Liverpool 6-1 Sparta Prague (11-2 agg): Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez on target as Jurgen Klopp’s side reach quarter-finals

Mohamed Salah became the first player in Liverpool history to score 20+ goals in seven consecutive seasons as Jurgen Klopp’s Reds cruised into the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals with an emphatic 6-1 win over Sparta Prague at Anfield.

The Merseysiders named a relatively strong starting XI despite being 5-1 up from the first leg, and they quickly moved out of sight with a devastating four-goal blast inside the opening 14 minutes.

Darwin Nunez, a first senior goal for Bobby Clark, Salah and Cody Gakpo did the damage as Sparta were made to pay for some sloppy play deep inside their own half.

The visitors pulled one back prior to the break through Veljko Birmancevic but Liverpool added a fifth early in the second half courtesy of Dominik Szoboszlai’s deflected shot.

Gakpo then chipped in with his second of the night via an opportunistic flick and the home team cantered through the rest of the encounter to clock up an 11-2 success on aggregate.

Liverpool can now look ahead to the quarter-final and semi-final draw for this competition on Friday - live on TNT Sports - prior to Sunday’s FA Cup clash at Manchester United.

This tie was already over following The Reds’ five-star showing in Prague and the dream of playing at Anfield that the Sparta players had spoken of pre-kick off, soon became a nightmare.

Liverpool’s front line tore them to shreds without really getting out of second gear as the visitors continued to shoot themselves in the foot with some risky play at the back.

The Merseysiders remain red-hot favourites to win this competition and on this evidence they will take some stopping.

Next up, it’s Manchester United in the FA Cup with the form of the players returning from injury meaning Klopp’s men will head to Old Trafford in high spirits.

The Dutchman may not make the same headlines as Salah, Nunez et al but he continues to chip in regularly and this double took his tally to 13 for the season. He will feel he could and perhaps should have had a hat-trick but it remains good news for Liverpool that their attacking players are in fine form at a key point in the campaign.

LIVERPOOL: Kelleher 7, Bradley 7, Gomez 7, Quansah 7, Robertson 7, Endo 7, Szoboszlai 8, Clark 8, Salah 8, Nunez 7, Gakpo 8*. Subs: McConnell 7, Elliott 8, Tsimikas 6, Van Dijk 6, Musialowski 6.

SPARTA PRAGUE: Vindahl 7, Preciado 5, Solbakken 5, Kairinen 5, Kuchta 5, Birmancevic 6, Laci 5, Zeleny 5, Rynes 5, Krejci 5, Vitik 5. Subs: Panak 6, Haraslin 6, Sadilek 6, Tuci 5, Vydra 5.

07’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 1-0 Sparta Prague: (Nunez). The Uruguayan guides a first-time shot in at the near post from Szoboszlai's smart cut back from the right - Liverpool lead 6-1 on aggregate.

08’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 2-0 Sparta Prague: (Clark). That's awful from the visitors. They are caught playing out from the back by Salah and Clark arrives to steer a low shot through the 'keeper. It's two in two minutes and Liverpool now lead 7-1 on aggregate.

10’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 3-0 Sparta Prague: (Salah). The Egyptian fires a clinical shot into the net after another poor attempt to play out from the back by the Czechs. Liverpool lead 8-1 on aggregate.

14’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 4-0 Sparta Prague: (Gakpo). This is too easy for the hosts. Once again the Reds pick the pocket of the visitors high up the pitch and Salah plays a one-two with Nunez before crossing for Gakpo to fire home a smart finish. Liverpool lead 9-1 on aggregate.

42’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 4-1 Sparta Prague: (Birmancevic). Respite! Birmancevic races on to Preciado's pass, holds off Endo and scuffs a low shot into the far corner at the Kop end. Liverpool lead 9-2 on aggregate.

48’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 5-1 Sparta Prague: (Szoboszlai). The Hungarian midfielder drives into the right side of the box and fires a fortunate, deflected shot beyond the 'keeper at the near post. Liverpool lead 10-2 on agg.

55’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 6-1 Sparta Prague: (Gakpo). Elliott celebrates as a 25-yard effort flies into the back of the net, but it's actually Gakpo's via a clever flick from the Dutchman inside the area. Liverpool lead 11-2 on aggregate.

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