Both Sparta Prague and Liverpool have been averaging at least 2.10 goals scored per game across all competitions in 2023/24, showing some serious prowess in front of goal. In fact, Liverpool have only had one game since April 2023 where they have not found the back of the net: a goalless draw against Man United in December.

Sparta Prague were arguably the most entertaining team to watch in the Europa League round of 32, putting six goals past Galatasaray over both legs to win 6-4 on aggregate. They often play very attacking football, with Lukas Haraslin given plenty of goalscoring opportunities up top. He is currently their leading goalscorer in the Czech Liga (10) and Europa League (4).

Although both sides have strong overall defensive records this season, they have been letting some slip recently. Sparta Prague have conceded at least one goal in four of their last five, and Liverpool have conceded at least one in seven of their last ten.

Sparta Prague’s top goalscorer, Haraslin, has scored in three of his last five fixtures, and has seen impressive averages of 2.86 shots and 1.56 shots on target across all competitions this season. He often uses his pace to get by defenders, cutting in to score from the left wing.

His goal record of 10 in the Czech Liga is even more impressive considering he has only started on 13 occasions. He has proven himself not to be goal-shy in big games, scoring against each of Sparta Prague’s opponents in the Europa League group stage.

Liverpool have seen 7.04 corners per game so far in the Premier League, 6.00 when isolating just their away fixtures. They also averaged 6.00 corners in their Europa League group stage matches. Last time out Liverpool took 12 corners away at Nottingham Forest.

Sparta Prague conceded an average of 4.33 corners per match in the Europa League groups, just below their overall season average (in all competitions) of 4.38 corners against. Liverpool have an average of 60.8% possession in the Premier League, and 68.13% in Europe. If they manage the same on Thursday, they are likely to dominate corners once again.

Wataru Endo has committed an average of 2.59 fouls per game in the Premier League, the most of any regular starting player for Liverpool, and ranking him sixth-highest in the league for fouls per 90 minutes. Furthermore, Endo has averaged 1.37 fouls in the Europa League.

Over his last five starts, Endo has fouled at least once per game, with three of those five seeing him foul at least twice. Perhaps the biggest sign of his aggressive style of play is that he has received seven yellow cards from only 11 starts in the Premier League.

Endo is likely to be defending against Qazim Laci in midfield, who has won an average of 1.01 fouls across all competitions this season (1.23 in the Europa League). Another player Endo may have to defend against is Angelo Preciado, who often cuts inside from the right flank. Preciado has won an average of 1.76 fouls across all competitions, notably winning seven from his last two outings.