Liverpool - Sparta Prague predictions and free betting tips [14/03/2024]

On Thursday, 14 March, as part of the second leg of the Europa League ⅛ final, Liverpool will host Sparta. The Merseysiders crushed the Prague side in Czechia last week, securing themselves a ticket to the next round, which gives the long-awaited opportunity for Klopp to rotate his squad.

Predicted Lineups

Liverpool: Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Szoboszlai, McConnell, Clark; Elliott, Gakpo, Koumas.
Sparta: Vindahl Jensen; Vitik, Krejci, Panak; Preciado, Kairinen, Solbakken, Zeleny; Birmancevic, Kuchta, Haraslin.

Stadium

The match will take place in Liverpool at Anfield Stadium.

Liverpool

Liverpool, considered the main favourite of the Europa League, easily won the first match of the ⅛ final in Prague last week (1:5). Thus, the Reds virtually secured their quarterfinals slot. In the autumn, the Merseysiders took 1st place in Group E, leading Toulouse, Union Saint-Gilloise and LASK Linz and could now become the second English team to win nine consecutive home matches in the Europa League - a feat Chelsea achieved during 2013 to 2019. In the Premier League, Jurgen Klopp's charges are battling for the title and currently sit in 2nd place in the standings, equal on points with leaders Arsenal.

Following a 3:1 defeat at the Emirates in early February, the hosts have strung together four straight victories. Over the past weekend, Liverpool drew 1:1 with Manchester City at home, but could have emerged victorious considering how the match played out, especially in the second half. Liverpool, like all recent weeks, experiences significant squad problems. 

Sparta

Sparta Prague suffered a crushing defeat at home in the first match (1:5) and hold no illusions about their chances to turn things around this Thursday. In Group C of the Europa League, the Czech side had to settle for second place, conceding the top spot to Rangers, but outperforming, among others, Spanish Betis. In the first round of the playoffs, the visitors managed to overcome Galatasaray, with an aggregate score of 6:4, and currently stand first domestically, just one point ahead of Slavia.

Following a series of successful results, Velko Birmancevich's men shared the spoils in a derby (0:0) and then suffered a heavy defeat in Plzen over the past weekend (4:0). If the visitors do not pull off a sensation at Anfield, they will, for the first time in history, exit the Europa League in the ⅛ finals - previous campaigns ended either in the group stage or in the quarterfinals of the tournament. It is also important to note that only one of Sparta's 11 trips to England resulted in a win for Prague. 

Head-to-Head

Sparta visited Anfield just once - in the return match of the 1/16 final of the 2010-11 Europa League, and Dirk Kuyt's header secured the Reds' progression to the next round.

Liverpool vs Sparta Match Prediction

Given the squad rotation and intense match schedule, a home demolition by Liverpool should not be expected. Sparta are a tough nut in European football, and the scoreline from the first leg in Prague does not reflect their true performance. I believe that the visitors will put up a fight and will not lose by more than two goals at Anfield.

Total Prediction

Sparta conceded 9 goals in their last two matches - an anomaly for a side with such a compact defence (previously the visitors had not conceded more than two goals in their previous five matches). My prediction is Liverpool's individual total under 2.5 goals.

Corner Prediction

Sparta have nothing to lose and will aim to play open football with an abundance of dangerous moments at the opponent's goal. I expect a minimum of four corners struck by the visitors.

Yellow Card Prediction

Neither team is renowned for being particularly rough on the field, and there's little left of the tournament intrigue in this match-up - I'm backing a total yellow cards under 3.5.

Score Prediction

I'm backing a precise score of 2:1 in favour of the Merseysiders.