Sparta Prague vs Liverpool LIVE: Europa League result and reaction as Reds score five in last-16 first leg
Sparta Prague 1-5 Liverpool: The Red ran riot away from home and have one foot in the next round
Liverpool got their Europa League knockout rounds off to a fabulous start by hammering Sparta Prague 4-1 away from home in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Despite a looming Premier League clash against Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp named strong starting line-up and was rewarded immediately as Alexis Mac Allister won and converted a penalty inside the first six minutes.
Sparta almost responded through Lukas Haraslin but Caoimhin Kelleher proved to be a strong deputy for Alisson Becker making the first of a series of solid saves throughout the night.
Darwin Nunez then curled home a beautifully long-ranged effort halfway through the first half before a guided finish on the stroke of half-time from the Uruguayan brought Liverpool a third.
The hosts did earn a deserved goal straight after the restart. Veljko Birmancevic nipped in behind on the right side and forced a back-tracking Conor Bradley to turn the ball into his own net.
Liverpool got the last word though as Luis Diaz’s deflected shot hit the back of the net and Dominik Szoboszlai scored late in stoppage time to ensure they bring a big cushion back to Anfield for the second leg next week.
Relive the action from the Europa League in the blog below and get the latest odds and tips here:
Sparta Prague 0-1 Liverpool
12 mins: Wataru Endo is a little heavy and a little late on a tackle against Lukas Haraslin which doesn’t please the Sparta forward. The host burst down the left wing and win a throw in.
It’s sent long into the box and there’s a scramble before Liverpool hook the ball away through Luis Diaz.
Sparta Prague 0-1 Liverpool
9 mins: Liverpool will be pleased with their start. Asger Sorensen, and Sparta Prague as a whole, have been a bit scatterbrained during the opening few minutes of this one.
They need to stay switched on in order to get back into the match.
GOAL! Sparta Prague 0-1 Liverpool (Mac Allister, 6’)⚽️
6 mins: A perfect start for Liverpool!
Alexis Mac Allister steps up for the Reds, whips his foot over the ball and curls the spot kick into the bottom left corner as the goalkeeper dives the opposite way.
Sparta Prague 0-0 Liverpool
5 mins: Penalty to Liverpool!
Jurgen Klopp has named a pretty strong team tonight and is showing Sparta Prague the respect they deserve. Asger Sorensen turns blind with the ball and runs into Alexis Mac Allister who nicks the ball away.
Sorensen follows through and kicks the Liverpool midfielder who goes down inside the penalty area. After VAR check the referee points to the spot!
Sparta Prague 0-0 Liverpool
3 mins: Close!
A mistake from the home side sees Wataru Endo release Darwin Nunez into the penalty area. He skips to the left of the goalkeeper but is off balance when he shoots and scuffs the ball.
Ladislav Krejci clears the danger off the line as Cody Gakpo looked for the rebound but that was a close call for Sparta Prague.
Kick off! Sparta Prague 0-0 Liverpool
Liverpool get the ball rolling for this last-16 tie. Harvey Elliott sends the ball back to Ibrahima Konate who passes it across to Andy Robertson.
The Reds’ captain tonight carries the ball down the left wing but runs into traffic and has to retreat.
Sparta Prague vs Liverpool
Here come the teams!
Andy Robertson has the captain’s armband for tonight’s clash as Virgil van Dijk has to settle for a spot on the bench ahead of Sunday’s Premier League tie with Man City.
Mo Salah is in the squad but as a substitute and it remains to be seen whether he’ll get a run out this evening. Kick off is up next...
Sparta Prague vs Liverpool
These sides have met once before - in the last 32 of this competition back in 2010/11. Dirk Kuyt scored the only goal as the Reds won 1-0 on aggregate over two legs.
Who will triumph from this two-legged tie?
Sparta Prague vs Liverpool
Liverpool are just two goals short of recording 1,000 during Jurgen Klopp’s tenure as manager. Klopp has taken charge of Liverpool in Europe more times than any other boss in club history. This match will be his 88th fixture.
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