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.
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 scorinig in stoppage time. Here are the four things Liverpool.com spotted as the game unfolded.
Sparta were playing with fire right from the off. Having got away with one chance for Darwin Núñez when Wataru Endō caught them playing out from the back, there was no such luck for the hosts when Alexis Mac Allister nipped in just moments later and earned his side a penalty.
The Reds have been far from a sure bet from the spot. Regular taker Mohamed Salah’s recent record is patchy at best, and Núñez’s recent miss against Chelsea suggested the Uruguayan might not be a viable alternative.
Núñez took the ball off Mac Allister on that occasion, but the Argentine was not to be denied the opportunity this time. He made no mistake either, showing the ideal composure needed to send the goalkeeper the wrong way and tuck his penalty away with little fuss.
Salah will no doubt resume responsibilities when he’s back in the side regularly. With doubts over his future though, Liverpool might now have found the Egyptian’s long-term heir in one aspect at least.
Jürgen Klopp couldn’t have asked for a much better start from his side as they went 2-0 up inside just 25 minutes. With Manchester City looming on Sunday, the Reds boss was presented with the perfect opportunity to rest up some of his big names.
Not only that, but Núñez’s strike brought up another landmark for the German. Liverpool has now scored 1,000 goals under Klopp, with the Uruguayan also moving the Reds past that mark before half-time!
South American rivals they might be, but Alexis Mac Allister and Darwin Núñez have struck up a real friendship since the former’s arrival at Anfield in the summer. The Reds look to be reaping the rewards of that on the pitch now.
It already paid dividends on Saturday as the pair combined to secure that late, late win at Nottingham Forest. Mac Allister turned provider again for Núñez in Prague to seemingly all but wrap up the tie with another expertly chipped ball, with the Uruguayan comprehensively volleying the ball home.
Liverpool has been crying out for more creativity from midfield for years. It certainly looks like it’s found that now with Mac Allister.
Just days away from a crucial game against City, the last thing Klopp would have wanted was yet another injury adding to his already lengthy list. It looks like he’s got just that though.
Just five minutes into the second half, with Sparta having already pulled one back in comical fashion from Conor Bradley’s own goal, Ibrahima Konaté pulled up as the hosts looked to grab a second. With the Frenchman down, what looked a simple evening’s work was turned on its head.
Virgil van Dijk was immediately called from the bench, probably earlier than Klopp had hoped, and we now will have to wait to find out the full extent of Konaté’s injury.