Sparta Prague, who is playing the ⅛ finals in the UEL for the first time since the 2015/16 season, made a good group stage finishing 2nd above Betis. However, I watched their games against Betis and I saw a competitive team, but lacking quality.

However, they have shown their pedigree in the Europa League this season. In their five home games in the competition, they have won four and drawn the other 0-0 against Rangers, scoring 12 times and conceding four.

They are also four points clear at the top of the Czech First League, with rivals Slavia Prague chasing them down in second place. Only one defeat has come their way in 23 league outings in 2023/24 to date.

But Liverpool is the main reason for this bet is Liverpool. The Reds are the bookies’ pick to go all the way, with Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen’s side the second-favourites currently.

An unprecedented quadruple still isn’t out of the question for Liverpool, even if injuries are doing their best to halt them in their tracks. The Premier League title race feels too close to call, but there is no doubt as to who the favourites are to seal Europa League glory in May.

For that reason, relatively comfortable progress is expected against Sparta over two legs, not that the Czech giants should be taken for granted.

There are a lot of players who will be in the red zone after four games in 11 days, but they have a good and deep squad to afford this kind of games. There is still no immediate return in sight for the likes of Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota, who will all be missing until after the international break. Mohamed Salah is back in the squad, which feels significant as Liverpool try and get him fully fit for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Man City. Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Darwin Nunez are all in contention to feature prominently against Sparta, getting invaluable minutes in their legs. Joel Matip, Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch, Thiago, Stefan Bajcetic and Ben Doak are the other main absentees.

Liverpool have been improved in all areas this season, and while the midfield has rightly been focused on a lot, their defence has also excelled.

If the Reds manage to keep a clean sheet against Sparta on Thursday, it will be their fourth shutout in a row in all competitions. Should that happen, it will be the first time Liverpool have kept four in succession since April 2022.

Liverpool has much more quality here and are in great form. I see them winning and taking the advantage for the second leg in Anfield.

布拉格斯巴达队自2015/16赛季以来首次参加欧洲杯的⅛决赛，他们在小组赛中以第二名的成绩领先于贝蒂斯队。然而，我看了他们对贝蒂斯的比赛，我看到了一支有竞争力的球队，但缺乏质量。

然而，他们在本赛季的欧联杯中展示了他们的血统。在5场主场比赛中，他们4胜1负0平流浪者，进12球失4球。

他们在捷克甲级联赛中领先4分，对手布拉格斯拉维亚紧随其后，排名第二。到目前为止，他们在2023/24赛季的23场联赛中只输了一场。

但是利物浦是这次赌球的主要原因。红魔是博彩公司最看好的球队，阿隆索的勒沃库森目前排名第二。

对于利物浦来说，史无前例的四冠王仍然不是不可能的，即使伤病正在尽最大努力阻止他们的脚步。英超联赛的冠军争夺战似乎势均力敌，但毫无疑问，谁是最有希望在5月锁定欧联杯冠军的球队。

因此，在与斯巴达的两回合比赛中，我们有望取得相对轻松的进展，而不是认为捷克巨人是理所当然的。

在11天内的4场比赛之后，有很多球员都将处于红魔区，但他们有一个很好的阵容，可以承受这种比赛。像阿利松、阿诺德和霍塔这样的球员暂时还没有回归的迹象，他们都将缺阵到国际比赛日之后。萨拉赫回到了球队，这对利物浦来说意义重大，因为利物浦正在努力让他在周日与曼城的英超联赛中完全康复。远藤渡、绍波斯莱和努涅斯都有可能在对阵斯巴达的比赛中发挥重要作用，得到宝贵的上场时间。乔尔·马蒂普、柯蒂斯·琼斯、瑞恩·格雷文伯奇、蒂亚戈、斯特凡·巴耶切蒂奇和本·多克是其他主要的缺阵者。

利物浦本赛季在各个方面都有了进步，中场得到了应有的重视，他们的后防线也很出色。

如果红军能在周四对斯巴达的比赛中保持零封，那将是他们在各项赛事中连续第四次被淘汰出局。如果这样的话，这将是利物浦自2022年4月以来第一次连续保持4个冠军。

利物浦在这里的实力更强，状态也很好。我认为他们会赢，并在安菲尔德的第二回合占据优势。