Liverpool entertain Sparta Prague at Anfield in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie in 2023-24 UEFA Europa League.
With a 5-1 aggregate lead from the first leg, victory or a draw would see Liverpool advance although a defeat of 3-0 at maximum would be enough.
Sparta Prague meanwhile must simply win by at least five goals at minimum to stand any chance of reaching the Quarter-Finals.
Team News
Jayden Danns could return for Liverpool after he missed their last two matches due to concussion.
Ibrahima Konate (hamstring) is unlikely to be risked ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup trip to Manchester United on Sunday (17 March).
Ben Doak, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota (all knee), Joel Matip (ACL), Curtis Jones (bone), Thiago Alcantara (muscle), Ryan Gravenberch (ankle), Stefan Bajcetic (calf) and Alisson (hamstring) remain absent.
Sparta Prague will be without defender, Asger Sorensen after he was substituted in the first leg with an unspecified injury.
Andreas Vindheim, Jakub Pesek and David Pavelka (all unspecified) remain ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Liverpool host Sparta Prague at Anfield on Thursday 14 March at 8pm GMT, live on TNT Sport 1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool are unbeaten in three previous meetings against Sparta Prague (W2, D1).
- Sparta Prague lost 1-0 on their only previous visit to Anfield in February 2011.
- Liverpool have kept clean sheets in two of their three previous meetings against Sparta Prague.
- Darwin Nunez is Liverpool’s top goalscorer in Europa League this season with four goals, although just one of his four goals were scored at Anfield.
- Jan Kuchta has scored in Sparta’s last two away matches in Europe (W1, L1).
Prediction
With a four-goal advantage on aggregate and a difficult FA Cup trip to Man Utd to come on Sunday, Liverpool can afford to relax here and not risk many first-team players like Mohamed Salah – especially with the young players now trustworthy to deliver results.
Sparta meanwhile were totally outplayed in the first leg with an ineffective end product unlike Liverpool and with four goals needed just to force extra time, they must score first and early otherwise they are heading home.
Jurgen Klopp though will probably still take this game seriously as far as Liverpool are concerned given his limited number of first-team regulars, but I do still feel like the Reds should have enough at home to complete the job even if the kids lead the charge here.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Sparta Prague
Result: Liverpool 6-1 Sparta Prague (Liverpool win 11-2 on aggregate)
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