Liverpool advanced to the Europa League’s last eight with a 6-1 win against Sparta Prague at Anfield on Thursday.
The stunning victory pushed the Reds through 11-2 on aggregate after a 5-1 thrashing the previous week in the Czech capital, with goals from Bobby Clark, Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Cody Gakpo bringing the Reds’ total for the season to 117 across all competitions.
As always, the ECHO was on hand to provide analysis, match ratings, and a verdict from Anfield, but the national media was also present to provide their thoughts on another Liverpool victory.
PAUL GORST: Liverpool have just discovered the truth about the Europa League, and there is only one logical conclusion.
IAN DOYLE: Jurgen Klopp has already revealed Liverpool’s next youthful star.
Paul Joyce, The Times: “There have been many renowned goalscorers at Liverpool throughout the years – Billy Liddell, Roger Hunt, Ian Rush et al – but it is Mohamed Salah who continues to set new records.
“An accomplished finish created a slice of history during a cakewalk last night, making him the first player for the club to score 20 goals in seven consecutive seasons.
“If advancement from a dismal Sparta Prague to the Europa League quarter-finals is most remembered for being a breeze, with the hosts going 4-0 up in the blink of an eye, Salah’s efforts need to be recognized as well.
“It is a sequence that demonstrates his availability and consistency, as well as his ruthlessness, amid arguments about whether he should even be classified as a striker given his starting position on the right of Jurgen Klopp’s front three.
“Ticking off landmarks appeals to Salah’s competitive streak and his creative juices were also evident on what was his first start since January 1 as Liverpool cantered into today’s draw when favouritism to add another trophy to last month’s Carabao Cup success will suit.”
Chris Bascombe, The Telegraph: “This merciless dismantling of Sparta brought to mind an FA Cup Third Round fixture in which courageous but naive non-leaguers quickly learn they will take home just the memory of having played in such a place.
“Sparta at least produced an outright winner in this year’s optimist of the year contest. Take a bow, Sparta striker Veljko Birmancevic. One can only appreciate the inner conviction that drove him to sprint after the ball after scoring a souvenir goal in front of the Kop shortly before halftime.
“Birmancevic pushed his way past Caoimhin Kelleher, dashed back to the centre circle, and urged the Portuguese referee to continue the game so that the next stage of the comeback could begin.”
“Unfortunately for his team, they were already 9-2 down on aggregate after their childish offensive tactics resulted in an evening in which a five-minute period without a goal or chance counted as a ‘lull’.
“If Manchester United players had hoped Liverpool would be over-exerted before Sunday’s FA Cup match, they would have turned off after a few minutes.” They must prepare for two days of tough Erik Ten Hag defensive drills, which resulted in an Anfield clean sheet in December.”
Lewis Steele, the Daily Mail: “To equate their trophy charge to a horse during the week of the Cheltenham festival, Liverpool have been highly handicapped, not to mention a rippling injury crisis across the team.
“But with trainer Jurgen Klopp pushing for excellence regardless of who is in the starting lineup – ‘it’s not about who plays, it’s how they play,’ he frequently says – Liverpool are still flying.
“That, however, will undoubtedly improve now that Salah is completely fit. His goal and hat-trick of assists against Sparta Prague in a 6-1 thrashing served as a reminder of his particular abilities and value to this team.
“His goal increased his season tally to 20 for the seventh consecutive year. No player in Liverpool’s rich history has done so, cementing his status as one of the greatest players to grace the Anfield pitch.
“It must have also sent shockwaves to Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta ahead of the final stretch of the season, not to mention Erik ten Hag ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Old Trafford in the FA Cup on Sunday.”
Ian Doyle, Liverpool Echo: “That early flurry of goals meant that, as Klopp subsequently admitted, it ultimately proved to be a bizarre but joyful evening at Anfield. And Liverpool may not be able to take their foot off the throttle again during his rule, even if only for a half.
“Certainly, the tension will be amplified on Sunday with the FA Cup journey to Old Trafford, with the Reds’ slew of half-time substitutions indicating that one eye was already firmly fixed on that delectable task.
“When Liverpool returns from the upcoming international break, the Europa League will also pick up pace. They’ll find out who their quarter-final opponents are at noon today, and the level of competition will be stronger than anything they’ve encountered this season.
“Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen remain the biggest threat, but journeys to Roma, Milan, Marseille, and Benfica will not be easy. Then there’s Premier League opposition in West Ham United and Atalanta.
“All of them, however, are well aware that the one team they will not want to face is Liverpool. “A May date in Dublin is getting closer.”
