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{ Liverpool failed to make it a winning start to Kenny Dalglish's European managerial career in charge of the club after being held to a goalless draw against Sparta Prague.

Both sides produced poor performances in the Czech capital and the 0-0 outcome leaves this Europa League tie in the balance ahead of the second leg at Anfield.

The visitors started strongly and looked comfortable in possession of the ball. They retained possession well, much to the annoyance of the home supporters, who made their feelings known about Sparta's start.

Liverpool tested the home defence early on as Fabio Aurelio sent in a dangerous looking free-kick but Sotirios Kyrgiakos could not get himself on the end of it.

Kwueke had the first attempt on goal for the home side but his speculative effort from 25 yards did not trouble Pepe Reina and summed up the hosts' rusty start.

The visitors were hardly tested by the Czech side and their only problems seemed to come from their own doing.

A mix-up between Aurelio and Raul Meireles allowed Kwueke to pick up the ball and have a free run at the heart of Liverpool’s centre-backs. The big striker then released Andrej Keric on the right for his side's first sight of goal but the winger's shot was aimed harmlessly wide.

But, as the half wore on, the home side began to brush the cobwebs of their winter break away and they got a grip on proceedings.

It was down Liverpool’s right-hand side where they had some joy as Martin Abena released Manuel Pamic on the overlap and the full-back's cross across the face of goal was pushed away from danger by Reina.

After dominating possession in the opening stages, it was now Liverpool who could not get hold of the ball and Sparta began to dominate proceedings.

They looked to get at Liverpool down the flanks and this time it was the right back Ondrej Kusnir who  used his pace to try and get into the Liverpool box but he collided with Aurelio on the edge of the box. Despite the home fans loud appeals, German referee Floria Meyer waved play on.

This was not in the script for Kenny Daldlish’s side and even the ever reliable keeper Reina looked shaky as he dropped a cross from the right and the loose ball drops Pamic, but he could not find the target.

It was all Prague as Marek Matejovsky was next to go close but his effort brought a last ditch block from Kyrgiakos.

Things did not get any better for Liverpool when Dalglish was forced into a change just before the break when Joe Cole was brought on for the injured Aurelio and the change nearly made an instant impact as Cole played in David Ngog.

The French striker managed to get a shot away but it was easily blocked by the home defence.

While Liverpool were not at their best in the first period Dalglish would have been happy with the clean sheet and would have been hoping for more from his side going forward.

But the second half began much like the first with the Reds having a good share of possession but not looking penetrative enough with the ball.

The game was being played at a snail's pace and no side really looked interested in getting the goal which might give them a decisive advantage going into the second leg.

Glen Johnson tried to inject some pace into the match with a driving run down the right but his cross was easily plucked out of the air by Jaromir Blazek for his first real touch of the game.

It was the England full-back who had Liverpool's first shot on goal in the 70th minute but his stab at goal drifted wide of the far post.

This brought a ripple of noise from the brave travelling Liverpool support who urged their side on to go and grab a winner.

But someone in the crowd had other ideas and a cloud of smoke, from a flare released in the crowd, covered the pitch. Liverpool keeper Reina disappeared amongst the white cloud for a while but after a few minutes the smoke cleared and the referee got the game back underway.

The pause in proceedings seem to benefit the home side and with the fans urging them forward, Kwueke hit a shot on the turn but he failed to make a clean connection and Reina saved easily down to his left.

Prague tried in vain to get a goal in the last 10 minutes as first Matejovsky and then Kweuke went close but Liverpool held on to leave the tie evenly poised ahead of the return match next week.

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