Liverpool are the bookmakers’ favourite to win the Europa League at odds of 2.62. Will our score prediction select Jurgen Klopp’s team to win away in their Europa League last 16 first-leg match versus Sparta Prague?
Thursday’s match at the epet ARENA will be the first meeting between Sparta and Liverpool since 2011. The clubs met during the 2010-11 Europa League knockout stage, with the Premier League side drawing away in Prague nil-nil and winning 1-0 at Anfield.
Liverpool are down to the barebones due to injuries. Yet, the Reds are still coming off a dramatic 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest thanks to a 99th-minute Darwin Nunez goal.
Out for training 👋 pic.twitter.com/LCysQWcEu1— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 6, 2024
Out for training 👋 pic.twitter.com/LCysQWcEu1
The win kept Liverpool atop the Premier League standings ahead of Sunday’s match with second-place Manchester City. Klopp must prevent his team from looking ahead to Sunday’s potential title decider at Anfield.
Sparta are atop the Czech 1. Liga. Four points separate Sparta from city rival Slavia Prague. Sparta will go into the match unbeaten in their last four games in all competitions. They could only manage a nil-nil home draw at the weekend with Slavia.
Liverpool, on the other hand, won their last six matches in all competitions. Klopp will be sweating over the fitness of several players. With Manchester City visiting Anfield on Sunday, it is unlikely Klopp will risk his star players.
Mohamed Salah leads the team in goal scoring statistics, with 19 goals. However, he didn’t play at the weekend due to a hamstring injury. Nunez came on as a second-half substitute following his own hamstring injury to score the winner.
Dominik Szboszlai and Wataru Endo also returned for the Reds. Both players could be in line to make the team.
Liverpool have scored a total of 105 goals in all competitions for an average of 2.44 goals per game. The defence, anchored by captain Virgil van Dijk, has allowed just 39 goals.
Caoimhin Kelleher will once again play in goal due to Alisson Becker being ruled out with a serious hamstring injury.
Sparta have had similar fire power in front of goal this season. They average 2.23 goals per game. Midfielder Lukas Haraslin leads the team with 13 goals in the 1. Liga and Europa League.
So, can Sparta Prague upset an injury-ravaged Liverpool? Don’t be so sure.
Our algorithm predicts a low-scoring 1-0 Liverpool win away from home in the first leg. It should be a tight fixture from start to finish.