Liverpool handed themselves a big advantage as they beat Sparta Prague 5-1 away from home in the first leg of the round of 16
Off the back of a very, very late winning goal at the City Ground courtesy of Darwin Nunez’s 90+9th minute header, Liverpool were looking to make light work of Sparta Prague in the Europa League round of 16.
The Reds have had history with this side, after drawing them in the round of 32 of the Europa League back in 2010-11 (13 years ago!). Liverpool ended up drawing 0-0 in Prague and winning 1-0 at Anfield to advance into the round of 16, where they would lose 1-0 on aggregate to Braga.
This time, however, there would be no messing about from Jurgen Klopp’s team. The Liverpool boss named a strong starting 11, with Mohamed Salah back in the team on the bench for the Reds.
Just five minutes into the match, Liverpool were awarded a penalty for a clear foul on Alexis Mac Allister. It would be the Argentinian to take the spot kick, to which he converted with ease to give the Reds an early advantage.
Sparta Prague had their chances to score, but Caoimhin Kelleher was there to deny. Joe Gomez even had to clear one off his line to stop the hosts levelling the score.
One became two 20 minutes later as Darwin Nunez unleashed a helluva strike from long range, beating a hapless Peter Vindahl in Sparta Prague’s net.
Moments before the half-time whistle, Nunez did it again with a fantastic volleyed finish after Mac Allister found Liverpool’s no.9. The Reds were three goals to the good at the interval.
Gomez was substituted at the break for Conor Bradley – it’s yet to be confirmed whether the half-time change was injury-related or not. But inside a minute after coming on, Bradley was unlucky enough to put the ball into the back of his own net.
Sparta Prague had a lifeline at 3-1, and almost, perhaps should have, made it 3-2. It was brilliant work from the hosts, ending up with Lukas Haraslin having his shot saved by Kelleher.
Unfortunately for the visitors, Ibrahima Konate went down just minutes after Kelleher’s important save. Virgil van Dijk was called upon from the bench to replace the Frenchman, who is now a doubt for Sunday’s clash with Manchester City.
But that was on Sunday, and Liverpool needed to focus on getting the job halfway done tonight in Prague. And Luis Diaz’s goal to make it 4-1 to Liverpool almost certainly guaranteed their place in the quarter-final.
And if four goals wasn’t enough for you, how about five? Mohamed Salah scored to make it five for Liverpool, although, hang on. Yes, the goal was ruled out for, perhaps, the most ridiculous of offside calls. Oh wait, Diaz’s goal at Tottenham also exists.
Anyway, Liverpool kept pushing and eventually found fifth gear. This time it was Dominik Szoboszlai who cut inside and finished clinically for the Reds. A 5-1 win and a four-goal lead to take back to Anfield was definitely needed tonight.
The Reds have one foot into the quarter-finals of the Europa League and now attentions fully turn back to the Premier League.
Liverpool have Manchester City next at Anfield, in Jurgen Klopp’s final match against Pep Guardiola as Reds manager. Kick-off is at 3.45pm on Sunday, 10 March. Not one to miss.
Sparta Prague team: Vindahl, Sorensen (Rynes 43), Vitik, Krejci, Preciado, Solbakken, Kairinen (Karabec 74), Zeleny, Birmancevic (Tuci 74), Kuchta (Olatunji 74), Haraslin (Laci 65).
Liverpool team: Kelleher, Gomez (Bradley 46), Quansah, Konate (Van Dijk 50), Robertson, Elliott, Endo, Mac Allister (Clark 65), Nunez (Szoboszlai 50), Gakpo, Diaz (Salah 74).
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