Liverpool can reach two goalscoring milestones when they face Sparta Prague in the Europa League, while an impressive defensive statistic could also be achieved.
The Reds get their European campaign back underway on Thursday evening, making the trip to the Czech Republic for the first leg of their last 16 tie.
Jurgen Klopp‘s men continue to fight valiantly across all competitions, and against Sparta, they can reach two significant milestones.
Liverpool are now only two goals short of scoring 1,000 under Klopp, while one more is needed to get to 250 in the three guises of this competition.
They have also scored in 51 of their last 52 games, which bodes well.
As an added aside, the Reds could keep a fourth consecutive clean sheet for the first time since April 2022.
Ever-present Elliott in Europe
Only Harvey Elliott has played every minute of the Europa League campaign so far.
He and Wataru Endo were the only players to start all six group games, with Darwin Nunez and Joe Gomez also appearing in all of them.
The Reds have used 27 different players in the competition this season – Adrian, Andy Robertson, Bobby Clark, Jayden Danns, Lewis Koumas and Trey Nyoni are yet to feature.
Sparta’s strong home record
In the five home games this season in the Europa League, Sparta have won four and drawn the other – a 0-0 stalemate with Rangers.
In those matches, they have scored 12 times and conceded four goals.
That being said, Sparta are without a win, home or away, in the first leg of their last 16 UEFA competition ties (six draws, 10 defeats).
Liverpool’s success vs. Czech sides
Liverpool have met Czech sides on two occasions before this season.
They defeated Slovan Liberec in 2000/01 en route to their UEFA Cup success, winning 1-0 at home thanks to an Emile Heskey goal, and 3-2 away after strikes from Nick Barmby, Heskey and Michael Owen.
In 2010/11, they met Sparta in the Europa League Round of 32, winning 1-0 on aggregate thanks to a second-leg Dirk Kuyt goal at Anfield after 86 minutes.
Reds’ surprise away struggles
Liverpool are looking to avoid losing a third successive away game in Europe for the first time since November 2018.
Back then, they were beaten at Napoli, Red Star Belgrade and Paris Saint-Germain, winning against them all at Anfield.
They went on to win the Champions League that season, though.
This season’s scorers
Sparta Prague: Haraslin 14, Birmancevic 11, Kuchta 10, Krejci 8, Olatunji 7, Karabec 5, Vitik 4, Preciado 3, Sevcik 3, Wiesner 3, Kairinen 2, Laci 2, Panak 2, Pesek 2, Sorensen 2, Michev 1, Pavelka 1, Rynes 1, Sadliek 1, Sejk 1, Tuci 1.
Liverpool: Salah 19, Jota 14, Nunez 14, Gakpo 11, Diaz 10, Jones 5, Szoboszlai 5, Gravenberch 3, van Dijk 4, Alexander-Arnold 2, Elliott 2, Endo 2, Mac Allister 2, Danns 2, Bradley 1, Quansah 1, Robertson 1, Koumas 1, own goals 6
*Stats courtesy of LFC statistician Ged Rea (@ged0407).
