Sparta Prague boss names Liverpool star who showed ‘amazing quality’ and pays Reds ultimate compliment

Sparta Prague boss names Liverpool star who showed ‘amazing quality’ and pays Reds ultimate compliment

Liverpool earned a 5-1 win over Sparta Prague and are in the driving seat to reach the Europa League quarter-finals.
By Will Rooney
Published 8th Mar 2024, 05:00 GMT
Updated 8th Mar 2024, 06:45 GMT
Sparta Prague boss Brian Priske. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Sparta Prague boss Brian Priske. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Head coach Brian Priske has insisted Sparta Prague will go for the jugular when they face Liverpool in their Europa League return clash at Anfield – but admits his side are likely to exit the competition.

The Reds are firmly in the driving seat of the last-16 tie after a 5-1 romp over the Czech outfit in the first leg at the Letna Stadium. Darwin Nunez fired a first-half double while Alexis Mac Allister (penalty), Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez were on target for Jurgen Klopp’s men.

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However, Sparta created plenty of chances in the first half especially but they lacked composure in the final third while Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher produced several fine saves.

Sparta will travel to Anfield next week with the game effectively a dead rubber. Priske took heart that his outfit were able to engineer opportunities against ‘one of the best teams in Europe and will try to do so again.

He said via the club’s website: “I told the team that in the end it is always my responsibility. I’m proud that the guys tried to play our football and didn’t focus on defending. That’s not our style of play. The players performed brilliantly, making good decisions in many ways and creating chances against one of the best teams in Europe. But from an individual point of view, we made too many mistakes, which will be punished by an opponent of this caliber. Despite the unfavorable result in the half, we did not let up and kept trying to score a goal.

“We will definitely not park the bus in front of our goal. But first we have to win on Sunday in Pilsen. Those players who will be concentrated and mentally and physically prepared for the next very difficult match of the Czech league will start. We will then try to get a good result in Liverpool, even though progressing to the next round will be very difficult. But we will definitely not defend.

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“Darwin showed amazing quality. That’s why he also plays for one of the best clubs in the world. But they have more players of similar quality in their squad, which we have to respect. They came against us in full force and took the game against us seriously. They put all their strength into it, showing us respect. Our players had to face situations on the field that they do not know from regular matches. The difference between us and the leader of the Premier League table became apparent. As a result, I am sad that we let the opponent have so many chances and scored only one goal.”

Related topics:Premier LeagueEuropa LeagueJurgen Klopp
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Sad News Darwin Nunez second goal against Sparta Prague was Concelled open for full story 👇

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Harry Sherlock
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Liverpool player ratings vs Sparta Prague: Dazzling Darwin Nunez the star as ruthless Reds put one foot in Europa League quarter-finals after absolute thrashing
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The Uruguay international scored two superb goals as a clinical Liverpool side all but secured their passage to the next round of the tournament

Darwin Nunez stared as Liverpool enjoyed a 5-1 thumping win over Sparta Prague on Thursday to put themselves within touching distance of the Europa League quarter-finals.

That scoreline papered over a performance that, in truth, left something to be desired, such were their defensive deficiencies.

Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring from the penalty spot, having won the spot-kick with a superb piece of individual pressing. Nunez then added a second and a third with two brilliant strikes, the first coming from range, before he volleyed a finish into the bottom corner from just inside the box.

Article continues below
Despite the game appearing over, Sparta found a way back into the game from an unlikely source, as substitute Conor Bradley scored an own goal with his first touch in a rare woeful bit of defending from the youngster. However, Luis Diaz netted via a deflection shortly after to restore the Reds’ three-goal lead. Mohamed Salah, on as a substitute, thought he had added a fifth but his strike was disallowed by VAR, so it was left to Dominik Szoboszlai to score the fifth.

This was an erratic performance, overall, from the Reds and one characterised by big chances and open spaces for both teams to attack; Liverpool’s clinical edge ultimately proved the difference.

GOAL rates Liverpool’s players from ePet Arena…

Kelleher LiverpoolGetty Images
Goalkeeper & Defence
Caoimhin Kelleher (7/10):

Made a clutch of excellent saves as Prague continually pressed forward, again staking his claim as the best deputy goalkeeper in the Premier League. No chance with Bradley’s own goal.

Joe Gomez (5/10):

Superb goal-line clearance after Kelleher made a great reflex save but only after being caught wildly out of position. Had to make a couple of important blocks, but appeared somewhat uneasy at right-back and was subbed at half-time.

Jarell Quansah (5/10):

A little uneasy on the ball and often hared out of defence, leaving the line exposed. Calmed down once he was next to Van Dijk.

Ibrahima Konate (5/10):

Can look clumsy at times, even if he is brave, and was skinned more than once before his injury-enforced substitution. A clunky performance.

Andrew Robertson (5/10):

Liverpool’s most experienced campaigner but he seemed reluctant to push forward, maybe to keep the line under his control. Beaten a couple of times, but Sparta couldn’t make anything stick in the final third.

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10 Mar 2024
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Midfield
Harvey Elliott (5/10):

Lost the ball in the build-up to a huge Sparta chance, but they missed an open goal. Assisted Diaz’s deflected strike.

Wataru Endo (6/10):

Some agricultural tackling but was sometimes bypassed in build-up. Always willing to take the ball, though, and worked hard.

Alexis Mac Allister (7/10):

Won Liverpool’s early penalty with a superb piece of pressing and got up to score it. Always working to move the ball forward, evidenced by his assist for Nunez’s volley. Subbed in the second half to save his legs.

Nunez LiverpoolGetty Images
Attack
Cody Gakpo (7/10):

Twice denied in the first half and again in the second, this time when one-on-one. Needs to add a lethal touch to his excellent build-up play if he is to become a key player at Anfield.

Darwin Nunez (9/10):

Scored a brilliant goal to give Liverpool a 2-0 lead, sending a 30-yard effort into the roof of the net, and then added a volley on the stroke of half-time. Came out for the second half but was surprisingly subbed to deny himself a hat-trick. A superb display.

Luis Diaz (6/10):

Peripheral in the first half but scored in the second, finishing an Elliott pass via a deflection. Always a threat when the ball comes to him.

Salah Van Dijk Liverpool subsGetty Images
Subs & Manager
Conor Bradley (6/10):

Scored an own goal with his first touch to bring Sparta back into the game, as he hacked a clearance into the top corner. But after that he worked hard and created the opening for Diaz’s goal after some fine work down the right.

Virgil van Dijk (6/10):

On for Konate. Calmed the backline down almost immediately.

Dominik Szoboszlai (7/10):

Replaced Nunez. Had a couple of shots at goal, mostly from range, then added a fifth with a cool finish.

Bobby Clark (6/10):

Came on for Mac Allister in the second half for his European debut. Pressed high consistently and won the ball before Salah scored, although his strike was disallowed.

Mohamed Salah (6/10):

On for the final 20 minutes, replacing Diaz. Thought he had scored with a cool finish inside the box to make it 5-1 but VAR ruled it out for offside.

Jurgen Klopp (6/10):

Will have been mightily impressed with Nunez and mightily unimpressed with some of his side’s defending. The patchwork backline struggled, and only found some calm once Van Dijk was introduced.

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Jurgen Klopp claims Liverpool ‘punishment’ as dressing room reaction explained
Liverpool punished Sparta Prague with a 5-1 Europa League victory to take a huge step into the Europa League quarter finals

 

Jurgen Klopp gestures prior to the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between AC Sparta Praha and Liverpool FC at Letna Stadium on March 7, 2024 (Image: Photo by Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Jurgen Klopp praised the ruthless manner in which Liverpool punished Sparta Prague’s “risky” approach as his team took a significant step towards the Europa League quarter-finals.

Two goals from Darwin Nunez, an Alexis Mac Allister penalty and second-half strikes from Luis Diaz and Dominik Szoboszlai earned the Reds a 5-1 win in their round of 16 first leg in Czechia on Thursday evening.

Sparta had caused Liverpool a number of problems during the first half in which Caoimhin Kelleher made several good stops, although they only found the target through an own goal by Reds substitute Conor Bradley shortly after the interval.

LFC RATINGS: Darwin Nunez superb and five others excellent

READ MORE: Darwin Nunez sends Man City strong message as Liverpool unleash new partnership

And when asked if the final scoreline was harsh on the home side, Klopp said: “Yes, the result is much better than the performance, that’s true. Sparta played a good game. Sparta took some risks in our possession, they (were) hiding wingers slightly (and) our protection was not good, so they could create these counter-attacks.

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“We lost a few unnecessary balls, which is then difficult to protect, but in other moments we should have done better.

“We adapted during the game and we told the boys at half-time how we should do it, but then we conceded a goal immediately. But after that it was much better. It looked like two of their big chances were offside but Caoimhin made big saves, but that’s fine.

“They took risks and we punished them for that. In other moments we scored wonderful goals, we had really good moments in the game, and we weren’t thinking we’d come here and it would be a walk in the park. We didn’t expect an easy game and it wasn’t, but it was a good result.”

Liverpool, who entertain Sparta in the return leg next Thursday, remain in the hunt for an unprecedented trophy quadruple in Klopp’s last season in charge, although the manager dismissed the notion winning a farewell European prize has increased the incentive to lift the only major silverware he hasn’t claimed during his time at Anfield.

“It would be cool, but it has nothing to do with that,” said the Reds boss. “Last year when I stayed it would have been wonderful to win something but it was impossible.

“Nobody needs to worry about that. We try really hard and you could see that tonight, my team fought as well. It’s not like we were sloppy and we thought we could do it with 80%, not at all. We made mistakes, which is human, but we fought really hard.

“If you look at the dressing room afterwards, the boys felt the intensity of the game and are happy about the result.”

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‘WORLD-CLASS…’ PAUL MERSON SAYS LIVERPOOL STAR IS ‘THE BEST RUNNER WITHOUT THE BALL IN THE WORLD’
Amir Mir
Amir Mir
Thu 7 March 2024 20:30, UK
A blockbuster Premier League title showdown awaits when Liverpool welcomes Manchester City to Anfield on Sunday.

With Liverpool leading the way at the top, you feel if there is a winner in this fixture, then it will provide them with a huge boost during this final title run-in.

Mohamed Salah has returned to action for the Reds and Paul Merson has claimed that, if he starts, then Liverpool will win the contest, as he told Soccer Special on Sky Sports (06/03/24 at 7:10 pm).

Manchester City recorded a 3-1 win over Manchester United over the weekend, but it didn’t come after Marcus Rashford’s stunning long-range opener.

Just now and again, the away side were hitting the Treble winners on the counter and targeting those acres of space in-behind the defence.

But Man United didn’t have the quality to cause many issues, something Paul Merson thinks will change against Liverpool and Mohamed Salah.

The former Arsenal and Aston Villa player thinks the Egypt star is ‘world-class’ and ‘the best runner without the ball in the world’.

Will Mohamed Salah start for Liverpool against Manchester City?
“I am not saying it’s a one-man team, I just think he needs to play,” said Merson. “I just think he is world-class. He is one of the best players in the world.

“You look a Man City, one of their achilles heel is going to be down the left with Doku and Ake. I felt Ake fell asleep a couple of times against Man United – Salah is the best runner without the ball in the world. I think he will be a threat. I think if Salah plays, I just think they win, if he doesn’t, then I am not sure they win the game, but with him playing, then I would be quite shocked if they didn’t win.

“With Salah playing, it gives them the advantage to really go and press high. They all know when to press when Salah is playing, if he doesn’t play, then I think they drop off.

“I don’t think Diaz is going to be enough of a threat to cause Man City problems, you need more than that and I think with Salah playing you get that, then you have Diaz, Salah and Nunez. That’s when you look at it and think, I don’t know how Man City cope with them.”

AC Sparta Praha v Liverpool FC: Round of 16 First Leg – UEFA Europa League 2023/24
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
Manchester City’s record at Anfield
Pep Guardiola has dominated wherever he has gone, but the Anfield stage is one where he has struggled to prove his worth.

The Spanish coach has only won once in Liverpool’s backyard during his time in the Premier League – and that was during the COVID season.

That point was highlighted by Jamie Carragher when he was aiming jibes at Micah Richards ahead of the weekend’s contest.

You feel it would be unbelievably huge if Man City, given their record, were to win at Liverpool because, regardless of what Arsenal do, it makes them instant favourites to become the first team to win four titles in a row.

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(Images) Look at these fresh snaps of Salah offside call; doesn’t look right
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Posted by Farrell Keeling56 minutes ago
(Images) Look at these fresh snaps of Salah offside call; doesn’t look right
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We’ll take VAR’s word for it, but we have to admit the offside call to disallow Mo Salah’s cameo goal is rather dubious.

Screenshots of the incident shared online during Liverpool’s Europa League clash with Sparta Prague certainly indicate it was, at the very least, a particularly tight call.

Errrrrrr…. is that offside? pic.twitter.com/4e7siWRb41

— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) March 7, 2024

We’re not quite sure if the VAR operators have based the lines on our Egyptian King or one of his teammates though.

He looks, in our view, to be just about onside.

Ah well. A 5-1 win it is in Prague, thanks to Dominik Szoboszlai’s late effort!

You can catch the clip below, courtesy of CBS Sports

Mohamed Salah’s goal is not allowed for offside.#acsparta #UEL #LFC #LiverpoolFC #WataruEndo #MacAllisterpic.twitter.com/RD7qMScTba

— Enjoy Football Japan (@EnjoyFootball_J) March 7, 2024

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BazzaMarch 7, 2024 at 7:58 pm
Even in Europe, VAR screw us.

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LIVERPOOL FC FEATURES
5 talking points from Liverpool’s 5-1 win vs Sparta Prague
Alex Caple
9 SECONDS AGO
ALEX CAPLE
Liverpool beat Sparta Prague 5-1 in the first leg of their Europa League Last 16 meeting. Here are five talking points from the game.

ONE RISK TOO MANY?
Jurgen Klopp didn’t take too many chances with his starting XI. No abundance of kids here in what was a very strong team, but also one that didn’t risk fitness.

Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai both started on the bench, with Conor Bradley and Virgil van Dijk also out of the XI for once. It was a team that offered plenty of hints for the plan against Manchester City.

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DARWIN NUNEZ SCORES BRILLIANT GOAL – AND TAKES JURGEN KLOPP TO AN INCREDIBLE LANDMARK
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The downside? Ibrahima Konaté went off early in the second half, bringing Van Dijk on earlier than planned. We’ll see how that affects things at the weekend, though the Frenchman did walk off.

DARWIN NOTCHES NO.1000
Darwin Nunez put on a show here. He only played 49 minutes but managed to score two fantastic goals that essentially killed the tie.

The first saw him compoase himself before sending a swirling shot over the goalkeeper from the edge of the box. The second was a first-time finish to send a bouncing ball into the far corner from distance.

Just two moments of magic from a player in fantastic form.

His first was also notable for being the 1000th Liverpool goal under Jurgen Klopp – a historic one, then. A no better player to score it than someone who is epitomising the German’s style of play right now.

KELLEHER INCREDIBLE ONCE AGAIN
Caoimhin Kelleher has one of the most difficult tasks going in living up to Alisson Becker. He’s somehow doing it.

The Irishman came into this one on the back of three clean sheets and was bitterly unlucky not to make it four. His first-half save was world-class, and he then provided another brilliant stop to tip a dipping ball over the bar.

Jurgen Klopp has long said he’s the best no.2 goalkeeper in football. He’s certainly playing like that right now.

MUCH-NEEDED RESULT
Liverpool have some enormous games coming up. The big win here just eliminated one of them – the Reds can go into the second leg next week with a four-goal headstart.

That should allow plenty of rest ahead of the FA Cup clash with Manchester United before the international break. And it means Klopp and co. won’t be worrying about that fixture during the big one this Sunday.

A positive game all-around, then – except for that Konaté injury.

ONTO THE MAN CITY GAME
Liverpool’s attention now turns to Manchester City and the biggest game of the season this Sunday. A win would leave the Reds as title favourites.

They very nearly set themselves up perfectly here. Darwin Nunez got 49 minutes, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mo Salah both got second-half minutes, and they were able to rotate well in midfield across the 90 minutes.

Of course, the Konaté injury (we’ll mention it one more time) is an issue. If it turns out to be nothing, then this was exactly what Liverpool needed going into Sunday.

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(Video) Darwin Nunez scores really special goal v Sparta Prague to mark 50th start for Liverpool
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS NEWS
Posted by Farrell Keeling1 hour ago
(Video) Darwin Nunez scores really special goal v Sparta Prague to mark 50th start for Liverpool
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Darwin Nunez is just an absolute pleasure to watch, isn’t he?

You’ve seen him hit some stunners, you’ve seen him miss sitters – but he never (NEVER) fails to entertain in the famous red shirt Liverpool.

Nor our white and green away shirt for 2023/24, with the Uruguayan doubling our lead in Prague with a superb long-range effort.

All that and in his 50th start for Jurgen Klopp’s men! How about that, eh?

You can catch the clip below, courtesy of TNT Sports:

Individual brilliance at its finest! 😮‍💨

Darwin Nunez produces a moment of magic for the Reds ✨#UEL pic.twitter.com/RrN5om2lLm

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 7, 2024

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BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – Wednesday, November 1, 2023: Liverpool’s match-winning goal-scorer Darwin Núñez celebrates after the Football League Cup 4th Round match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. Liverpool won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
This Is Anfield • Liverpool FC News •
Confirmed Liverpool lineup vs. Sparta Prague: Nunez starts, Salah on bench
March 7, 2024
Jack Lusby
There are three changes to Jurgen Klopp‘s starting lineup as Liverpool visit Sparta Prague in the Europa League, with Mohamed Salah back in the squad after injury.

The leaders of the Premier League and Czech First League meet in the Europa League this evening, with the Reds hoping to keep up their momentum with a valuable win.

Having been plagued with injuries in recent weeks, the situation is easing for Liverpool, though Klopp has named a rotated side at Stadion Letna.

Caoimhin Kelleher makes a seventh consecutive start in the ongoing absence of Alisson, with Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson making up the back four.

Wataru Endo starts as the No. 6, with Harvey Elliott and Alexis Mac Allister in the more advanced midfield roles.

And with Salah available again on the bench, Klopp fields a forward line of Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez.

Virgil van Dijk is among the more senior options in reserve and could replace Konate at half-time, with one eye on Sunday’s visit of Man City.

There could also be a debut for 20-year-old forward Mateusz Musialowski, who is named in a matchday squad for the first time.

Liverpool: Kelleher; Gomez, Quansah, Konate, Robertson; Endo, Elliott, Mac Allister; Gakpo, Diaz, Nunez

Substitutes: Adrian, Mrozek, Van Dijk, Bradley, Tsimikas, Szoboszlai, McConnell, Clark, Salah, Gordon, Koumas, Musialowski

Sparta Prague: Vindahl; Vitik, Krejci, Sorensen; Preciado, Kairinen, Solbakken, Zeleny; Birmancevic, Haraslin, Kuchta

Substitutes: Vorel, Surovcik, Olatunji, Karabec, Tuci, Sadilek, Mejdr, Laci, Vydra, Wiesner, Sevcik, Rynes

Read all our build-up and previews on the This Is Anfield app for iPhone and Android. There’ll also be reaction, analysis and videos after full-time. Click here to get it for free.

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