Liverpool has one foot in the Europa League quarter-finals a comprehensive victory over Sparta Prague. The Reds won 5-1 in the first leg in the Czech Republic to ensure they take a commanding lead back to Anfield next week.
Liverpool made the perfect start as Sparta’s defense was immediately caught out by the Jürgen Klopp press. Darwin Núñez couldn’t make the most of an early opportunity, but the visitors didn’t have to wait much longer to take the lead.
Alexis Mac Allister caught Asger Sørensen cold as he nipped in to touch the ball away, with the Sparta defender bringing the Liverpool midfielder down. Mac Allister stepped up to the penalty spot himself and sent Peter Vindahl the wrong way to give the Reds the lead.
The visitors’ goal came under siege thereafter, with Caoimhín Kelleher called into action a few times along with some help from Joe Gomez. Just as the hosts looked to be building some momentum though, Núñez struck a killer blow as his effort from distance looped over a flapping Vindahl to put Liverpool in total control.
And the tie looked to be all but over at half-time when Núñez and Mac Allister combined just before half-time, with the former volleying home to make it 3-0. It didn’t take long for Sparta to respond after the break though, with Conor Bradley firing into his own net with his first touch off the bench to give the hosts some hope.
Liverpool suffered another blow soon after when Ibrahima Konaté went off after pulling up injured. The Reds though were able to recover and restore their three-goal lead through Luis Díaz, and there was a late boost as Mohamed Salah made his injury return from the bench ahead before Dominik Szoboszlai rounded off the scoring in stoppage time. Here are the four things Liverpool.com spotted as the game unfolded.
