Darwin Nunez showcased his ‘amazing quality’ with two brilliant goals during Liverpool’s 5-1 UEFA Europa League thrashing of Sparta Prague, according to the Czech side’s head coach.
The difference was night and day.
As Sparta Prague banged on the Liverpool door without finding a way past the in-form Caoimhin Kelleher – Jurgen Klopp’s back-up goalkeeper showing exactly why Virgil van Dijk sees him as a ‘world-class’ talent – Darwin Nunez put the tie to bed inside just 48 minutes in the Czech capital.
The Uruguay international, confidence flowing after last week’s 99th minute winner at Nottingham Forest, bulleted a 25-yard screamer into the Sparta net shortly after Alexis Mac Allister had opened the scoring from the penalty spot.
Klopp’s visitors then found themselves 3-0 and cruising up at half-time, Nunez doubling his tally with a fierce volley.
Darwin Nunez scores twice as Liverpool hammer Sparta Prague
“Darwin showed amazing quality,” sighs former Portsmouth ace Brian Priske, his Sparta Prague side conceding further goals to Luiz Diaz and Dominik Szoboszlai on the night.
“That’s why (Nunez) also plays for one of the best clubs in the world. But they have more players of similar quality in their squad, which we have to respect. They came against us in full force and took the game against us seriously. They put all their strength into it, showing us respect.
“Our players had to face situations on the field that they do not know from regular matches. The difference between us and the leader of the Premier League table became apparent. As a result, I am sad that we let the opponent have so many chances and (we) scored only one goal.”
While Nunez was in inspired form at one end, Kelleher was equally integral at the other. Liverpool’s EFL Cup final hero – who HITC Football understands is Celtic’s first-choice to replace the retiring Joe Hart – enhanced his growing reputation with a series of superb reflex saves, particularly during an end-to-end first-half.
All steam ahead for the quarter finals
Liverpool, such is the nature of their lead, have all-but secured their quarter-final spot even with 90 minutes still to come in the return leg at Anfield.
“It was, of course, not the start we would have imagined,” Priske adds, Mac Allister giving Liverpool to the lead within a blink of an eye in Prague.
“Liverpool’s quality decided today. They are simply somewhere else. We can compete with the good teams in Europe. We have shown that we can compete with the great ones as well.
But we have to pay respect to Liverpool. They are one, if not more, steps higher than all the clubs we have met so far.”
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