Liverpool breezed into the Europa League quarter-finals with a dominant display against Sparta Prague at Anfield on Thursday.
When the teamsheet was released an hour-and-a-half from kickoff at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp‘s intentions were clear: get the job done early, with an eye on Man United at the weekend.
Klopp may not have expected the plan to go so well.
It took seven minutes for Darwin Nunez to open the scoring, clipping into the bottom corner from Dominik Szoboszlai‘s cutback after a nice, flowing move involving Bobby Clark.
And then another within seconds of the restart, Nunez and Mohamed Salah pressing Ladislav Krejci into a mistake with a blocked pass out falling for Clark to score his first goal for the club on his first European start.
Sparta’s ridiculous approach was pounced on again as Clark robbed the defender and Salah bent home for 3-0 within 10 minutes.
It was 4-0 before the quarter-hour mark, with more awful defending seeing Cody Gakpo evade his marker to fire in Salah’s cross after brilliant one-touch work in the buildup.
Things began to slow down as Sparta settled into a new, more compact shape, though Liverpool were not without opportunities to get their fifth.
But it was the visitors who got the next of the night, with Veljko Birmancevic breaking through and beating Caoimhin Kelleher with a finish into the bottom corner.
There were three changes at the break as Nunez, Joe Gomez and Wataru Endo were half-rested with Harvey Elliott, Kostas Tsimikas and James McConnell coming on, but there was no change in momentum.
Liverpool matched the scoreline from the first leg as Szoboszlai netted three minutes after the restart, his strike deflecting in.
And then another for Gakpo, who bashfully celebrated as he turned in Elliott’s powerful strike from range, suggesting their was a measure of fortune as he made it a brace.
There were more changes as the half wore on, first with Virgil van Dijk replacing Jarell Quansah and then the debuting Mateusz Musialowski on for an injured Clark.
Only the strong hands of Peter Vindahl denied Gakpo a hat-trick and one for Elliott as the minutes ticked by, before a comfortable stretch of possession saw the game out for an 11-2 aggregate win.
Cody Gakpo bagged a brace, with Darwin Nunez, Bobby Clark, Mohamed Salah, and Dominik Szoboszlai also finding the net as the Reds secured a resounding 6-1 victory in the round of 16 second leg, progressing 11-2 on aggregate.
Here’s the ratings of Liverpool players on the night:
Caoimhin Kelleher: 7
Handled one shot and almost initiated a chance with a long ball. Dealt with high balls comfortably but had a relatively quiet night otherwise.
Conor Bradley: 7
Provided attacking impetus from the right and contributed to the buildup of the opening goal. Solid defensively when called upon.
Joe Gomez: 7
Shifted to central defense, had one lapse in judgment with a long ball but was largely untroubled in the first half despite a heavy knock. Substituted.
Andy Robertson: 7
Contained the threat of Preciado and allowed the attacking players to flourish before halftime. Moved to center-back in the second half.
Wataru Endo: 7
Pressed Sparta effectively in the first half with his tenacity and quick passing but couldn’t prevent Birmancevic’s goal. Substituted.
Dominik Szoboszlai: 7
Provided a quality cross for Nunez’s goal, pressed effectively, and scored the fifth with a deflected effort. Benefited from valuable game time.
Bobby Clark: 8
Delivered a fine pass to set up Szoboszlai for the opener, scored his first senior goal, created Salah’s goal with his pressing, and came close to scoring again. Impressive performance. Substituted.
Mohamed Salah: 9
Proved too much for Sparta to handle, notching his 20th goal of the season and providing three assists. A reminder of his consistent brilliance.
Darwin Nunez: 7
Clinical finish for the opener, caused problems for Sparta, and provided an excellent pass to release Salah. Missed a good chance. Substituted.
Cody Gakpo: 8
Displayed confidence on the left flank, scored the fourth goal, and provided an intelligent flick for the sixth. Denied a hat-trick by one wayward finish and a good save.
Harvey Elliott (substituted for Nunez at halftime): 7
Saw his effort turned into a goal by Gakpo and had another shot well saved during a lively cameo.
Kostas Tsimikas (substituted for Gomez at halftime): 7
Maintained attacking threat from the left.
James McConnell (substituted for Endo at halftime): 7
Injected energy into the midfield battle compared to his previous outing.
Virgil van Dijk (substituted for Quansah in the 66th minute): 7
Deployed unusually on the right side of central defense but managed effectively.
Mateusz Musialowski (substituted for Clark in the 74th minute): 7
A significant moment for the 20-year-old, making his senior debut.
The victory of Liverpool over Sparta Prague in the Europa League demonstrates the team’s formidable strength and depth.
Jurgen Klopp’s tactical prowess was evident as his players executed the game plan with precision, showcasing their attacking prowess and defensive solidity.
Mohamed Salah’s continued brilliance, supported by emerging talents like Conor Bradley and Bobby Clark, highlights Liverpool’s ability to consistently produce top-class performances. This win not only propels them into the quarter-finals but also solidifies their position as strong contenders for multiple trophies this season.
Reds, who were your standout players on the night?