Success! Thank you for signing up to Independent Betting
The Independent’s journalism is supported by our readers. If you click links to other sites on this page, we will earn commission. Learn More

Sparta Prague vs Liverpool predictions: Europa League tips, betting odds and free bets

Prague is the next stop on Liverpool's quadruple quest for the first leg of their last 16 tie against Sparta
Sparta Prague vs Liverpool predictions: Europa League tips, betting odds and free bets
Sign up to our betting newsletter

Sparta Prague vs Liverpool betting tips


Liverpool return to European action on Thursday night as they face Sparta Prague in the first leg of their last-16 tie (5.45pm, TNT Sports 1).

The Reds advanced to the knockout phase of the Europa League with the minimum of fuss and they are the favourites to lift the trophy with football betting sites.

Sparta Prague are clear underdogs in the Europa League odds in this two-legged encounter, but they will be looking to cause an upset in front of their own fans.

Will Liverpool get the job done in the Czech capital, or could Sparta spring a surprise? 

Sparta Prague vs Liverpool tip: Reds would settle for draw

Although Liverpool have the chance to win another European trophy this term, many of their supporters would rather they did not have to contest this fixture on Thursday.

Klopp said at the very start of the campaign that he intended to take this competition seriously, but he too would surely prefer if this game was not taking place this week.

That is because Liverpool will host Manchester City in a titanic title tussle in the Premier League on Sunday. City are in action in midweek too, but their game against Copenhagen is at home and on Wednesday.

{"future_market":{"competitors":[]}}

Liverpool are also dealing with an injury crisis that has robbed them of guaranteed starters such as Alisson Becker, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Meanwhile, Ryan Gravenberch, Diogo Jota, Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara, Curtis Jones and Stefan Bajcetic are also out.

Sparta Prague may therefore have some joy in the first leg, especially as they know their chances of progression to the quarter-finals realistically hinge on if they can take a first-leg lead to Anfield next week. 

Their price to avoid defeat at home is worth a look on betting apps with BetMGM offering Sparta Prague/draw at 10/11 in their double chance market.

Sparta Prague vs Liverpool tip 1: Sparta Prague or draw double chance - 10/11 BetMGM

New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10+ at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x Free Bets: x1 £10 Football, x1 £10 Acca, x 1 £10 BetBuilder, x1 £10 Horse Racing. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. 18+. Exclusions Apply. T&Cs apply.

Goals could be few and far between

Sparta Prague have impressed on their way to the round of 16. They finished ahead of Real Betis, and only narrowly behind Rangers, in the group stage, before overcoming Galatasaray in the play-off round.

Sparta have won nine of their last 10 games in the Czech First League, in which they sit at the summit of the standings.

Brian Priske’s team are a tough nut to crack at home. They have not lost in any competition on familiar turf in 2023/24. Moreover, Sparta have conceded just three goals in their last 12 matches at the epet ARENA.

#ad. 18+. Qualifying bet of £10 at min. odds 2.0 within 5 days of registration, E/W excluded. Get 3x Free Bets at min odds 2.0 each. 1x£10 Football, 1x£10 Racing, 1x£10 Acca (Min 4 selections). 7-day expiry. New selected customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of £10. Full T&Cs apply. Promotion available on desktop and web only and is not offered via the kwiff apps.

Given Liverpool’s attacking absentees, this is unlikely to be a high-scoring thriller and going low on goals on betting sites is an option. Privately at least, Klopp would probably not be too disappointed with a 0-0 or 1-1 draw.

Sparta will have to go for it to an extent, but they cannot afford to leave themselves open at the back. A defeat this week would in effect spell the end of their participation in continental competition. 

Sparta Prague vs Liverpool tip 2: Under 2.5 goals - 23/20 BoyleSports

#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. gambleaware.org. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply. T&Cs apply

Nunez can make impact again

Darwin Nunez was Liverpool’s match-winner against Nottingham Forest last weekend. In the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time, he nodded home from close range to give Klopp’s team a massive three points.

Nunez is only just returning from injury but he is likely to start on Thursday given the absence of Salah and Jota. 

The Uruguay international might not be the most polished finisher in the world, but he is a real handful up top and is always worthy of consideration when assessing the goal scorer market on gambling sites.

Nunez has come on leaps and bounds since his first few months at Liverpool and Sparta Prague will have to watch him closely here.

The former Benfica man will be in a confident mood after the goal against Forest, so do not be surprised to see him find the back of the net once more.

Sparta Prague vs Liverpool tip 3: Darwin Nunez to score any time - 6/4 BetVictor

18+ New customers only. Opt in, deposit and bet £20+ on any sports market at minimum 1/1 odds within 7 days of registration. Get £20 in Free Bets for selected markets (No cash out) and 2x £10 Casino Bonus Funds for selected games (40x wagering. Max withdrawal £500). Bonuses expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply, see below. gambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly

Free bet offers for Sparta Prague vs Liverpool

Several new betting sites are running free bet offers that can be used in conjunction with any of our Sparta Prague vs Liverpool predictions that may have caught your eye.

Vegas Mobile Sports Casino are currently giving new customers £20 in free bets to use on their sportsbook as part of their welcome offer. To qualify, open an account and deposit a minimum of £10. Then place a wager of £10 or more on a selection at odds of 1/2 or greater.

Your account will then be credited with a £20 free bet that can be used on the Europa League or any event on the sportsbook. Any winnings from your free bet will need to be wagered 1x before being eligible to withdraw.

Vegas Mobile Sports Casino is one of a number of bookmakers that also runs casinos online, featuring a huge library of table games and the best online slots.

Before signing up with a betting site, read the terms and conditions of the welcome offer first and remember, always gamble responsibly.

#ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. New players only. Min £10 qualifying bets, stake not returned. Free bet - one-time stake of £ 20, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £ 200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Excluded Skrill deposits. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Full Terms Apply.
Greg Lea for independent.co.uk

Updated by

Greg Lea

Last Updated: 14th March 2024, 07:22 AM

Share:

You might also like

This content was created in association with Gambling.com Group. We aim to offer every online gambler and reader of The Independent a safe and fair platform through unbiased reviews of the UK's best online gambling companies. The Independent editorial team fact-checks and diligently sub-edits each article published in Independent Betting. Read more about our partnership with the world's leading online gambling affiliate and our review process.
Over-18s only – underage gambling is an offence.
Gambling can be addictive, always play responsibly and only bet what you can afford to lose. Gambling sites have a number of tools to assist you to stay in control, including deposit limits and time outs. If you think you have a problem, advice and support is available for you now from BeGambleAware or Gamcare.
Gamstop Be Gamble Aware 18+ GamCare Gambling.com
Any offers or odds listed in this article are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change. Terms & Conditions apply to all offers.