Reality Czech for Liverpool

AT LEAST Kenny Dalglish will not have any pangs of guilt shooting through him this time. Prior to Saturday, the last time Dalglish managed a Liverpool team against Wigan Athletic he sent a defender on in attack, watched Steve Staunton score a hat-trick — and still did not pick him for the next game.

Fast forward 22 years and there is no such dilemma for Dalglish as he prepares to return to the European stage with Liverpool on the back of a flat performance and two points lost against a team fighting to stay in the Premier League.

For few players are in a position to argue should they find themselves dropped as Liverpool continue their mission to book a place in the Europa League final in Dublin with a last-32 tie against Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic on Thursday.