PRAGUE – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp labelled Darwin Nunez a “threat” to opponents, after the striker scored two goals to help the Reds surge towards the Europa League quarter-finals with a 5-1 win at Sparta Prague on March 7.
The big win in the first leg of the last 16 will prove crucial, and the same can be said for AS Roma, who thrashed Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 in the Italian capital.
Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, preserved their unbeaten season with a 2-2 draw against Qarabag.
Liverpool remain on course to send Klopp off with a quadruple of trophies, as the Reds were not distracted by the mammoth English Premier League showdown against Manchester City on March 10.
Alexis Mac Allister got the visitors off to the perfect start when he converted a penalty after just six minutes.
Sparta created plenty of chances, but the difference in quality between the sides showed in the final third.
Nunez’s dipping shot from long range outfoxed Peter Vindahl to make it 2-0, before the Uruguayan smashed home Mac Allister’s through ball in first-half stoppage time.
“He has the most important attitude a striker needs to have in these chances,” Klopp said of Nunez.
“He’s just a constant threat and he gives us space and options... He has quality coming out of his ears.
“Is he at his absolute peak in general? Not now for us. But is he a threat all the time? Yes.”
Defender Conor Bradley replaced Joe Gomez at half-time and his first act was to fire into the top corner of his own goal one minute into the second half.
But Luis Diaz’s deflected effort quickly restored Liverpool’s three-goal cushion.
Mohamed Salah made his comeback from a muscle injury as a substitute and thought he had marked his return with a goal, but a video assistant referee review disallowed his strike for offside.
Instead, it was another substitute, Dominik Szoboszlai, who scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
“We fought really hard and the boys were happy about the result. So, we keep trying,” added Klopp.
Meanwhile, Brighton’s first foray in European football looks to be over.
Roma have lost only once in 10 games since legendary former player Daniele de Rossi replaced the sacked Jose Mourinho in January.
“I’m not doing anything out of the ordinary,” the new coach said.
“They’re really good players. They’re winning matches that they should be winning.”
The Italians scored their goals via Paulo Dybala, Romelu Lukaku, Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante.
West Ham United, meanwhile, have work to do after losing 1-0 to Freiburg. The Hammers had beaten the German side twice in the group stage, but Michael Gregoritsch’s late winner gave Freiburg a slender first-leg lead. AFP
