Sparta Prague 1-5 Liverpool: Player ratings as Reds put one foot in Europa League quarter-finals
Liverpool have one foot in the Europa League quarter-finals after making light work of Sparta Prague in the first leg of their last 16 tie in the Czech capital.
Jurgen Klopp saw fit to rest Virgil van Dijk from the start and not rush Mohamed Salah back into the lineup after his recent injury. But Alexis Mac Allister got the ball rolling inside six minutes from the penalty spot, with Darwin Nunez getting a brace before half-time.
Conor Bradley’s own goal with his first touch immediately after coming on at the break threatened to hand Sparta a lifeline, but Luis Diaz quickly restored the three-goal cushion and Dominik Szoboszlai made it 5-1 in the Reds’ favour in stoppage time at the end.
Ibrahima Konate’s night ending after just 50 minutes because of injury was an unfortunate blot.
Liverpool made a quick start as their European adventure resumed, with Mac Allister winning his own penalty after pressing Sparta defender Asger Sorensen high up receiving a pass from the goalkeeper. The Argentine pinched the ball and was caught, confidently converting from 12 yards moments later after the referee pointed to the spot.
Sparta had their own spell of ascendancy as the game developed and should have equalised when Caoimhin Kelleher reacted brilliantly to keep out Lukas Haraslin at the far post. Kelleher was less convincing a few minutes later when he flapped at a corner, but made up for it with another top save when Angelo Preciado headed back towards goal.
Nunez pulled out a rocket midway through the half to end that home pressure, Liverpool’s 1,000th goal under Klopp. The in-form Uruguayan made space for his shot by cutting inside Preciado on the inside left and unleashed a stunning 25 yarder that flew in beyond the reach of Peter
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