Kuyt delivers killer blow as Reds roll on

LIVERPOOL manager Kenny Dalglish felt Liverpool deserved victory as his team finally saw off Sparta Prague to reach the Europa League last 16 last night.

Dirk Kuyt grabbed the only goal of a testing tie when he headed home five minutes from the end of the second leg at Anfield.

Both sides squandered numerous chances in an eventful, if scrappy, clash but Dalglish felt the Reds were rewarded for their superior endeavour when Kuyt profited from a late corner.

Dalglish said: “I thought they made it really difficult for us tonight.

“They were a good strong side and it was a difficult game for us across two legs but I thought we deserved to win.

“I think the boys deserve great credit for the way they went about their work. They were superb and the pride they took in themselves and the club was rewarded in the end with a goal.”

Liverpool’s superior quality was eventually rewarded by the hard-working Kuyt.

David Ngog, Joe Cole and Raul Meireles had also gone close in front of a sellout 42,949 crowd which further underlined the gathering momentum of Dalglish’s new regime.

Sparta contributed fully to an eventful, if low-quality, clash but were eventually undone as Kuyt profited from a late corner. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, absent for the two previous games with a groin injury, was not risked and his dynamism and precision were missed throughout.

Christian Poulsen made little impact in a central role while Cole, starting for the first time under Dalglish, was quiet on the left.

Meireles missed a good chance when he scooped a cross from the rampaging Martin Kelly over.

Blazek had an uncomfortable moment when he spilled a long-range shot from Cole, who had cut in from the left, but Liverpool could not capitalise.

In the second half Meireles volleyed narrowly wide and then created another attack with a superb long ball for Kuyt.

The Dutchman raced on into the area and pulled back for Ngog but the lone striker again fluffed his shot.

Kuyt, along with Meireles, had been one of Liverpool’s most forthright players in the second half and his efforts were rewarded with his winning goal. The Holland international jumped above the defence five minutes from time to head firmly past Blazek from close range and put the Reds into the last 16.

Kuyt insisted there was “more to come” from Liverpool this season.

He added: “It took us a while to score but 1-0 is enough to go through so we’re happy with that.

“We also missed a couple of players so that’s a positive to take into the next round. There’s more to come.”

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Kelly (Carragher 46), Kyrgiakos, Agger (Skrtel 85), Wilson, Poulsen (Spearing 65), Lucas, Kuyt, Meireles, Cole, Ngog.

SPARTA PRAGUE: Blazek, Kusnir, Repka, Brabec, Pamic (Keric 90), Vacek, Sionko (Podany 73), Matejovsky, Abena (Pekhart 78), Kadlec, Kweuke.

Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia).