Defender Conor Bradley says Liverpool want to “win every trophy” possible for departing boss Jurgen Klopp after they thrashed Sparta Prague to reach the Europa League quarter-finals.
Already 5-1 ahead after a dominant first-leg showing in the Czech Republic, Darwin Nunez’s opener was the first of four goals in seven first-half minutes as the Reds overwhelmed their opponents.
And by full-time the hosts had run up their biggest aggregate win in a European competition for over four decades as they equalled the 11-2 success over Finnish side Oulun Palloseura in the first round of the European Cup 1980-81.
“He’s [Klopp] been the only manager I’ve known at this club, so for him to be leaving is sad,” the Northern Ireland full-back told TNT Sports.
“We just want to win every trophy we can for him and give him the best send-off we can.”
Liverpool are also second in the Premier League and face Manchester United in last eight of the FA Cup as they look to add more silverware following their Carabao Cup triumph in February.
Blistering start underpins emphatic win
Dominik Szoboszlai’s precise cut-back allowed Uruguay forward Nunez to start the rout, as he registered his ninth goal in 11 games, by guiding a low effort into the bottom right corner.
And some shambolic attempts to play out from the visitors the back only served to provide further momentum to Liverpool’s blistering start.
Teenager Bobby Clark, the son of former Newcastle midfielder Lee, was the first beneficiary, capping a fine first European start with his first senior goal just 68 seconds later, as he rolled the ball past visiting goalkeeper Peter Vindahl.
Mohamed Salah also capitalised to stroke in a third for Klopp’s side to bring up his 20th goal of the season and in the process become the first player in the club’s history to reach that mark in seven successive campaigns.
“Mo is just delivering and delivering and delivering, his desire doesn’t stop, his quality is there and his desire to score doesn’t stop,” Klopp said.
“He has improved in so many aspects since he started here. That’s how it is, he will not stop. In seven years together with him, the one problem we never had was consistency.”
Egypt international Salah turned provider with a near-post cross for Cody Gakpo for Liverpool’s fourth and while Sparta did briefly stem the tide, with Veljko Birmancevic outpacing Wataru Endo to steer the ball past home goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, the joyous celebrations in the away section were quickly cut short.
An otherwise dismal evening for the Czech champions continued after the break.
Szoboszlai’s deflected put the home side into double figures across the two legs and Gakpo’s improvised flick from substitute Harvey Elliott’s curling shot rounded off a comprehensive win for Liverpool.
