Liverpool – Sparta Prague betting tip
It’s basically all over. Liverpool won the first leg against Sparta Prague a week ago with a commanding 5-1 victory – and scored all six goals themselves!
Now it should be no more than a formality for coach Jürgen Klopp’s team in the second leg. But will it be as big a win this time?
Due to the fixture list, the coach will give his key players, who have been very busy recently, a little breather
This should at least give the Czechs the chance to leave the competition with their heads held high. After all, it is almost impossible for them to progress at this stage.
They also have a lot to make up for. After all, the Rudí suffered a heavy defeat at the weekend, to which they will have to provide a response.
The bookmakers’ prediction
It’s clear: Even if Jürgen Klopp rests some of his stars, the predictions of the various bookmakers in the Liverpool Sparta Prague betting tip should come as no surprise.
The home side are seen as the clear favorites here. Even a home win with at least a two-goal difference is estimated at odds of around 1.80, as at Betano Sportwetten.
Due to the result of the first leg, no bookmaker has given any odds in advance on who will progress to the next round. So nobody believes in a miracle
Analysis: Liverpool vs. Sparta Prague
Based on the Czechs’ current form, it’s hard to imagine that happening. They have not won in three competitive games (1U, 2N).
If we add in the cup match against arch-rivals Slavia Prague, Rudí have not won in 90 minutes in four matches.
What’s more, the players from the Golden City have often struggled against English clubs in the recent past. They have lost eight of their last ten matches on the island (2U).
This will certainly benefit the Reds. They have won two 1-0 victories against Czech teams in front of a home crowd.
They can be satisfied with their performance against Manchester City at the weekend. However, the performance deserved more than the 1-1 draw they ended up with against the champions
Quota analysis
The Reds have never lost a knockout game at home in the UEFA Europa League (11S, 1U). The offense was particularly impressive with 25 goals.
The oddsmakers at Oddset are also predicting odds of around 1.85 for the Liverpool Sparta Prague betting tip if the home side score over 2.5 goals.
If we look at their history, it is quite unlikely that the visitors will suffer such a heavy defeat as in the first leg.
They have never conceded more than nine goals in a first and second leg. And even a game with more than 3.5 LFC goals is only rated with a forecast of around 3.20.
Going forward, bookmakers such as Bet at Home tend to trust the Czechs to score something in the second half. If they score more goals in the second half, the odds are 3.00.
Will Salah & Co. get their minutes?
Of course, the home side’s squad is currently badly shaken. The first thing to do is to look from game to game and not pick up any more injuries.
There is an international break after the weekend anyway. Jürgen Klopp could still use the second leg against Sparta Prague to give a few returning players a few minutes of action.
Mo Salah already played a little less than a half against Manchester City last weekend. Dominik Szoboszlai was also on the pitch for an hour.
If Salah scores, for example, it would be the seventh time in a row that the Egyptian has scored 20 or more goals in all competitions for Liverpool
Sparta Prague must save face
Although I wrote earlier that the Czechs have never conceded more than nine goals in a UEL knockout phase, even eight goals is not a goal worth striving for.
However, their performance away from home is a problem, as they have lost five of their last six away games in UEFA competitions (1S).
If we look at the bigger picture, they have lost 17 of their last 21 away games at European level (2S, 2U).
So the main thing is to make sure they don’t go down to defeat again and that they bow out of the competition in style
At European level, direct comparisons are often difficult, especially when two teams face each other with such fundamentally different aspirations.
However, a cross-comparison with teams from the respective countries is worthwhile. Rudi have only won one of their last eleven matches against English clubs
Only very few of the visitors’ players will remember their victory in the round of 16 in 1983/84. Likewise, the victory over Watford at that time will not cause the Reds to go weak at the knees.
Liverpool, on the other hand, could win both ties in a UEL knockout game for the first time since the 2009/10 season. Back then, they beat Unirea Urziceni. Who doesn’t remember them…
My Liverpool Prague tip:
Conclusion: It won’t be as clear a victory as in the first leg. Jürgen Klopp could rotate too much and give the convalescents minutes of action.
However, this will mean that not everything will run smoothly for them. I assume that the Czechs have set their sights high and want to score at least one goal.
Therefore, my Liverpool Sparta Prague betting tip is: Home win & Both teams to score!
