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Liverpool cruised into the quarter-finals of the Europa League as they thrashed Sparta Prague 6-1 to secure an 11-2 aggregate victory in the sides’ last-16 tie.
Goals from Darwin Nunez, Bobby Clark, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and a Cody Gakpo brace helped the Reds run out comfortable victors.
They now wait to learn who they will face in the quarter-finals, with UEFA to hold the draw on Friday.
Jurgen Klopp had spoken beforehand about the importance of Liverpool sustaining their winning momentum despite their passage to the quarter-finals having already been all but ensured by a 5-1 aggregate lead from the first leg.
He stayed true to his word in naming a line-up containing not only Salah, who made his first start since New Year’s Day and made club history with his goal, but also the likes of Nunez, Szoboszlai, and Andy Robertson.
That surprisingly strong starting XI then went on to quickly hammer home their superiority, racing into a 4-0 lead inside just 15 minutes, starting with Nunez sweeping home inside the box.
Clark netted his first Liverpool goal in doubling the hosts’ lead quickly after, benefiting from a well-timed Salah press, before returning the favour in allowing his Egyptian colleague to net in similar circumstances.
And a volley of four goals inside just seven minutes and five seconds was completed when Gakpo ran onto Salah’s cutback to smash emphatically home.
Sparta were allowed a brief moment of joy when Veljko Birmancevic scampered in behind and finished to eat into the deficit moments before the break, but Liverpool were at it again two minutes into the second half, Szoboszlai hammering in at the near post.
Gakpo then further added to their misery in flicking home a low Harvey Elliott drive to round off the scoring with only 55 minutes played.
GK: Caoimhin Kelleher – 6/10 – Will be frustrated not to have kept a clean sheet but could do little about the scuffed finish that beat him.
RB: Conor Bradley – 7/10 – As busy and dependable as ever defensively but wasn’t really required as an attacking option with Liverpool so dominant.
CB: Joe Gomez – 7/10 – Didn’t have too much to do on what is a rare outing in arguably his most natural position of centre-back.
CB: Jarell Quansah – 7/10 – Like Gomez, rarely tested, but, as usual, did everything with a class that belies his tender years.
LB: Andy Robertson – 7/10 – Rarely misplaced a pass and did a passable impression of a centre-back in the second half of the game.
CM: Dominik Szoboszlai – 8/10 – Played well in scoring and setting one up as he got an important 90 minutes under his belt.
CM: Wataru Endo – 7/10 – Ensured Liverpool kept the pressure on throughout the first half by continually nicking the ball in the middle and using it well.
CM: Bobby Clark – 7/10 – Took his first Liverpool goal really well and then followed it up by setting Salah up with a press that Klopp will have loved.
RW: Mohamed Salah – 9/10 – Reminded everyone that he remains Liverpool’s best player on his first club start since New Year’s Day, scoring one and setting three up.
ST: Darwin Nunez – 8/10 – Started the barrage of goals with a good finish and was a total menace during his 45 minutes on the pitch.
LW: Cody Gakpo – 8/10 – Arguably needed a goal more than any other Liverpool forward and got two that will do wonders for his confidence.
SUB: James McConnell (46′ for Endo ) – 6/10
SUB: Harvey Elliott (46′ for Nunez) – 7/10
SUB: Kostas Tsimikas (46′ for Gomez) – 6/10
SUB: Virgil van Dijk (66′ for Quansah) – 6/10
SUB: Mateusz Musialowski (73′ for Clark) – 6/10
Subs not used: Adrian (GK), Fabian Mrozek (GK), Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister, Kaide Gordon, Lewis Koumas, Jayden Danns.
Jurgen Klopp – 7/10 – Will feel his selection was justified after Liverpool kept up their winning run without sustaining further injuries.
