Liverpool has come a long way towards qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Europa League, by defeating host Sparta Prague 5-1, today, Thursday, in the first leg of the round of 16.

Liverpool's goals were scored by Mac Allister (6 from a penalty kick), Darwin Nunez (25, 45 + 3), Luis Diaz (53), and Dominik Soboslai (90 + 4), while Sparta Prague's goal was scored by Liverpool player Connor Bradley in the 46th minute (by mistake in His goal).

Liverpool almost opened the scoring just 90 seconds after the start of the match, when the ball reached Nunez inside the penalty area following a wrong clearance. He dribbled past the goalkeeper before directing the ball in front of the goal, but the defense cleared it before it reached the defender, Cody Jacobo.

Liverpool made amends in the 6th minute, when midfielder Mac Allister was subjected to violent interference by the goalkeeper, and the Argentine international himself successfully executed the kick.

Sparta Prague missed the opportunity to equalize in the 15th minute, when a cross from Kuchta reached Haraslin, who followed it up with one touch, only to be blocked by goalkeeper Kelleher.

Kelleher ably parried Preciado's rebound shot from a defender in the 21st minute, before the Reds added the second goal (25th), via a long-range shot from Nunez.

Preciado's cross reached Konsta, who fired a quick shot over Liverpool's goal in the 33rd minute, and once again Kelleher excelled in stopping Kuchta's attempt following a pass from Haraslin in the 36th minute.

Sparta's defense cleared Luis Diaz's cross, before the ball reached left-back Andy Robertson, who set it up for Cody Jacobo, but the goalkeeper made a brilliant save (42).

Liverpool was able to add the third goal in the third minute of stoppage time, when a long pass from McAllister reached Nunez, who waited before shooting towards the far post.

Sparta Prague reduced the gap in the first minute of the second half, when Permancevic sent a cross. Substitute Connor Bradley tried to clear it before it reached Kuchta, but he accidentally turned it into his team's net.

Diaz restored the difference as it was in the 53rd minute, when he received a pass inside the penalty area from his colleague Harvey Elliott, and followed it into the net after it bounced off a defender's foot.

Sparta Prague's defense dispersed the ball, and it reached substitute Dominik Soboslai, who in turn passed it to Jacpo, but the Sparta goalkeeper blocked the Dutch striker's shot in the 63rd minute.

The last quarter of an hour of the second half witnessed the participation of Egyptian star Mohamed Salah, while Sparta Prague’s defense failed to deal with Robertson’s cross, and the ball reached Soboslaj, who shot where the goalkeeper was standing in the 79th minute.

Salah scored a goal in the 84th minute, after a pass from Soboslai, but the referee canceled it after using video technology due to offside.

Soboslai made his mark, scoring the fifth goal in stoppage time, following a counterattack in which the Hungarian international launched the ball, before storming into the penalty area and shooting into the goal.