Liverpool XI vs Sparta Prague: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Europa League today
Mohamed Salah starts for Liverpool against Sparta Prague in the Europa League tonight.
It is just the Egyptian’s second start for the Reds this calendar year and first since New Year’s Day after he returned to action with two cameos off the bench in the last week.
The Reds blew their last-16 opponents away in the first leg in Prague, winning 5-1 to all but assure their place in the quarter-finals, but Jurgen Klopp has picked a strong XI.
He told reporters in his pre-game press conference on Wednesday: “The idea of the lineup will be to have the best legs. We have to ignore the [first-leg] result. We need to keep rhythm and keep going and not think about next game on Sunday, even when it is Manchester United.”
A lengthy injury list still prevents the hosts from picking several players, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones due back at the end of the month and doubts over Ibrahima Konate after he missed the draw with Manchester City.
Ryan Gravenberch was pictured back in training at Kirkby on Wednesday, though the likes of Alisson, Diogo Jota, Joel Matip, Stefan Bajcetic, Ben Doak and Thiago Alcantara are still out.
There are plenty of youngsters waiting in the wings for their chance to impress again, and Bobby Clark has got the nod in midfield
Confirmed team news
Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Bradley, Gomez, Quansah, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Endo, Clark; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo
Subs: Mrozek, Adrian, Van Dijk, Luis Diaz, Mac Allister, Elliott, Tsimikas, Gordon, McConnell, Koumas, Danns, Musialowski
Sparta Prague XI: Vindahl; Vitik, Krejci, Rynes; Preciado, Kairinen, Solbakken, Zeleny; Birmancevic, Kuchta, Laci
Subs: Vorel, Surovcik, Olatunji, Karabec, Tuci, Sadilek, Mejdr, Haraslin, Vydra, Panak, Wiesner, Sevcik
Doubts: Gravenberch, Danns
Injuries: Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Jones, Alisson, Jota, Thiago, Bajcetic, Doak, Matip
Time and date: 8pm GMT, Thursday March 14, 2024
Venue: Anfield
TV channel: TNT Sports