Liverpool could do without a Europa League tie just a few days before its huge clash with Manchester City at the weekend in some ways, but Jürgen Klopp might also view the trip to the Czech Republic as having some benefits.

The German does, after all, frequently use the word ‘rhythm’.

While Liverpool has an injury list far longer than it would like, there are also some players returning over the next few weeks.

Some have already made their comebacks, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Darwin Núñez two notable stars to take to the field against Nottingham Forest. Núñez’s reintroduction, in particular, proved to be very timely.

Neither player, though, is in what could be described as their peak form ahead of facing Manchester City at Anfield. Sunday’s game feels like one that would ideally come with a warm-up rather than a fixture to be thrown into out of the cold. And that means that while some might argue for playing the kids against Sparta Prague, that might well not end up being the case.

Szoboszlai, for instance, has only 93 minutes of competitive action since the Norwich game in the FA Cup towards the end of January. He played 14 minutes (plus a lengthy period of added time, in fairness) in Nottingham and has only featured against Chelsea aside from that in more than a month.

Núñez has not missed quite as much football as Szoboszlai, but the Uruguayan forward did sit out of three matches including the Carabao Cup final after going off at half-time against Brentford. Ahead of playing Manchester City, it would be no bad thing for him to get an hour in his legs in the Europa League.

As was the case when Liverpool saw off Southampton in the FA Cup, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté could play a half each, with Jarell Quansah getting the full 90 minutes. Joe Gomez might be needed either at right-back or in midfield and Cody Gakpo would appear to be a logical choice in attack.

Mohamed Salah might be back in time to play in Europe but he is one that would be backed to go straight into the team for Manchester City if necessary. When he made his last comeback, against Brentford, he looked very sharp.

Liverpool.com says: It makes a lot of sense for Szoboszlai and Núñez to get the nod from the off against Manchester City, but doing so without having either a half or 60 minutes midweek would be a risk. Giving the duo some time to get back in rhythm in a game would seem to add up. Given the lack of available training time ahead of the visit of Manchester City, that fixture in Prague might need to be used as a session to prepare the Reds for what could be the biggest game of the season.