Liverpool (from our correspondent) – Sparta coach Brian Priske certainly did not imagine such a start. Already in the 7th minute, Darwin Núñez was left alone in the goal and beat Peter Vindahl with a shot to the front post. A few tens of seconds later, Jaroslav Zelný and Ladislav Krejčí made a mistake in the passing game, and Bobby Clark made it 2:0.
The gruesome introduction continued. Cabbage Sparta coach Brian Priske certainly did not imagine such a start. Already in the 7th minute, Darwin Núñez was left alone in the goal and beat Peter Vindahl with a shot to the front post. A few tens of seconds later, Jaroslav Zelený and Ladislav Krejčí made a mistake in the passing game, and Bobby Clark made it 2:0.5 seconds.
Photo: Jon Super, CTK/AP
Liverpool footballers celebrate a goal against Sparta.
It was clear that the miracle at Anfield Road was not going to happen. Veljko Birmančević took care of at least a cosmetic adjustment of the score shortly before half-time, when after a pass from Angelo Preciad, he outpaced the defender of Liverpool in a fight and shot to the post to reduce the score to 1:4.
Photo: Sofascore.com
Liverpool vs Sparta statistics
But after returning from the dressing room, the home team’s concert continued. In the 48th minute, Dominik Szoboszlai shot from an angle, Krejčí’s shot went to the forward and Vindahl could no longer reach the ball. In the 55th minute, Harvey Elliott’s shooting and Gakpo’s passing gave the definitive form to the result.
Sparta was harmless for most of the game. In the end, Vindahl scored some good saves, Núñez, for example, failed in a big opportunity.
The last time Sparta scored six goals in European cups was in 1970, the last time they lost by five goals was in the Champions League at Lyon in December 2004 (0:5). The reigning champions also scored 15 goals in the last three competitive matches. In addition to the two matches against Liverpool, they also lost 0:4 in Pilsen on Sunday.
Rematch of the Round of 16 of the European Football League: Liverpool – Sparta Prague 6:1 (4:1) Goals: 14th and 55th Gakpo, 7th Núñez, 8th Clark, 10th Salah, 48th Szoboszlai – 42nd Birmančevič. Referees: Dias – Soares, Ribeiro – Martins (video, all Portuguese). ŽK: Quansah, Klopp (coach, both Liverpool). First match: 5-1, Liverpool advanced.Liverpool: Kelleher – Bradley, Gomez (46. Tsimikas), Quansah (66. Van Dijk), Robertson – Szoboszlai, Endo (46. McConnell), Clark (74. Musialowski) – Salah , Nunez (46. Elliott), Gakpo. Coach: Klopp.Sparta: Vindahl – Vitík, Zelený, Krejčí – Preciado, Solbakken (74. Vydra), Kairinen, Ryneš (46. Panák) – Laci (58. Sadílek), Birmančevič (66. Tuci) – Kuchta (58. Haraslín). Coach: Priske