Liverpool fans are still coming to terms with the decision of manager Jurgen Klopp to leave the club at the end of the season. The Reds have played some European finals since the German arrived in Merseyside, losing to Sevilla in the Europa League and twice to Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. However, they enjoyed success over Tottenham in 2019.
Poor performance in the Premier League last season forced them to be in the UEFA Europa League this campaign.
Liverpool are in the round of 16 of the Europa League. How far can they go?
Liverpool in the Europa League
Liverpool has enjoyed some success in the competition before and is one of the sides who have won this competition in its old format as well as the UEFA Champions League.
Until this season, the Reds last played in this competition in the 2015/16 season when they lost 3-1 to Sevilla in the final in Basel.
In terms of triumphs in this competition, Liverpool have won the titles three times, albeit in its old name - UEFA Cup - 1972/72, 1975/76, and 2000/01.
Meanwhile, in the 2009/10 season, the English side reached the final four of the competition where they lost to eventual champions Atletico Madrid on away goals rule.
Liverpool in the 2023/24 Europa League
Liverpool will face Sparta Prague on 7 March and 14 March in the round of 16 clash. The tickets to the game are selling fast. You can get Liverpool tickets on Seatsnet.com.
Liverpool fans are not familiar with this competition since the early days of Jurgen Klopp at the club, since they have found themselves here, they just have to make do with that.
After finishing in fifth place last season, the Reds were grouped alongside LASK, Royale Union, and Toulouse. They amassed 12 points from six matches (4W, 0D, 2L) to finish top of the group.
They scored 17 goals - a record only bettered by Bayer Leverkusen (19) - in the competition's group stage. Klopp’s men conceded seven in the group stages, five of which came in the two defeats they suffered. By finishing top of their group, Liverpool did not take part in the knockout playoffs and will now return to the competition in the round of 16.
For obvious reasons, they would go into the tie as favourites and the Reds will fancy their chances of advancing even further in the competition. They will have further morale and belief from the fact that they have already won the Carabao Cup after defeating Chelsea in a tense final and remain firmly in contention to win the Premier League as well.
At the time of writing though, injuries could be the one thing that could stop Liverpool from winning further trophies this season. Many did not even expect the Reds to defeat Chelsea, having used ‘kids’ against Pochettino’s men - with key players like Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, and Darwin Nunez missing out due to injury.
Virgil Van Dijk was pleased to praise the club’s young players after their Carabao Cup win, saying: “So much. All the young boys on the pitch, if you see the extra-time, it’s incredible. I’m so proud of the team”.
“An intense game for both sides, they had chances, we had chances, and [it’s] amazing. First trophy as the Liverpool captain – it’s all for the fans so let’s enjoy it.”
Should Liverpool avoid further injuries between now and the end of the season, nothing is stopping them from going all the way in the Europa League and other competitions but time will tell.
Liverpool’s opponents: Sparta Prague
Sparta Prague has taken part in 38 seasons of Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) club competitions, including 24 seasons in the Champions League and its predecessors, 14 seasons in the UEFA Cup and Europa League, and six seasons in the Cup Winners' Cup.
Sparta has never lifted a European trophy before and is unlikely to change that this season.
Their best performance in the Europa League was in 2015/16 when they reached the quarter-finals. Their journey in Europe started in the Champions League before they lost out to Copenhagen in the qualifiers.
On dropping to the Europa League, they finished second behind Rangers in a group with Real Betis and Aris. Železná Sparta amassed 10 points - 3W 1D L2. Sparta ousted Galatasaray in the knock-out play-offs to set up this clash with the English side. They are currently top of the Czech Fortuna Liga after 22 games played.
Liverpool's record against Sparta Prague
Liverpool and Sparta Prague have only met twice in the past. The two games came in the 2010/11 Europa League season during Sir Kenny Dalglish’s reign. It was also at this stage then and it was the Reds who prevailed, winning 1-0 on aggregate to reach the quarter-finals of the competition. Liverpool have not conceded against the Czech side and will be keen to extend their run this year.
Liverpool vs Sparta Prague match predictions
Liverpool vs Sparta Prague will be played on 7 and 14 March 2024. The Reds will travel to the Czech Republic for the first leg of the tie on 7 February and welcome Železná Sparta to Anfield on 14 March. In both games, we expect to see a dominant Liverpool side. However, Jurgen Klopp’s side has some injury concerns to worry about and might see some youngsters feature in the first leg.
The Reds can afford to gamble with the first leg before seeing out the tie at Anfield where they are formidable. However, we expect the English outfit to come out on top with a comfortable 4-1 aggregate scoreline. Their next match in the quarter-finals after the draws on 15 March is more likely than not to be their last in the competition, however, because of the caliber of the clubs that will remain in the competition.
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