Liverpool will host Sparta Prague in the Round of 16 of the Europa League on Thursday. The first meeting between Jurgen Klopp’s team and their Czech opponents ended with a 5-1 victory. The score did not fully reflect the game at the Epet Arena.
Preview (Liverpool vs. Sparta Prague)
Following Liverpool’s early lead from last week’s first leg thanks to a spot kick from Alexis Mac Allister, the Reds faced a fierce Sparta Prague storm, which they survived mainly to valiant defending and carelessness on the part of their hosts. Though Darwin Nunez had already extended Liverpool’s lead with a masterful brace before the right-back blasted into the roof of his net, and Luis Diaz and Dominick Szoboszlai added some gloss to the scoreline in the second half, Conor Bradley would ultimately do Sparta Prague’s work for them.
Although Klopp was fully aware that the Reds might have returned home with a far less comfortable cushion. Liverpool should have an easy ride into the round of eight of Europe’s secondary event. This is unless Sparta Prague can summon the ghosts of Barcelona from 2016–17. The Reds, have won all three of their group matches. They are now enjoying an overall record of eight straight home Europa League victories. They might now become just the second English team to win nine straight such games.
But on Sunday, Liverpool lost to Arsenal in a thrilling 1-1 tie with Manchester City. It ended Klopp and Pep Guardiola’s intriguing Premier League rivalry. This resulted in Liverpool’s eighth consecutive defeat in all competitions. Liverpool has been unstoppable when playing at home in the Europa League. Their troubled rivals Sparta Prague come to Merseyside with a dismal record of 17 defeats from their previous 21 continental games on the rival ground, including losses in each of their last four away knockout games.
Team News
Abraham Konate was forced off the pitch early in the second half last week due to a hamstring injury. He will also miss the Reds’ FA Cup match against Manchester United this weekend. There is still hope that he will be well enough to play in their draw with Man City this weekend. Jayden Danns is recovering from a concussion, and all of Ben Doak (knee), Joel Matip (knee), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Diogo Jota (knee), Curtis Jones (shin), Alisson Becker (thigh), Trent Alexander-Arnold (knee), Ryan Gravenberch (ankle), and Thiago Alcantara (muscle) are also restricted to the treatment room.
Although he hasn’t been included in the starting lineup since New Year’s Day, Mohamed Salah (who was left out of the Egypt team for the forthcoming international break) should also be rested here, although Klopp will undoubtedly be considering Cody Gakpo, James McConnell, Bobby Clark, and Kostas Tsimikas. When it came to defensive worries in the first leg, Liverpool and Sparta could relate to one another because Priske had to substitute Asger Sorensen shortly before halftime, and the 27-year-old Dane was unable to play in his team’s loss to Viktoria Plzen due to a hamstring injury.
Liverpool 3-0 Sparta Prague
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