Liverpool thrashed Czech champions Sparta Prague 5-1 to all but guarantee a place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Early goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Darwin Nunez, who scored a brace, followed by second-half strikes from Luis Diaz and Dominik Szoboszlai will ensure the second leg at Anfield next week is sure to be a formality.
The Reds got off to a perfect start in the Czech capital, with Mac Allister converting a penalty within five minutes. Nunez soon made it two-nil with a sublime long range effort and, though Kelleher was forced into several top class saves as Prague threatened on the break, Nunez lashed in his second on the stroke of half-time.
Klopp’s men though, failed to heed the warning of Sparta’s rapid counter-attacks and almost immediately from second half kick-off, Liverpool paid the price. A slick move down Liverpool’s right flank, this time leading to Conor Bradley, on for Joe Gomez, finding his own net. Unlike in the first-half, Kelleher couldn’t repell the attack and the atmosphere in the stadium was transformed.
Liverpool had their jittery moments in the first half, often looking all at sea in defence, and Sparta sensed an opportunity to score again. However, the Premier League leaders seemed to sense that now was the time to take a firm grip of the game and, despite yet an injury to Ibou Konate, they soon opened up a three-goal lead once again. This time it was Diaz who, via a deflection, stroked the ball home from close range.
With Nunez having been replaced early in the second half, Mo Salah was given the final 15 minutes ahead of the crunch game against Manchester City on Sunday. Those 15 minutes actually led to the Egyptian finding the back of the net, only for the goal to be ruled out. Liverpool though were not to be denied a fifth and second-half substitute Szoboszlai completed the scoring in injury time.
