Liverpool vs Sparta Praha Match Overview
Liverpool stormed into the quarter-finals of the Europa League after a 6-1 demolition of Sparta Praha on Thursday. Having thumped the Czech Republic side 5-1 away from home in the first leg, the Reds already had one leg in the last-8 coming into last night’s fixture. Yet, they spared no effort in the Anfield leg too and registered one of their biggest aggregate wins ever in Europe.
Darwin Nunez got them underway in the seventh minute after being set up brilliantly by Dominik Szoboszlai before Bobby Clark added a second less than a minute later. Mohamed Salah soon joined the party as Liverpool were 3-0 up within the first 10 minutes of the kickoff, but more misery was to follow for Praha as Cody Gakpo made it 4-0 in just the 14th minute.
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The Maroons eased the scoreline a bit with a consolation goal through Veljko Birmancevic but Liverpool were still 9-1 up on aggregate as the tie was long over. Nonetheless, that didn’t dissuade the Reds from going at them once again the second half, with Gakpo bringing up his double and Szoboszlai netting one too as Jurgen Klopp’s relentless side capped off a thumping victory.
If there were any doubts over Liverpool’s title credentials, they were certainly cleared here in emphatic fashion. Whoever faces them in the next round will have a real challenge on their hands against this unstoppable juggernaut. Here are Liverpool vs Sparta Praha Player Ratings:-
Liverpool vs Sparta Praha Player Ratings
Liverpool
Caoimhin Kelleher (GK) – 7/10: He might as well have set up a barbeque at his end, as the visitors rarely threatened, but still couldn’t get a clean sheet
Conor Bradley (RB) – 7/10: With the Reds forwards wreaking havoc, his contributions weren’t really needed in the attack, although Bradley was solid defensively
Jarell Quansah (CB) – 7/10: His confidence on the ball went beyond his age, while his reading of the game was top-notch too
Joe Gomez (CB) – 6.5/10: He had a comfortable evening with the visitors rarely threatening
Andrew Robertson (LB) – 7.5/10: The Scotsman was involved at both ends. He completed 120 passes and made four clearances
Dominik Szoboszlai (RM) – 8/10: He was the architect of Nunez’s opener before bagging one himself in the second half
Wataru Endo (CM) – 6/10: The Japanese international could’ve done better for Praha’s goal
Bobby Clark (LM) – 7/10: Excellent finishing for his goal followed by wonderful technique to create for Salah
Mohamed Salah (RW) – 9/10: Six goals on the night and none from Salah? Impossible! The Egyptian added a third in the 10th minute and registered a hat-trick of assists too
Darwin Nunez (ST) – 8/10: He opened the floodgates for Liverpool in the seventh minute with a cool finish, having also scored twice in the first leg
Cody Gakpo (LW) – 8.5/10: The Dutchman bagged a brace on a goal-crazy night for the Reds
Sparta Praha
Peter Vindahl (GK) – 3/10: Poor Vindahl, the Praha goalkeeper was buried under a litany of goals at Anfield
Angelo Preciado (RB) – 7/10: The marauding full-back endured a tough evening but still managed to set up Birmancevic for their only goal of the night
Martin Vitik (CB) – 4/10: He was no match for Cody Gakpo
Jaroslav Zeleny (CB) – 6/10: He was beaten to Liverpool’s third goal but was otherwise a bright spark in their terrible defense
Ladislav Krejci (CB) -4/10: His loose pass allowed Salah to score a goal and then got beaten to Liverpool’s fifth of the evening
Matej Rynes (LB) – 4.5/10: Sloppy in possession and completely lacking in pace; hooked off at half-time
Markus Solbakken (RM) – 7.5/10: He was the source of a few good crosses and gave Liverpool’s defense something to think about
Kaan Kairinen (CM) – 6.5/10: More adventurous than most of his teammates and even managed to get a shot away in the first half
Qazim Laci (LM) – 6.5/10: He showed courage on the face of an onslaught and fought hard for the ball, but alas
Veljko Birmancevic (ST) – He managed to pull one back for the beleaguered visitors in a moment of consolation for them
Jan Kuchta (ST) – Completely anonymous, failing to muster a single shot on target and completing only 11 passes in 58 minutes
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