Liverpool will continue their Europa League journey on Thursday (March 7) when they travel to the Czech Republic to take on Sparta Prague in the Round of 16 of the competition.
Despite the horrendous injury list that Liverpool continue to nurse, they're in a rich vein of form, possessing a four-match winning streak, most recently notching a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest thanks to a 90+9 minute winner from Darwin Núñez.
The header from the Uruguyuan kept the Reds at the top of the Premier League - where they've been since Boxing Day (December 26).
Following their Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea last month, the next opportunity to win silverware arrives in the form of the Europa League which Liverpool are the favourites to win.
In the last 16 stage of the European competition, Jürgen Klopp's side will first travel to the Czech Republic in the first leg of the tie to take on Sparta Prague.
The Czech champions have been in tremendous form, having won nine consecutive league matches and finishing second in their Europa League group before besting Galatasaray in their knockout playoffs tie to reach the last 16.
While Liverpool are rightly the overwhelming favourites to triumph over the Czech side, the Premier League giants must not underestimate their European counterparts who'll think that they have nothing to lose and will play with freedom against Liverpool.
There isn't much history between the two teams as they've only faced each other twice in competitive football in the Europa League in 2011.
In their first game, Prague managed to hold Liverpool to 0-0 at home before the Reds scored a narrow 1-0 win at Anfield in the return fixture.
With a lengthy injury list, Klopp will have to field a younger lineup than what he would have hoped for but given the positive results in the last few weeks - with one culminating in a trophy - the German will no doubt have faith that his depleted squad will pull together for a huge result.
LFC Globe Verdict
Yes, Liverpool have quite a few players out with injury but the return of Darwin Núñez and Dominik Szoboszlai last week was major news for the Reds.
As well as the recent return of Mohamed Salah to training this week will bolster the morale of Liverpool fans ahead of the Europa League clash and the crunch game against Manchester City this weekend.
While Salah will probably start on the bench against Sparta Prague, just the presence of the Egyptian King will help the squad score in what I believe will be a 2-0 win away from home.
