Europa League: Sparta Prague 0 Liverpool 0

Liverpool held Sparta Prague to a drab 0-0 draw in the first leg of their round-of-32 Europa League clash on Thursday.

The Reds side were at threat of conceding on several occasions, while producing few chances of their own at the Generali Arena in Prague.

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina gave the hosts an ideal chance to open the scoring in the 35th minute when a weak parry of a cross fell to Manuel Pamic, but the Croatian defender sprayed his shot from close range well over the bar.

A minute later, defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos made a vital block on a strike from former Reading midfielder Marek Matejovsky as the Reds battled to maintain a clean sheet.

French striker David N’Gog had a major chance to put Liverpool ahead at the break, but his header from Raul Meireles’ corner went wide of the post.

The hosts continued to pepper Reina’s goal in the second half as they looked for a winner to give them the upper hand going into the second leg at Anfield.

Cameroon striker Leonard Kweuke headed wide in the 63rd minute, but the best chance of the half fell to midfielder Kamil Vacek, whose 85th-minute drive from long range went just wide of the left post.

Sparta Prague will take on Liverpool at Anfield in the second leg on Thursday.