The Uruguay international scored two superb goals as a clinical Liverpool side all but secured their passage to the next round of the tournament
Darwin Nunez stared as Liverpool enjoyed a 5-1 thumping win over Sparta Prague on Thursday to put themselves within touching distance of the Europa League quarter-finals.
That scoreline papered over a performance that, in truth, left something to be desired, such were their defensive deficiencies.
Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring from the penalty spot, having won the spot-kick with a superb piece of individual pressing. Nunez then added a second and a third with two brilliant strikes, the first coming from range, before he volleyed a finish into the bottom corner from just inside the box.
Despite the game appearing over, Sparta found a way back into the game from an unlikely source, as substitute Conor Bradley scored an own goal with his first touch in a rare woeful bit of defending from the youngster. However, Luis Diaz netted via a deflection shortly after to restore the Reds' three-goal lead. Mohamed Salah, on as a substitute, thought he had added a fifth but his strike was disallowed by VAR, so it was left to Dominik Szoboszlai to score the fifth.
This was an erratic performance, overall, from the Reds and one characterised by big chances and open spaces for both teams to attack; Liverpool's clinical edge ultimately proved the difference.
GOAL rates Liverpool's players from ePet Arena…
Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence
Caoimhin Kelleher (7/10):
Made a clutch of excellent saves as Prague continually pressed forward, again staking his claim as the best deputy goalkeeper in the Premier League. No chance with Bradley's own goal.
Joe Gomez (5/10):
Superb goal-line clearance after Kelleher made a great reflex save but only after being caught wildly out of position. Had to make a couple of important blocks, but appeared somewhat uneasy at right-back and was subbed at half-time.
Jarell Quansah (5/10):
A little uneasy on the ball and often hared out of defence, leaving the line exposed. Calmed down once he was next to Van Dijk.
Ibrahima Konate (5/10):
Can look clumsy at times, even if he is brave, and was skinned more than once before his injury-enforced substitution. A clunky performance.
Andrew Robertson (5/10):
Liverpool's most experienced campaigner but he seemed reluctant to push forward, maybe to keep the line under his control. Beaten a couple of times, but Sparta couldn't make anything stick in the final third.
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Harvey Elliott (5/10):
Lost the ball in the build-up to a huge Sparta chance, but they missed an open goal. Assisted Diaz's deflected strike.
Wataru Endo (6/10):
Some agricultural tackling but was sometimes bypassed in build-up. Always willing to take the ball, though, and worked hard.
Alexis Mac Allister (7/10):
Won Liverpool's early penalty with a superb piece of pressing and got up to score it. Always working to move the ball forward, evidenced by his assist for Nunez's volley. Subbed in the second half to save his legs.
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Cody Gakpo (7/10):
Twice denied in the first half and again in the second, this time when one-on-one. Needs to add a lethal touch to his excellent build-up play if he is to become a key player at Anfield.
Darwin Nunez (9/10):
Scored a brilliant goal to give Liverpool a 2-0 lead, sending a 30-yard effort into the roof of the net, and then added a volley on the stroke of half-time. Came out for the second half but was surprisingly subbed to deny himself a hat-trick. A superb display.
Luis Diaz (6/10):
Peripheral in the first half but scored in the second, finishing an Elliott pass via a deflection. Always a threat when the ball comes to him.
Getty ImagesSubs & Manager
Conor Bradley (6/10):
Scored an own goal with his first touch to bring Sparta back into the game, as he hacked a clearance into the top corner. But after that he worked hard and created the opening for Diaz's goal after some fine work down the right.
Virgil van Dijk (6/10):
On for Konate. Calmed the backline down almost immediately.
Dominik Szoboszlai (7/10):
Replaced Nunez. Had a couple of shots at goal, mostly from range, then added a fifth with a cool finish.
Bobby Clark (6/10):
Came on for Mac Allister in the second half for his European debut. Pressed high consistently and won the ball before Salah scored, although his strike was disallowed.
Mohamed Salah (6/10):
On for the final 20 minutes, replacing Diaz. Thought he had scored with a cool finish inside the box to make it 5-1 but VAR ruled it out for offside.
Jurgen Klopp (6/10):
Will have been mightily impressed with Nunez and mightily unimpressed with some of his side's defending. The patchwork backline struggled, and only found some calm once Van Dijk was introduced.