Liverpool and Bayern Munich kept each other at arm’s length last night in the first Champions League knockout round.
The 0 – 0 draw at Anfield was not the goal fest that many had expected. Although, it sets up an urgent second leg in Munich at the beginning of March.
With Liverpool, goals are always expected. The Reds were the firm favourites against an ageing giant in Bayern Munich. Mane, Firmino and Salah seemed nailed on to score goals against a slow Matts Hummels and inexperienced Niklas Sule.
Bayern were also expected to profit from an injury-ravaged Liverpool central defense. In the absence of Virgil van Dijk and Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip and Fabinho anchored the defense.
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Jurgen Klopp’s men began the game with their typical intensity, although Bayern quickly settled into the game.
Liverpool’s passing out from the back was clearly lacking, and that nervousness quickly spread throughout the team. Bayern, with Thiago pulling the midfield strings, established a suffocating possession-based pattern of play.
It was a strategy that would ultimately bear fruit, as the advantage will now be with them at home.
Apart from a few bright moments from winger Serge Gnabry, Bayern didn’t trouble Allison in goal all that much. Likewise, Salah, Mane and Firmino failed to make an impact.
However, Mane had one guilt-edged chance towards the end of the first half which he should have scored. Apart from that, Liverpool’s half chances often fell to the wrong players – Keita, Matip etc.
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Bayern will be happy with a draw considering how the Reds have blown teams away at home in Europe. They will now have to come out and attack in Munich, which should provide the frenetic, counter attacking game we were all expecting last night.
Munich are evens to progress, while Liverpool are 5/2 to go through with any result.
