Jurgen Klopp had warned against complacency ahead of his Liverpool side’s Europa League round-of-16 second-leg clash with Sparta Prague. Despite being 5-1 up from the first leg, the Reds boss did not want to take anything for chance.
That was clear by his words – and by the team he selected for the Anfield encounter. But once Darwin Nunez opened the floodgates, there was never any danger of an already improbable Sparta comeback, and five more goals ensured the favourites for the trophy romped home 6-1 on the night and 11-2 on aggregate.
The English media were certainly impressed by quadruple-chasing Liverpool. But what did their Czech counterparts make of the Reds and their well-beaten opponents?
To find out, we have been taking a look at what the Czech media made of the demolition…
BLESK wrote: “The terrible series does not end. Sparta caught three humiliating charges in the last week. At home with Liverpool, in Pilsen and in the second leg of the round of 16 of the Europa League at the impressive Anfield Road. Mohamed Salah and his faithful swept the Czech champion 6:1, scoring four goals in eight minutes in the first half.
“First, Sparta faced tremendous power, quality. Second, she shot herself in the foot several times with the individual mistakes already described. In addition, there was another factor. Liverpool definitely didn’t sweep the rematch among the matches they just have to play, complete. Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and other mainstays were in the line-up. In the second half, alongside the youngsters, captain Virgil van Dijk also took the field.
“Coach Jurgen Klopp also showed interest in a good result. Evidence? In the second half, when Jarell Quansah drove sharply into one of the Spartans and saw a yellow card, he launched a counterattack. He was arguing with the fourth referee, gesticulating at the main one. In the end, he too was reprimanded. However, it seemed like a clear plan, the coach, who will leave the iconic club after the season, showed the team that he is with him.
“He also handled the final farewell to the fans one hundred percent. He fired up the Kop’s most tumultuous stand, jumping, pumping his arms. No, no encounter is ordinary for Klopp. He wants to shine his farewell to the sharpest shine. He already won the Carabao Cup this season, and is also in the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League.
“In the end, Sparta ends in it. She gave a decent ride. Especially the elimination of Galatasaray in the first spring round was unexpected. On the contrary, with Liverpool came a crash, a failure. Nevertheless, over two and a half thousand supporters applauded the team.”
DNES wrote: “Although it’s already over. The Spartan footballers will not remember the fight with the famous Liverpool with pleasure. They were not enough for a big rival even in the rematch, which they lost 1:6 at Anfield in front of 60,000 spectators. In the sum of the two matches, the round of 16 of the Europa League ended with a horrendous 2:11 for them.
“The difference was enormous in the score, in the game, in individual skills, in speed, in movement, in technique with the ball. In everything. On top of that, the naive and crazily flawed Spartans, it couldn’t have gone well for them. And it didn’t work out either.
“The Spartans were threatened with an unprecedented disgrace. It was 0-0 in the seventh minute, 4-0 for Liverpool in the fourteenth. Four goals into Peter Vindahl’s net fell within less than seven minutes. This must be a record not only of the European League.
“Even before the match, looking at Liverpool’s line-up, a question could arise: Mr. Klopp, what did the Spartans do to you, that you sent offensive supports into the game even in a decided situation? Respect came from the names, as did the roaring stands.”
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