Liverpool coach, Jurgen Klopp, seemed satisfied with the victory achieved over Sparta Prague in the first leg of the last 16 of the 2023-2024 Europa League. However, he still has important notes for his foster children.
Liverpool won 5-1 when they visited Sparta Prague’s headquarters at Epet ARENA, Thursday (7/3/2024). The winning goals were scored by Alexis Mac Allister (6′), brace Darwin Nunez (25′, 45+3′), Luis Diaz (53′), and Dominik Szoboszlai (90+4′). Meanwhile, the hosts scored one goal through Conor Bradley’s own goal (46′).
Klopp admitted that Sparta Prague played too much risk so that Liverpool could take advantage of it. The German coach also conveyed this landslide victory as proof that the Reds were not playing around in their away match.
“Sparta took risks, we punished them for that at other times, we scored extraordinary goals, we had good moments in the game,” said Klopp, quoted from the UEFA website, Friday (8/3/2029).
“We didn’t think we came here for an easy game. Obviously not, we had to work a lot, but we didn’t expect an easy game and it wasn’t. This is a good result and now we fly home, recover and in seven days we meet again.” continued the 56 year old man.
Even though they won by a landslide, Klopp was still a little dissatisfied with Liverpool’s performance. According to him, Sparta Prague succeeded in reducing their wing sector so that they often lost in counter-attack situations.
“The result was much better than the performance. Sparta played a good game, they took some risks in our possession, they hid the wingers a bit and our defense was not good, so they were able to make this counter-attack,” explained Klopp.
“We lost a few balls unnecessarily, which was then difficult to protect, but at other times we should have done better,” he stressed.
This victory means Liverpool has one foot in the quarter-finals of the 2023-2024 Europa League. The second leg will take place at Anfield Stadium on Friday 15 March 2024 early morning WIB.
But before that, Liverpool will have a tough match by hosting Manchester City in the 2023-2024 Premier League. This prestigious duel will take place at Anfield Stadium, Sunday 10 March 2024.
