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:
Could Salah be called up for Egypt?
Klopp also addressed concerns over Mo Salah being called up by Egypt during the international break in March, so soon after he recovery from injury.
The Liverpool boss replied: "That is nothing to do [with me] really. That will be decided in different departments. No, nothing to do with that.
"Let’s see how long he can play now. As I said, two days in team training - so, in a different situation players are not in the squad in this moment, but in our situation it makes sense.
"What can we give him? How much can we use him? We will see that.
"And then there are two games with Egypt, but it’s really not up to me or stuff like this, we are not really involved. That is discussed in other departments, let me say it like that."
‘They’ve never played us’
Jurgen Klopp was full of energy and in a positive mood at his press conference in Prague.
He was asked about the progress Sparta have made under Brian Priske and said it was great before adding a polite warning:
“They’ve never played us. So, as good as they are – and they are good – we will see how it works out.”
Liverpool highlight three Michael Edwards alternatives in new sporting director pursuit
Liverpool are facing crunch time in their attempts to hire a new sporting director with a need to make a decision soon.
They have tried to bring back Michael Edwards, who left in 2022, but while a return is seen as unlikely, it has not been completely ruled out yet.
Edwards, who now runs a consultancy company, helped build Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League- and Champions League-winning teams during 11 years at Anfield and is still held in high regard by owners Fenway Sports Group.
Liverpool identify four targets for new sporting director
As well as finding a successor to Jurgen Klopp, Fenway Sports Group hope to find a new sporting director to lead the Reds’ transfer strategy
More from Mac Allister
At the pre-match press conference Alexis Mac Allister was asked how he manages to keep his composure in such vital situations - he set up Darwin Nunez’s winner against Nottingham Forest - and he replied:
“I don’t know, I just play football and that’s what I like.
“I have played football for a long time even though I am still young. I think the experience helps, definitely, and for me it is important to think on the pitch.
“You have to see where your teammates are and once you have the ball you have to try to make the best decision you can. That’s what I try.
“I don’t know if I look calm or not, but I can tell you my brain is at 200 per cent!”
Mac Allister on relationship with Nunez
Liverpool midfielder, Alexis Mac Allister, spoke about his developing relationship with Darwin Nunez saying that he has a good connection with the forward.
“My relationship with Darwin is very good, of course,” said Mac Allister, “I think since the first time we met you could see the connection between us off the pitch.
“Then, on the pitch, of course we try to be connected. When I play as a No.8 of course, that connection has to be important. He is an amazing guy, he is doing very well and he works very hard. That is why I am very happy for him.
“Sometimes I hear people say I help him a lot but that is not true! His level is because he trains very well, he works very hard and that’s why he is scoring goals and why he is important for this team.”
Sparta Prague vs Liverpool
Liverpool qualified as group winners from Group E along with Toulouse. The Reds won four and lost two of their six games and guaranteed top spot with a match to spare.
Can they continue that form against the Czechia champions tonight?
Jurgen Klopp hails last-gasp Liverpool hero Darwin Nunez
Jurgen Klopp hailed Darwin Nunez’s last-gasp winner in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat of Nottingham Forest as the perfect response to the City Ground boo-boys.
Nunez marked his return from a three-game injury lay-off by heading home Alexis Mac Allister’s cross in the ninth minute of added time to lift his side four points clear at the top of the Premier League.
As Nunez stepped off the bench in the second half, a section of Forest fans chanted: “You’re just a sxxx Andy Carroll”, in reference to the Uruguay international’s pony-tail, which is similar to the one worn by the former Liverpool striker.
Jurgen Klopp hails last-gasp Liverpool hero Darwin Nunez
Nunez marked his return from a three-game injury lay-off by heading home Alexis Mac Allister’s cross.
Klopp expecting a physical game
Jurgen Klopp recalled Sparta Prague’s physical approach when they took on Galatasaray in the play-off round and is expecting a similar style outing this evening.
“I remember right, we had some argument on the touchline about style of play as the opponent was pretty rough,” said Klopp.
“I saw the Galatasaray game (Sparta’s previous game in the play-off round) and that was not a friendly game as well.
“It is knockout stages, you go for everything and everyone involved in this competition does the same. We aren’t here for a friendly game.”
Klopp on managing Salah’s gametime
"We want to be careful and have to be careful [with Salah] but we are in the middle of a super-intense period of the season," added Klopp when speaking about Mo Salah’s return.
"We need everybody and now let’s see how long we can use him. That’s how it is with him and others as well. It’s just good news."
Priske on dealing with an injury-hit Liverpool
Brian Priske also addressed what it is like to prepare for a Liverpool side that has been affected by a number of injuries in recent weeks.
“It’s harder to guess who they’re going to line up with in that sense,” he said, “Of course we look at the opponent and we also look at who they’ve got available, but overall we try to create a picture for the players on the style of play, on the philosophy of the team we play against – obviously with some individual qualities here and there.
“But no matter who Liverpool play with, it’s going to be quality; it’s going to be individual quality but it’s also going to be quality from the style of play.
“How Liverpool have been playing this season is fantastic. They score a lot of goals, creating a lot of xG, and that will not change, whether it’s one of the young boys – if we can call them that – who already play in the Premier League.
“[My team] are going to have their hands full for sure, no matter who is playing [for Liverpool].”
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