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. "In the first half there were a couple of scares and in the second half they had a header from a free-kick across goal. "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 - for their determination and their effort - to get a result. "They were superb and the pride they took in themselves and the club was rewarded in the end with a goal." Kuyt's goal brought a satisfactory end to Dalglish's first European tie as Liverpool manager. The Scot, who was appointed Anfield boss for a second time seven weeks ago, did not lead the Reds into continental competition during his first spell due to the ban imposed after Heysel. The 50-year-old said: "I had never done it before and I quite enjoyed it. "It's a fantastic football club and I was lucky enough to be asked to come back. "But I'm only here managing a football club in the Europa League because of the work that was done before me by the players and Roy. "It is a great honour for me to be sitting here in charge of this football club but an even bigger honour to be here on a European night and also winning." Liverpool were forced into two changes in the second half due to injuries to defenders Martin Kelly and Daniel Agger. A third defender, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, also spent time off the field for treatment for a cut above the eye and Sparta coach Jozef Chovanec felt his team would have capitalised had they forced extra time. The former Czech Republic national manager said: "It is very disappointing because I was hoping we would get a chance in extra time. "We tried to continue with our performance from last week, we tried hard against the favourites for the game. "Aside from the result we played very well but it is very disappointing to concede a few minutes before the end. "It was a goal from a corner. I didn't see that as a great goalscoring opportunity and I think we could have shown more strength in extra time. "Liverpool had injured players coming off and I am disappointed we didn't take it to extra time."
