Liverpool vs Sparta Prague – Europa League: Live score team, news and updates as Jurgen Klopp’s side look to continue momentum after 5-1 first-leg win… while Aston Villa host Ajax and Brighton need a miracle against Roma

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The players are out on the pitch…

We are just a few moments away from kick-off as the teams emerge from the tunnel at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp: ‘Mo is ready to go!’

Jurgen Klopp is delighted to have Mohamed Salah back in starting contention tonight as the Egyptian completes his full return from a serious hamstring injury.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Klopp said: ‘It’s s about Mo is ready to go, Dom [Szoboszlai] makes sense to get more minutes and it’s not like we have plenty of options,

Mac Allister and Endo play all the time, we try ot make changes and get best legs and that’s the outcome.’

Sparta Prague’s last trip to Anfield

Tonight’s Anfield opponents have only made one trip to Liverpool before and will have to do a lot better than their previous draw 1-0 defeat in 2011 if they want to stand any chance of qualifying for the next round of the Europa League.

That game 13-years ago was in the same competition as tonight’s clash with Kenny Dalglish the Reds manager at the time.

Dirk Kuyt scored thw inning goal to send Liverpool through and Jamie Carragher even featured as a substitute. It feels like only yesterday but a whole lot has changed since then.

READING, ENGLAND - JANUARY 02:  (THE SUN OUT) Steven Gerrard (2nd L) of Liverpool celebrates with teammates Dirk Kuyt #18, Fabio Aurelio #12 and David N'Gog #24 after scoring a goal during the FA Cup 3rd round match between Reading and Liverpool at the Madejski Stadium, on January 2, 2010 in Reading, England.  (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Salah makes just his second start of the year

Liverpool fans will be delighted to see the Egyptian back in the fold from the start tonight.

Salah has only made one other start since the turn of the year, a 4-2 home win over Newcastle in the Premier League on New Year’s Day, before suffering a hamstring injury while at the African Cup of Nations.

The 31-year-old is pivotal to Liverpool’s silverware chances during the end-of-season run-in and provides Jurgen Klopp with a huge boost after regaining fitness.

Putting him against Sparta Prague is possibly a risky move but I don’t expect him to play the full game.

Soccer Football - Europa League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Liverpool v Sparta Prague - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - March 14, 2024 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Molly Darlington
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 13: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Mohamed Salah of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg training and press conference at  on March 13, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 13: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Mohamed Salah of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg training and press conference at  on March 13, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

West Ham heading for the next round

West Ham are sailing against Freiburg with a 3-0 lead on the night in the second-leg of their Europa League clash and look to be heading into the next round where they wait for Liverpool – and possibly Brighton to join them.

You can follow the remaining moments from that game below.

The state of play

That’s team news done and here is how things stand ahead of the three games tonight that we will bringing you all the key updates from.

  • Liverpool should enjoy a regulation 90 minutes as they lead Sparta Prague 5-1 on aggregate after their first-leg victory in Czech.
  • Aston Villa’s clash against Ajax hangs in the balance with the score currently level at 0-0 after a stalemate in Amsterdam.
  • Meanwhile, Brighton have one-foot out the Europa League exit door after being thrashed 4-0 by Roma in Italy, but could a great comeback be on?
ROME, ITALY - MARCH 7: Danny Welbeck of Brighton & Hove Albion controls the ball during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between AS Roma and Brighton & Hove Albion at Stadio Olimpico on March 7, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - MARCH 07: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Andrew Robertson of Liverpool during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between AC Sparta Praha and Liverpool FC at Letna Stadium on March 07, 2024 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

AJAX TEAM NEWS

Here’s how Ajax lineup for their trip to Villa Park as Jordan Henderson starts for his first appearance back in England since previously leaving Liverpool for Saudi Arabia.

The midfielder will want to put in a big performance on the day that he was named in Gareth Southgate’s England team.

BRIGHTON TEAM NEWS

The Seagulls have it all to do tonight as they seek to overturn a 4-0 first-leg deficit against their Italian opponents.

Roberto de Zerbi has named his starting team that he hopes will be able to pull off the remarkable fate as Danny Welbeck is trusted to lead the line.

Liverpool arrive at Anfield

The Reds are in the building as they arrive at Anfield for tonight’s Europa League clash. They might be leading 5-1 on aggregate but there is still set to be some atmosphere in the famous ground.

ASTON VILLA TEAM NEWS

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has named his team to face Ajax at Villa Park with the aggregate score level at 0-0 after a tough first-leg in Amsterdam.

John McGinn starts and it will be his last action for a while after he was sent off against Spurs at the weekend.

LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS

Liverpool have taken the unusual move to name their line-up for tonight’s Europa League clash over an hour before the 8pm kick-off and it’s a strong team named by boss Jurgen Klopp.

The most surprising inclusion is the return of Mohamed Salah as he starts at Anfield after previously only being fit enough to make the bench for last weekend’s Premier League clash against Man City.

Reds fans will be desperately hoping he comes through this one unscathed.

Good evening and thanks for joining us for Thursday’s European action

Good evening and thank you for joining us for all the action from tonight’s Europa League and Conference League knockout games featuring three England teams.

Our main focus will be on Liveprool as they host Sparta Prague at Anfield, while we will also be bringing you key updates from Brighton v Roma and Aston Villa v Ajax.





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