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Salah returns as Liverpool thump Sparta

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PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - MARCH 07: Darwin Nunez of Liverpool celebrates scoring his teams second goal with teammates Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister 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 Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - MARCH 07: Darwin Nunez of Liverpool celebrates scoring his teams second goal with teammates Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister 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 Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Liverpool edged closer to the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals with a 5-1 win over Sparta Prague in the first leg of their Last 16 tie.

Darwin Nunez, Wataru Endo and Jarrel Quansah were recalled by coach Jurgen Klopp after the win over Nottingham Forest, while Mohamed Salah was fit enough to make the bench.

The Reds got off to the perfect start when Alexis Mac Allister converted from the penalty spot on six minutes after the Argentine midfielder was fouled by  Asger Sorensen in the box.

Sparta saw a lot more of the ball and were unlucky not to have equalised around the 20-minute mark as Reds goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher produced a couple vital stops.

The home crowd were silenced once again as Harvey Elliot played a pass into Nunez, who took a couple touches before sending a superb curling effort into the top corner.

The Uruguyan striker went on to bag his second and Liverpool's third on the stroke of halftime with a powerful volley after getting on the end of Mac Allister's through ball.

The home side did get off to the perfect start in the second half when Veljko Birmancevic raced down the right and sent a cross to the box, where Conor Bradley was unfortunate to turn the ball into his own net.

Liverpool did go on to get a fourth goal in the 53rd minute after some good work by Bradley and Elliot ended with Luis Diaz unleashing a strike that took a deflection and sailed into the back of the net.

That proved to be Diaz's final major involvement as he made way for the returning Salah, who is a big boost ahead of Sunday's blockbuster clash against Manchester City at Anfield.

The Reds had the ball in the back of the net with five minutes to go when Salah slotted home after being played in by Dominik Szoboszlai, but the goal was ruled out for offside by the Video Assistant Referee.

There was enough time for a fifth goal as Szoboszlai added his name to the score-sheet with a composed finish from the edge of the box, giving the Reds a healthy lead ahead of the second leg at Anfield.

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