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:
Clinical Darwin Nunez leads the way as Liverpool dominate Sparta Prague
Darwin Nunez scored the 1,000th goal of Jurgen Klopp’s reign in Liverpool’s comfortable 5-1 Europa League win over Sparta Prague but it was not quite the perfect warm-up for Sunday’s title clash with Manchester City after another injury blow.
The Uruguay international finished the last-16 first-leg tie with another on the stroke of half-time but it was his first in the 25th minute which was massively important – and not just because of the landmark it brought up.
Liverpool had been under a sustained spell of pressure after Alexis Mac Allister, taking over penalty duties from Nunez after his failure against Chelsea in January, had put them ahead.
Clinical Darwin Nunez leads the way as Liverpool dominate Sparta Prague
Sparta Prague 1-5 Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp’s men romped to victory in the Europa League last-16
Erling Haaland gives cheeky response to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool trophy claim
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland quickly reminded Trent Alexander-Arnold that he has won the treble and Liverpool have not after the Reds vice-captain claimed trophies “mean more” at Anfield.
Liverpool host City in a crucial clash in the Premier League title race this weekend, with Jurgen Klopp’s side leading the champions by a point in the table.
City were dominant last season, with Haaland scoring 52 goals in his debut year as they won the treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup trophies.
Erling Haaland gives cheeky response to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool claim
The Manchester City striker responded to Alexander-Arnold in a typically blunt manner ahead of this weekend’s clash at Anfield
FT Sparta Prague 1-5 Liverpool
Elsewhere in the Europa League this evening, Brighton have had a shocking night in Rome. Roma stormed to a 4-0 victory which leaves the Seagulls with a huge task to recover from that loss next week.
Full-time! Sparta Prague 1-5 Liverpool
90+5 mins: The final whistle is blown and Liverpool’s domination is complete. They win this clash 5-1 and bring a four goal cushion back to Anfield.
That should be enough to get them into the quarter-finals too. Job very much done.
GOAL! Sparta Prague 1-5 Liverpool (Szoboszlai, 90+4’)⚽️
90+4 mins: In what may be the final act of the game. Cody Gakpo picks out Dominik Szoboszlai who dances across the face of goal and slots a fine finish past the goalkeeper who should do better.
Sparta Prague 1-4 Liverpool
90 mins: Four minutes of added time to play before the end of this match. Will there be another goal?
Sparta Prague 1-4 Liverpool
88 mins: Sparta Prague are given a slight reprieve with that disallowed goal. Mo Salah won’t be best pleased by he still has five minutes or so to get on the scoresheet.
Sparta Prague 1-4 Liverpool
85 mins: No goal!
Salah’s effort is chalked off after a VAR check and Liverpool’s fifth doesn’t stand.
GOAL! Sparta Prague 1-5 Liverpool (Salah, 84’)⚽️
84 mins: There it is.
Dominik Szoboszlai, with the help of Harvey Elliott and Bobby Clark, work their way up the pitch and slip the ball into the box for Mo Salah.
He takes a touch then curls it past the goalkeeper who gets a finger to the ball but can’t keep it out.
Sparta Prague 1-4 Liverpool
81 mins: Less than 10 minutes to go in this first leg. Salah looks sharp after his recent injury and you wouldn’t put it past him to get a goal before the end of the night.
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