Sparta Prague ‘faced a world-class’ team in Liverpool as Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah all found the net during Thursday’s 6-1 UEFA Europa League hammering of the Czech giants.
That is the view of Brian Priske, the Sparta coach who saw his side concede 11 goals over two legs against Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Thanks to a 5-1 first leg defeat on home soil, there was never any real threat of a giant-killing at Anfield on Thursday night. But as Liverpool went 2-0 up after just eight minutes and 4-0 up after 14, Priske found out the hard way that his opposite number Jurgen Klopp was in no mood to approach the return fixture like the dead rubber it probably was.
‘World-class’ Liverpool hit Sparta Prague for six
“We faced a world-class team for which we have great respect,” sighs Priske, the former Portsmouth player. “Not only for how they approached both matches with us. Liverpool have shown that they have huge quality.
“We made a lot of mistakes in both matches, only a few in the beginning of today’s game, but it was mainly about how great a team we faced.”
After scoring two stunners in Prague, Darwin Nunez took his tally to nine goals in 11 games with a smart finish from a Bobby Clark cross. Clark, another of ‘Klopp’s kids’, found the net himself, alongside Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Cody Gakpo also hit a brace as Liverpool – who have never won the Europa League under Klopp – stormed into the quarter-finals.
Salah, Nunez and Gakpo all score at Anfield
“The difference in level between Sparta and Liverpool is huge,” adds Priske, the Czech side picking up famous results in recent years against the likes of Celtic, Rangers and Galatasaray but hammered by the rampant Reds.
“We expected that we could get a solid result at home, but that doesn’t change the fact that Liverpool was the better team overall.
“We hope that people will appreciate our previous performances. For example, they will point out fights with Rangers or Galatasaray. As for those with Liverpool, it was seriously something completely different.
“The result speaks for itself. At the beginning of the match, we unnecessarily gave away goals to the opponent, but as I said, it’s simply a different level. Liverpool is a team for the Champions League. In two months, they can become the Premier League winners.
“I am proud that we matched them in certain aspects in the home game. But I want to repeat that we only have words of respect for all of Liverpool.”
Liverpool could face the likes of Roma, Atalanta or Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen in the last-eight. HITC Football understands that Liverpool are quietly confident that they can lure Alonso back to Merseyside when Klopp rides off into the sunset.
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