Liverpool made light work of Sparta Prague as it eased into the Europa League quarter-finals. The Czech side simply had no answer across the two legs.
Sparta Prague boss Brian Priske admitted his side had no answer to Liverpool following another heavy defeat in the Europa League.
The Reds eased into the quarter-finals in Europe as they followed up last week’s 5-1 win in the Czech Republic with a 6-1 victory at Anfield, going through 11-2 on aggregate. Cody Gakpo’s double plus goals from Darwin Núñez, Bobby Clark, Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai completed a comprehensive demolition job for the hosts.
If it wasn’t already clear from the first leg, Liverpool showed just how far ahead it was of its opponent within the opening 15 minutes at Anfield as it raced into a 4-0 lead to put the tie beyond any doubt. The Reds will go into the quarter-finals of the competition as favorites to win the whole thing, which would come as no surprise to Priske.
“All the criticism and all the haters that there may be back in the Czech Republic, but that’s how it is,” the Sparta boss said in his post-match press conference. “It’s a completely different level we played against. We’ve never faced something like this and maybe there will be some time before we do again.
“Liverpool is a Champions League team and they should be playing in the Champions League. They will maybe be Premier League winners in two months. I’m proud. We competed in some aspects in the first game in Prague, but we saw the individual quality [tonight]. It’s different level. Big, big respect to the players of Liverpool.”
Liverpool will find out its next opponent in the Europa League when the quarter-final draw is made tomorrow. Next up for the Reds though is a trip to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United in the FA Cup as the quest for a quadruple continues.
Liverpool.com says: Priske is right, although it does also have to be said his side played straight into Liverpool’s hands at times. Nevertheless, the Reds are undoubtedly a Champions League side, and should be back where they belong next season.
It’s a particularly pertinent point to make considering Liverpool’s next opponent this weekend. United looked nothing like a Champions League side earlier this season — in fact, they couldn’t even earn a place in the Europa League as consolation for their woeful performance in the group stages. Thankfully, after last season’s disappointment, normality has been restored.
