cup qualifying matches.

It is the latest feat of what has been a triumphant week for Salah, who on Sunday became just the third player in Premier League history, alongside Thierry Henry and Alan Shearer, to score or assist in 15 consecutive home games as he netted a brace during Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Brentford.

The Liverpool forward is next in action on Sunday afternoon as Egypt face Sierra Leone.