Liverpool's lightning-quick goal fest against Sparta Prague sets two new records

Liverpool made even more history on Thursday night as they raced to an 11-2 aggregate win in their Europa League last 16 second-leg tie against Sparta Prague.

By racing to a 4-0 second-leg lead in the space of just 14 minutes, Jurgen Klopp's side set a new record.

As noted by @OptaJoe on X (formerly known as Twitter), the remarkable feat marks the quickest a team has achieved such a commanding lead in a major European competition since Chelsea's triumph in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup back in September 1971.

In that game, the West Londoners racked up a 4-0 lead by the 13th minute against Luxembourgish side Jeunesse Hautcharage.

Blistering start

The home team's blistering start at Anfield got under way in the seventh minute when Darwin Nunez swept home Dominik Szoboszlai’s low cutback.

While replays of Nunez’s opener were still being shown, youngster Bobby Clark made it two, slotting the ball past the keeper after pouncing on the ball on the edge of the box after Mohamed Salah robbed back possession.

Two minutes later, it was the other way around: Clark won back possession with the high press before feeding Salah, who sent the keeper the wrong way with one of his characteristic finishes.

The new record was then set thanks to Cody Gakpo. The Dutchman’s excellent movement helped him to beat his man to the ball and slot home Salah’s cutback.

Goal fest

Though Veljko Birmancevic got a goal back for the visitors just before half-time, the goals continued to come for Liverpool.

Dominik Szoboszlai made it five just after half-time via a deflection, followed by Cody Gakpo’s second of the game when he flicked Harvey Elliott’s low shot past the keeper.

Another record

The electrifying 11-2 aggregate victory not only secured Liverpool's place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, but it also set another record.

This was the Reds' biggest margin of victory over a two-legged tie in European football since the 1980-81 season. That year, they also won 11-2 on aggregate against Finnish side OPS in the European Cup first round.

A victory of such a margin will send a clear message to their rivals that Klopp's team are surely the ones to beat this campaign.