Blow by blow: Liverpool vs Bayern Munchen
Liverpool will be out to draw first blood when they host Bayern Munich in a Champions League last 16 first leg tie at Anfield on Tuesday night.
Liverpool’s Brazilian midfielder Fabinho (C) celebrates with Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (L) and Liverpool’s Croatian defender Dejan Lovren (R) after he scores their fourth goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 26, 2018. – Liverpool won the game 4-0. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
The tie pits two of the most successful clubs in the history of the competition in its various incarnations, with the hosts bidding to stay on course for a second successive Champions League final appearance.
Bayern, an ever-present in Europe’s premier club competition, have won it twice since the turn of the century and finished as runners-up on as many occasions.
It is because of the protagonists’ European pedigrees that this match holds a lot of promise as a football spectacle.
The two sides meet for the first time since 2001, when Liverpool won 3-2 in the UEFA Super Cup.
Jurgen Klopp has faced Bayern Munich before, in an all-Bundesliga Champions League final in 2013 when he was in charge of Borussia Dortmund. Bayern won that particular contest, so this tie is an opportunity for Klopp to extract a measure of personal revenge.
Early elimination from the FA Cup gifted Liverpool a free weekend. The Reds have not played since the 3-0 home win over Bournemouth on 9 February.
Klopp will be hoping that the freshness will reflect in side’s performance and the result.
Bayern Munich have been in indifferent form this season, although Liverpool will do well not to read too much into their opponents’ struggles.
The Germans have plenty of talent and aggregate experience in their side to pose a formidable threat.
