CZECHS BOUNCED

Nunez's brilliant double in Prague sends Reds past 1,000-goal mark under Klopp & all but into last eight

- CHRIS MCKENNA

IT was the 1,000th goal of Jurgen Klopp's glittering reign at Liverpool and was up there with the best of them.

Darwin Nunez's second for 1,001 wasn't bad, either.

This was a double to remember for Nunez, who added to Alexis Mac Allister's early penalty as the Reds took total control of this Europa League last-16 tie.

The pony-tailed striker scored two stunners to put Sparta Prague to the sword and fire the Mersey men all but through to the quarterfinals. A Conor Bradley own goal in the second half gave the Czech side some hope but Luis Diaz restored the Reds' three-goal advantage.

Then Dominik Szoboszlai made it a fantastic five in stoppage time, which means next week's second leg at Anfield is a mere formality.

Even though he went off after 50 minutes, with Sunday's crunch Premier League clash with Manchester City in mind, this night was about Nunez. His first goal was stunning.