Pre-Match: AC Sparta Praha v Liverpool 1st Leg Thurs 7th March 17:45 Kick Off

We travel to Prague for the 1st leg of our round of 16 tie against Sparta Prague.

Klopp’s yet to do his pre-match press conference but I don’t think anyone got injured at the weekend. Salah may possibly return to the squad for this game ahead of our game against City on Sunday.

I’m expecting a rotated line up, potential subs in brackets:

Kelleher

Gomez
Quansah
Van Dijk (c) (Konate)
Tsimikas

Clark
Endo (McConnell)
Mac Allister (Szoboszlai)

Elliott (Salah)
Gakpo
Diaz (Nunez)

Subs:

Adrian (GK)
Mrozek (GK)
Bradley
Konate
Robertson
Szoboszlai
McConnell
Salah
Nunez
Danns
Koumas
Nyoni

Injured:

Alisson
Alexander-Arnold
Matip
Thiago
Jones
Gravenberch
Bajcetic
Jota
Doak

Sparta Prague are in fine form coming into this - winning 8 of their last 10 games in all competitions. They are managed by former Portsmouth defender Brian Priske. Notable former players include our own Patrik Berger, ex-Arsenal forward Tomas Rosicky, ex-Chelsea and Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech and ex-Swansea striker Wilfried Bony.

This season they are sitting top of the league on 60 points after 23 games, ahead of arch rivals Slavia Prague who sit on 56 points after the same amount of games.

Their current top scorer is midfielder Lukas Haraslin who has 10 goals so far this term.

My prediction is that we will win this one 2-1.

Come on you Redmen!

Get to half time level could then bring on Nunez, Mo even. Nuther 20 minutes of Danns maybe. 0-2 or so.

I'd start strong-ish and try bringing back a 2 or 3 goal advantage with the view to resting more in the home tie, also 1 eye has to be on City just 3 days later.

Kelleher, Gomez Konate Quansah Tsimikas, Endo Szobo Mac, Gakpo Danns Nunez

I am thinking Nunez and Dom will start just to get some minutes under their belt before Citeh. This will be tougher game then people believe it will be.

Yes, perfect world be nice to get up 3 goals and rest players for the 2nd leg  before FA Cup game vs United. Seeing what they did to Galatasaray who are good side I expect a fight.

----------------------Kelleher---------------
Gomez---Quansah--Konate--Tsimikas
---------Dom-------Endo----McConnell---
-----Elliott-----------Gapko-----------Nunez

It was 1-1 before Galatasaray went down to 10 men mind.

We can only really judge them based on their games in Europe, seem a relative mixed bag. Obviously stronger at home.

I think they are similar in quality and strength to a Copenhagen and us to City......the only thing that makes this harder for us is the rotation we'll likely make.

Player’s returning from injury need to feature if they have any chance of minutes V the fraudsters, so I think we’ll see  Szlobos and Mo for sure, but only to shake of any rust, so maybe last 20 or so depending on the score, I’d be happy even if we brought back a clean sheet, and very happy with a simple 0-1 rebound of the keepers arse, cos we all know the European night at Anfield are special and we do pretty well on those occasions,

All hypothetical of course anyone’s team selection but I’d go with this to start…..Kelleher, Bradley, Konate Virgil, Robbo, Endo, Macca, Elliot, Diaz, Gakpo, Nunez, then when the time is right I’d bring on Szlobos and Mo, Clarke, McConnell, Gomez, Kostas, off the bench, in no particular order,

We should come back with a more than reasonable chance of getting thru, and hopefully no more injuries, I agree this is no walk over so any favourable result will do, I ask o only that we come back injury free and we see Mo & Szlobos pass their respective tests, over the two legs we should get thru and a step nearer that night in Dublin!!


YNWA

Give us much rest as we can to the squad that will play against City. Play all the kids if we have to...they've got enough to keep it close or win it.

Priority has to be Sunday. Aim of Thursday is to keep it within a score we can turn around at Anfield next week.

Kelleher; Gomez, Quansah, Konate, Tsimikas; Endo, Clark, Elliott, Diaz, Danns, Gakpo.

30 minutes for Dom, Nunez and Mo hopefully to get them in rhythm for Sunday and then give Mac Allister and Van Dijk some time so we can protect Endo and Konate for the City game too.

I think we have to do something similar to the Southampton game and try to give only as many senior players an outing as are necessary to avoid a disaster, keep a bit of rhythm and hopefully get a respectable result alongside our kids. Away in Europe even if it is Europa isn't always easy. They are top of their league I believe and it would be a great coup to take down the team leading the PL so we will need cool heads and a professional attitude throughout.

There will be some of the younglings having to start again or be subs for last 20 or something.

At least the squad has had a full 3 days between match days this week

I'd take a draw here all day long, get them done at anfield on return leg.

Pretty much the same as forest. Don’t expect an easy game and fight for a draw

I’d happily just keep the ball and pass it around for a 0-0 draw to be honest as long as we don’t get any injuries.

Reminder: It's Sparta Prague guys......

You'd think we were playing some European giant. We're LIVERPOOL!!! We don't play for draws against ANYBODY!!!

Reminder: It's Sparta Prague guys......

You'd think we were playing some European giant. We're LIVERPOOL!!! We don't play for draws against ANYBODY!!!

Agree a win of any sort, a clean sheet and no more injuries. 2  1 to the travelling Reds. On our way to Dublin, to pick up another trophy.

The narrative surrounding this tie is about prioritising fitness of the key players to face Schitty at the weekend. Any scoreline below a two nil defeat gives us a good chance at our place....A win of any sort with no injuries would be a huge bonus.

NB: Team no longer available

I would not start Salah or Szoboszlai and will give them the last 20 minutes for match fitness and I would give Konate, Bradley and Roberston a rest.

NB: Team no longer available

I would not start Salah or Szoboszlai and will give them the last 20 minutes for match fitness and I would give Konate, Bradley and Roberston a rest.

Yeah, good call on Bradley.He's been through a lot. A rest would really help him. Just take stock. Joe in a RB if poss.

Priority has to be Sunday. Aim of Thursday is to keep it within a score we can turn around at Anfield next week.

Kelleher; Gomez, Quansah, Konate, Tsimikas; Endo, Clark, Elliott, Diaz, Danns, Gakpo.

30 minutes for Dom, Nunez and Mo hopefully to get them in rhythm for Sunday and then give Mac Allister and Van Dijk some time so we can protect Endo and Konate for the City game too.

Sounds like a plan, with the big guns coming on time wise, depending how the game is progressing.
I’d like to see a marginal win for us before the return leg although a draw wouldn’t be catastrophic .

Kelleher

Gomez
Quansah
VVD/Konate ( rotate at half if possible)
Tsimikas

Endo
Clark
Macca

Gakpo
Nunez
Elliot

Diaz and Macca really need a rest. So does Gakpo, but I don't imagine he starts on Sunday (barring any injuries). Would like to see Macca get the hook for Szobo for about 30 minutes. Salah come on and move Harvey to the MF to give some rest to Endo, etc.

I reckon we can blow them away if needed at Anfield  so would be happy with a draw or a 1 goal loss.

Following Klopp’s presser and the news Danns is out with concussion I’m guessing the team will be the following, all of which are named in the 23 man travelling squad:

Kelleher

Gomez (Bradley)
Quansah
Van Dijk (c) (Konate)
Robertson

Clark
Endo
Mac Allister (Szoboszlai)

Elliott (Salah)
Gakpo (Nunez)
Diaz

Subs:

Adrian (GK)
Mrozek (GK)
Bradley
Konate
Tsimikas
Szoboszlai
McConnell
Salah
Nunez
Gordon
Koumas
Musialowski

Injured:

Alisson
Alexander-Arnold
Matip
Thiago
Jones
Gravenberch
Bajcetic
Jota
Danns
Doak

Danns out with concussion ? How on earth did that. happen !  Is it something that's occurred in training.

Or has his dad taken the stabilisers off his bike now and he's fell off.       

Well he is young aint he