Full Time, 0-0:
Pekhart on for Matejovsky
A Sparta rush forward down the right results in a heavy cross that misses everybody and goes for a goal kick.
Liverpool thereafter holds the ball in their half before sending a longball.
Lucas is called for a foul in the air in midfield. Pekhart comes on for Matejovsky.
The final moments of the match are casually taken as Sparta cannot connect with longball attempts forward, and the referee blows the full time whistle.
90' 0-0:
Three minutes to be added
Kadlec off for Zeman
After a longball for Johnson is cut out, a mistake nearly opens up Maxi Rodriguez alone in the area. It is cleared for a throw, but Liverpool keeps the pressure on, but Blazek eventually collects another pass meant for Maxi.
The sides exchange possession, and Sparta eventually holds the ball and comes forward through center. The ball is moved to the left, and then conceded for a goal kick.
Kadlec comes off for Zeman.
87' 0-0: Sparta comes forward to the final third — Liverpool is now keeping everybody behind the ball.
Vacek takes a shot from distance — it's a good one. The ball goes just wide of the diving Reina, but also is wide of the post.
Liverpool holds the ball in their own half, kicking it between the defenders contently.
84' 0-0:
Skrtel comes on for Ngog — looks like Kenny is happy with the tie.
Skrtel comes on for Ngog — an extreme change in tactics.
Johnson makes another slashing run down the right, but his effort on goal is deflected for a corner.
Blazek punches the corner away, and Kyrgiakos is called for a foul in the midst of it all.
81' 0-0:
Yellow card — Joe Cole — dragging down Abena
The sides trade the ball in midfield, in a series of physical, frenzied exchanges — both teams are working very hard to find a goal now. Joe Cole takes the intensity a little too far, tackling Abena from behind and dragging him down. He gets a yellow.
The ball falls to Matejovsky at the edge of the final third on the right, and he tries his luck. His shot very nearly finds the top corner, going about a foot above the post.
78' 0-0: Prague has a corner under the fog, and it is taken poorly — low to the near post, but it falls somehow to Kweuke, who turns and makes a brilliant strike low to the far post. Reina, however, makes a great save to keep Liverpool level.
Sparta keeps the pressure on, again attacking down the left, but they lose out and leave themselves open to a ccounter. Liverpool, though, holds up and resets play.
They build forward slowly, passing it around the defense before eventually giving it up in midfield. Kweuke almost has a counter opportunity after a nice through ball, but he has no support, and Sparta resets it.
75' 0-0:
Sionko on for Keric
The Reds come forward through midfield but make little progress before kicking a ball down the right for Kuyt long and wide for a throw.
Sparta sends Keric to the bench for Sionko.
A giant plume of smoke has covered the pitch, stopping play. It has come from a flair near Reina's goal. The game is continuing under a fog.
72' 0-0: Liverpool wins a corner on their next rush forward, but Sparta clears it well and has a four man counter. Kweuke gets the ball with some time and space in the center of the area, but he is closed down on and his shot is mishit well high. Reina doesn't seem to like the ball, so he gets a new one.
69' 0-0: A low through pass finds Ngog down the left, and he sends a good low cross in towards Maxi. It bounces around the area, and is finally collected by Blazek under considerable pressure.
Off the goal kick, Maxi is called for a foul on Kusnir, and Cole is thereafter called for a foul on Abena slightly farther in. The kick, though, is taken right to Reina.
His goal kick is returned to him by Sparta, but Liverpool starts from the defense on the second go-around. Eventually, they establish possession forward. A ball is sent for Johnson down the right, and he receives it on the right of the box and roves in very well. He gets his shot off to the far post, but he slightly mishits it wide.
66' 0-0: Kusnir is called for a foul in midfield after a Wilson throw, and Liverpool builds from the defense. They attack up the left through Cole, but after a throw, Sparta wins it and a grreat ball down the left releases Keric. Kyrgiakos, though, again saves the day and forces a goal kick.
At the other end, Joe Cole makes a good run down the left, but Maxi's ball to him is too heavy, and it goes for a goal kick — the game is opening up again somewhat.
63' 0-0: Sparta moves it forward well down the center, as a longball was held up well and worked above the area. A shot is almost taken, but Wilson cuts it out at the final moment.
Liverpool comes forward up the right, and Kuyt wins a throw in the Sparta half. Prague, though, wins the throw and brings it forward.A good cross from the right finds Kweuke's head, but his well-struck header goes wide at the near post.
60' 0-0: Liverpool sets up in the Sparta half, and Johnson crosses in from the right. It is a great low ball, and goes all the way through the box. Maxi recovers, and the ball is worked back to Johnson, who again sends a good cross in that nobody gets on the end of. Sparta clears back to midfield.
Carragher sends one over the top for Ngog, but he is way offside.
57' 0-0: Johnson makes a great run down the right, beating multiple defenders, but his cross in is collected easily by Blazek — as has often been the case in Liverpool's poorer days on the attack, Johnson has been the squad's best forward player.
Sparta longball forward from midfield, but the ball is cleared back to center. Ngog and Repka continue to spar — a red card wouldn't be unlikely soon enough.
Repka is whistled this time, and Liverpool comes forward from midfield, but to no effect. The game has become somewhat choppy and full of longballs after a spell of more open play.
54' 0-0: A longball for Ngog is flagged for a foul by the forward, and Sparta possess in midfield.
After a dangerous ball down the center, Johnson clears, and Liverpool wins a foul in midfield.
51' 0-0: Kyrgiakos wins a foul off the goal kick, and Liverpool builds forward slowly, with Sparta taking a slightly higher line than in the first half.
The teams trade the ball in midfield, and Prague wins a free kick, which they take down the left. Pamic's cross goes for a goal kick thereafter.
Liverpool build forward, but a wayward pass down the center is cut out, and Sparta clear as far as midfield. They rebuff another Reds incursion, but Liverpool again keeps possession.
48', 0-0: Sparta begin the half with a spell of possession in their own half, eventually trading possession with Liverpool.
Johnson makes a strong run up the right, and Liverpool set up in the final third. With numbers forward, the Reds pass it around above the area, but a ball down the right for Johnson to cross is too heavy, and goes for a goal kick.
Half Analysis: Liverpool was thoroughly outplayed in the first 45 minutes by Sparta, with the stark contrast being Prague's ability to link between midfielders and forwards and the Reds' complete inability to do so.
Prague initially went after Johnson down their left, but a switch to the right came later in the half as Kusnir came into the game.
The organization at the back has been suspect, with multiple nervy moments and messes in the area. Still, Kyrgiakos has been the man of the match thus far for Liverpool. His multiple strong clearances have prevented Liverpool from going a goal down.
At the other end of the pitch, Liverpool has been able to do very little, as Dirk Kuyt has been surprisingly uninvolved in the action, and David Ngog, as is often the case, has failed to spark creative action towards goal.
It remains to be seen whether having both Joe Cole and Meireles in attacking midfield roles will bring the two forwards into the game.
Half' 0-0: Joe Cole wins a corner from Repka, and Meireles takes it well. Ngog gets his head to it at the far post, and Kuyt nearly is able to flick it in, but it goes wide.
Blazek's goal kick eventually is sent back to him for another, and Sparta thereafter win it in midfield. A mistake at the back forces Reina to win a footrace to the ball at the top of the box and clear under intense pressure.
Half time.
42' 0-0:The substitution and altercation have disrupted the flow of the match as the half nears its end.
Liverpool builds from its half, and a long through ball is sent for Ngog, but Repka cuts it out well, and it goes for a goal kick.
Kusnir makes a run down the right, but Maxi wins it deep in the Liverpool half. Sparta controls off the clearance.
Prague again attacks down the right, and a ball in towards Kweuke is cut out in the last moment at the near post by Kyrgiakos — he may not have won it entirely cleanly.
39' 0-0:
Joe Cole on for Aurelio
Yellow Card for Repka — altercation with Ngog
Yellow card for Ngog — altercation with Repka
Things nearly fall for Liverpool at the other end — Sparta seems vulnerable on the counter, but they do make it back in time.
Cole on for Aurelio — interesting positive substitution. It was unclear exactly where Aurelio was playing. He was nearly everywhere on the pitch.
Ngog gets into an altercation with a Repka at the touchline. This match may get heated.
36' 0-0: Sparta possess in midfield, and Kusnir makes a run down the right. He crosses it in well, and Reina makes a mess of it. At the far post, Pamic is able to volley it at the out of position Reina, but he can't keep the ball down.
Sparta possess off the goal kick and come forward slowly. A through ball for Kusnir is perfect, and he slashes from the right down the center in the top of the area. Just as he tees it up for a teamate, Kyrgiakos cuts it out for a throw. Sparta maintains the intense pressure for another short spell before Liverpool finally clears.
33' 0-0: The teams exchange the ball in midfield, and Ngog is called for a foul in the air.
Sparta builds through midfield, but a ball sent down the right for Kusnir is too heavy.
Reina passes it forward, and Liverpool holds in midfield. Eventually, the possession fizzles as a pass from left to right in the final third for Kuyt is too heavy.
30' 0-0: In the other direction, a throw on the left, leads to multiple dangerous moments, as Liverpool mishit a couple shots from above the area.
Off the Blazek goal kick, Sparta advances the ball down the left, and Pamic and Matejovsky combine well to bring it near the goal. Matejovsky shoots from an acute angle, and Reina saves.
27' 0-0: Sparta initially has numbers forward, but a poor touch leads to a Liverpool break that initially looks promising. Prague, though, is able to get numbers back.
Sparta controls in their own half casually, and Blazek sends it long. Eventually, Sparta wins a throw in midfield on the right. After a spell of decent possession in the Reds half, they are cut out, but get it back, and Kusnir runs at Aurelio deep down the right. Aurelio brings him down with a hold, but gets away with it.
24' 0-0: Sparta come forward with a wave down the center, but Liverpool clears around the edge of its area — Sparta has been able to find this central space on multiple occasions.
Liverpool wins a foul in midfield, but the free kick is cleared by Sparta, and they hold the ball in midfield. A ball from Repka for Pamic is too heavy, and goes for a Liverpool throw.
The Reds come forward from midfield, but an offside is called on Ngog — questionable.
21' 0-0: Blazek sends a goal kick forward, which the teams trade in midfield before Sparta wins a throw on their right.
They cross to the left in midfield, but they lose it for a Liverpool throw.
The Reds build from the back slowly, but a longball forward leads to a nice combination between Meireles and Johnson. Johnson is opened up in space on the right, but he can't get a shot off above the area, and Sparta clears.
18' 0-0: The corner is well taken and bounces around dangerously. Kweuke gets a shot off from above the area, but the low strike is off target.
Sparta possesses off the goal kick, and a longball forward is collected by Reina.
His ball forward is collected by Maxi down the left, but Sparta cut out the attack, and the ball is traded in midfield thereafter until Sparta run forward down the center.
Pamic gets a shot off from the left, and he is on target with power, but Reina saves it well — poor defending by Liverpool.
Going the other way, a ball is sent for Ngog, but it is over his head.
15' 0-0: A turnover in midfield leads to a dangerous Sparta counter, but the final shot from an acute right angle is off target.
Liverpool wins a corner, which Meireles takes decently, but it is headed away. Sparta control it well, but they opt to clear it back to Reina.
After some passing between Lucas, Johnson and Kuyt, Liverpool gives up a throw in midfield. Sparta possess and switch from left to right before crossing it well back to the left. Pamic wins a corner off Johnson.
12' 0-0: Sparta releases well and makes a run through midfield in space, but it is eventually cut out, and Liverpool holds the ball in midfield.
Some nice passing opens up Ngog down the center, but the final ball is too heavy and Blazek collects it.
Liverpool keeps possession off the goal kick, and Johnson attacks down the right — where he is playing for the first time in a while. His cross, though, is poor, and goes for a goal kick.
Liverpool holds off the goal kick again, and the ball is sent forward where it bounces around dangerously in the pocket between the forwards and midfielders. Aurelio nearly gets on the end of it in space above the area, but he is cut out in the end.
9' 0-0: Liverpool possess in their own half, and a longball is sent for Ngog, but Blazek collects it for a goal kick.
A volley from distance by Kweuke right off the goal kick is sent well wide of the target.
Sparta win the possession off the goal kick, but Johnson wins a throw after an incursion down the left. It is sent forward, and Repka likewise wins a throw, and Sparta holds in their own half under some pressure.
6' 0-0: Maxi Rodriguez draws a foul in midfield, which Aurelio sends towards the box. It is well struck, but goes slightly over Kuyt's head at the far post.
Sparta possesses off the goal kick and moves it well down the left wing, beating Johnson for a deep throw.
It is taken like a short corner, but Pamic loses out for a goal kick. Sparta possess it and bring it forward up the middle. Eventually, Kadlec is flagged offside.
3' 0-0: Liverpool begin the match with casual possession in its own half. Sparta does not appear to be pressing past midfield with more than one man.
A turnover by Johnson leads to a run forward down the left for Sparta, but Kyrgiakos cuts it out well.
Again, Liverpool casually possesses in midfield, and Aurelio sends a longball for Ngog which is cut out.
Liverpool wins a free kick in midfield, and attacks down the left before retreating.
2:30 p.m. ET: Despite his many triumphs with Liverpool both as a player and as a manager, it will not be until this Thursday evening that Kenny Dalglish will have stood on the sidelines, leading the Reds in European competition.
For that momentous debut, Liverpool will head to Prague to face Sparta, who are currently second in the Czech Gambrinus Liga standings. In the Europa League, Sparta won one of three home matches and draw the other two. Away from AXA Arena, they were 1-1-1.
Liverpool will be without Steven Gerrard, Christian Poulsen and Daniel Agger for the match, but will be using a simiar five-back formation to that seen in domestic competitions of late. Sparta will also deviate from the normal four-back setup, except they will be using only three.
Danny Wilson will get a start, a relatively rare occurrence thus far in 2010-11. Dani Pacheco and Joe Cole have been named in the squad, as has Conor Coady.
Full lineups are posted below. Kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m. ET:
Liverpool:
Pepe Reina (25), goalkeeper
Jamie Carragher (23), defender
Sotirios Kyrgiakos (16), defender
Fabio Aurelio (6), defender
Glen Johnson (2), defender
Danny Wilson (22), defender
Raul Meireles (4), midfielder
Lucas (21), midfielder
Maxi Rodriguez (17), midfielder
Dirk Kuyt (18), forward
David Ngog (24), forward
Substitutes:
Peter Gulacsi (42)
Martin Skrtel (37)
Martin Kelly (34)
Joe Cole (10)
Conor Coady (35)
Milan Jovanovic (14)
Dani Pacheco (12)
Sparta Prague:
Jaromir Blazek (29), goalkeeper
Tomas Repka (2), defender
Erich Brabec (21), defender
Martin Abena (38), defender
Kamil Vacek (25), midfielder
Marek Matejovsky (8), midfielder
Manuel Pamic (3), midfielder
Ondrej Kusnir (13), midfielder
Leonard Kweuke (9), midfielder
Vaclav Kadlec (14), forward
Andrej Keric (40), forward
Substitutes:
Daniel Zitka (1)
Lubos Husek (27)
Sionko (7)
Martin Zeman (22)
Jakub Podany (5)
Tomas Pekhart (41)
