Liverpool smash Europa League record in thumping Sparta Prague win with Man Utd concern clear

Liverpool smash Europa League record in thumping Sparta Prague win with Man Utd concern clear

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Stuart Ballard

By Stuart Ballard


Published: 14/03/2024

- 21:48

Liverpool thrashed Sparta Prague 11-2 on aggregate to make it through to the Europa League quarter-finals.

Liverpool have registered the biggest Europa League aggregate win by an English club with their thumping victory over Sparta Prague.

Jurgen Klopp surprised many by naming a strong starting line-up for the second leg despite Liverpool holding a 5-1 advantage from the first tie.


Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Dominik Szoboszlai, Andy Robertson and Cody Gakpo were among the starters at Anfield.

And it didn't take long for Klopp's side to get up to full speed courtesy of some questionable defending by Sparta Prague.

Nunez, Bobby Clark and Salah all scored to give Liverpool a 3-0 lead inside 10 minutes before Gakpo added a fourth four minutes later.

Liverpool breezed into the Europa League final

Liverpool breezed into the Europa League final

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Liverpool looked hungry for blood, but took their foot off the gas as the half went on.

Prague bagged a consolation just before the break to the frustration of Caoimhon Kelleher as his clean sheet went again.

Changes were made at half-time, but Liverpool still stayed relatively strong with both Salah and Szoboszlai staying on the pitch.

The latter got on the scoresheet via a big deflection shortly after the restart and then Gakpo flicked in Harvey Elliott's long-range effort for his second of the game before the hour mark.

That goal saw Liverpool move clear of the record previously held by Chelsea for the biggest aggregate Europa League win by an English club.

Chelsea beat Dynamo Kyiv by an aggregate score of 8-0 back in 2019 and went on to win the Europa League that year.

The biggest Europa League aggregate win of all time was Valencia's 10-0 triumph over Rapid Wien back in 2016.

Liverpool ended up one goal shy of that record with Gakpo coming close to making it happen only for the offside flag to deny him the match ball.

It proved to be the perfect performance for Klopp heading into their FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United this weekend.

Mohamed Salah played some vital minutes

Mohamed Salah played some vital minutes

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Liverpool were left bitterly disappointed they didn't pick up all three points against Manchester City last time out.

But Klopp's side have shown that they've already put that behind them with Salah now back to full fitness just in time for the United match.

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Jurgen Klopp couldn't have asked for a better response to the Manchester City game

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The Egyptian looked off the pace against Pep Guardiola's side at times, but the match against Sparta Prague proved to be the perfect way to build up his match fitness.

Liverpool look their best when both Nunez and Salah start in Liverpool's front line with the pair both getting on the scoresheet in Europe.

And they'll fancy their chances against a United side still struggling to find top gear under Erik ten Hag this campaign.

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