Liverpool take on Sparta Prague in the second leg of their Europa League round of 16 having won 5-1 in the Czech capital.
The Reds have one foot in the quarter-finals following their emphatic display away from home last week. Jurgen Klopp is aiming to complete the ultimate fairytale to round off his tenure on Merseyside, with his side still going strong in three competitions having already won the Carabao Cup.
Arsenal have usurped Liverpool at the top of the Premier League following the weekend’s results, but Klopp’s side impressed in their 1-1 draw with rivals Manchester City on Sunday.
Sparta, meanwhile, endured a wretched week that has seen their status as Czech First League leaders come under scrutiny. After Liverpool battered them, Sparta were beaten 4-0 away at Viktoria Plzen which means their lead at the top has been reduced to a mere point.
Here’s 90min’s preview of Thursday night’s Europa League round of 16 second leg.
Liverpool vs Sparta Prague H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Current Form (all competitions)
|
Liverpool |
Sparta Prague |
|---|---|
|
Liverpool 1-1 Man City – 10/03/24 |
Viktoria Plzen 4-0 Sparta Prague – 10/03/24 |
|
Sparta Prague 1-5 Liverpool – 07/03/24 |
Sparta Prague 1-5 Liverpool – 07/03/24 |
|
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool – 02/03/24 |
Sparta Prague 0-0 Slavia Prague – 03/03/24 |
|
Liverpool 3-0 Southampton – 28/02/24 |
Slavia Prague 2-3 Sparta Prague – 28/02/24 |
|
Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool – 25/02/24 |
Slovacko 1-3 Sparta Prague – 25/02/24 |
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
discovery+, discovery+ App, TNT Sports Ultimate, TNT Sports 2 |
|
United States |
TUDN App, Univision NOW,, TUDN.com, Paramount+, UniMás |
|
Canada |
DAZN |
Mohamed Salah has made cameo appearances off the bench in Liverpool’s last two outings, and that should continue on Thursday ahead of a likely start against Man Utd on Sunday.
Klopp isn’t expected to welcome back any of the Reds’ injured stars in midweek, with Ibrahima Konate set for a return at Old Trafford.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Alisson, Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip, Stefan Bajcetic, Ryan Gravenberch, and Ben Doak all remain out for the hosts.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Sparta Prague (4-3-3): Kelleher; Gomez, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; McConnell, Szoboszlai, Clark; Elliott, Gakpo, Nunez.
The visitors have been plagued by red card woes domestically in recent weeks., but they have no players suspended for Thursday’s trip to Anfield.
Jakub Posek, David Pavelka, and Asger Sorensen are all injury doubts. The latter started at centre-back in the reverse fixture.
Sparta predicted lineup vs Liverpool (3-4-3): Vindahl-Jensen; Vitik, Rynes, Krejci; Preciado, Solbakken, Kairinen, Zeleny; Birmancevic, Kuchta, Haraslin.
Liverpool surrendered chances in the first leg and were bailed out by Caoimhin Kelleher at times in the opening period. However, they’re going to have to surrender a hatful (and some) if they’re to relinquish their advantage on Thursday night.
Sparta could have some joy, as Southampton did in the FA Cup, against what should be a young Liverpool team, but winning at Anfield has proven impossible for every team to visit this season.
Thus, while they might endure one or two hairy moments, the Reds should win pretty comfortably on home soil and sail into the quarter-finals.