Andy Carroll will be on the plane flying out to Czech Republic this week, although the £35 million January signing will simply be attending this Europa League match in a spectator capacity, with the striker still recovering from injury.

Steven Gerrard and Daniel Agger will also be unavailable for selection, although the in-form Raul Meireles has recovered from a bug and will line up for the Reds, while Joe Cole is also in the squad as he aims to make more of an impression during his first season with the club.

Another player in the squad might well make history, with Raheem Sterling potentially about to make his debut for Liverpool at the tender age of 16. Kenny Dalglish is looking forward to having a switch of focus.

The Reds boss said: “Back then we played against European teams in friendlies but after Heysel we were banned from Europe for five years.

“We won League Championships and FA Cups, but someone in their wisdom decided we should be banned so this is my first ever opportunity to manage Liverpool in Europe.

“Like I say, I’m looking forward to it. There was some good work done before I came here to get us to this stage and I just hope we can build upon it.”

Liverpool were pretty negative away from home during the group stages, landing three goalless draws under Roy Hodgson, although another scoreline of that ilk in Prague will set them up nicely for the return leg.

Match odds:

Sparta Prague, 5/2 with Betfred

Draw, 23/10 with Totesport

Liverpool, 7/5 with Stan James