UEFA Europa League Round Of 16: Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez scored a sensational first half brace as The Reds registered a dominant victory over Sparta Prague by winning the first leg 5-1 in away leg. Liverpool bagged the win via goals from Alexis MacAllister, Darwin Nunez (2), Luis Diaz, and Dominik Szoboszlai, as the side completely ran riot over the hosts.
Jurgen Klopp's side will return to The Anfield with a four-goal advantage over the Czechia-based and the Round of 16 tie is all but settled between the sides, as there seems to be absolutely no chance that Sparta Prague can pull-off a 'once in a lifetime' miracle, by winning against Liverpool by more than four goals, and that too... at the iconic ANFIELD.
Liverpool's legendary manager Jurgen Klopp was pretty much pleased with the performance and had the following to say during the post-match press conference.
"Yeah. So, the result is much better than the performance, that's true. Sparta played a good game; Sparta took some risks in our possession, they [were] hiding wingers slightly [and] our protection was not good, so they could create these counter-attacks. But, how I said, Sparta took risks, we punished them for that in other moments, we scored wonderful goals, we had good moments in the game, really good moments in the game and we are not like that, that we think coming here is a walk in the park," said Jurgen Klopp.
"It obviously was not a walk in the park, we had to work a lot, but we did not expect an easy game and it was not. But it was a good result and now we fly home, recover and in seven days we meet again," he added.
The German further went on to state the importance of Darwin Nunez and his rejuvenant run as a goalscorer for the Reds this season.
"He had an absolutely more-than-OK first season but he had to adapt, that's done, [he is] settled in the middle of the team. Wonderful guy, wonderful boy, loves to play for this team and this club together with these boys, and he has quality coming out of his ears, to be honest. But it's like strikers are: sometimes they score, sometimes they don't score," said Jurgen Klopp
"Is he already at his absolute peak in general? Not now for us, and can he develop? Yes. Is he a threat all the time? Yes, as well. And he has the most important attitude a striker needs to have – he misses chances, which all strikers are doing, but he is not really bothered by it. He just keeps going and that is why he has now a nice number of goals," he added.