Smart, solid Bayern keep Liverpool at bay
Bavarians defend with steel, stay calm under pressure to subdue a usually lively Reds’ front three to earn a goalless draw at hostile Anfield
LIVERPOOL: Bayern Munich showed all their Champions League experience and quality organisation as they held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their last 16 match at Anfield on Tuesday in a game of few chances and little drama.
But the result leaves it all to play for in the second leg in Munich on March 13 when the German side will be without defender Joshua Kimmich who will be suspended after picking up a yellow card.
Perhaps it was a case of both sides showing too much respect for the other — certainly both were wary of over-committing in attack — but for fans used to entertainment and drama on European nights at Anfield it was a let down.
“It is not the result or the game we dreamed of,” said Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp.
“I can’t remember any chances for either side in the second half. It wasn’t a Champions League night from that point of view. From a result point of view, it’s OK.”
It is no accident that Bayern have reached the semi-finals of this competition in six of the last seven seasons and they showed their pragmatic calmness to subdue Liverpool’s normally lively front three.
“I can’t remember too many clubs who have avoided defeat and kept a clean sheet here,” said Bayern coach Niko Kovac.
“The fact that we managed to restrict them to very few chances shows that we played very well tactically as well as technically.”
Mohamed Salah, the man Liverpool look to for moments of inspiration, to create a goal out of nothing, had a night to forget with one of his poorest displays in this competition.
Liverpool simply could not find the fluency and rhythm that brings the best out of their forward line although they will be pleased, in the absence of their defensive rock Virgil van Dijk, to have kept out Bayern.
Key to that rearguard resilience was the performance from Brazilian midfielder Fabinho, who deputised well in the centraldefensive role keeping Bayern’s scoring threat Robert Lewandowski quiet.
In midfield, Jordan Henderson delivered an excellent display, especially in the opening 45 minutes, when he broke up Bayern’s attempts to create and also contributed some drive to Liverpool’s forward thrusts.
There were few clear-cut chances in the game although Liverpool created several half-openings in the first period.
The first was one of the best they managed — Henderson found Salah, who had snuck in behind Niklas Sule, but the Egyptian’s toe-poke at full stretch was straight at Manuel Neuer. tournament in 2013, didn't have a shot on target for over 80 minutes. But crucially they managed to subdue Liverpool's usually lethal forward line, giving themselves a chance of churningouta positive result at home in the second leg.
FABINHO FILLS IN NICELY
With Virgil van Dijk suspended and Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren both injured, Klopp was forced to play Brazilian midfielder Fabinho out of position at centre-back alongside Joel Matip.
Fabinho (in pic) had filled in as a makeshift defender against Wolves and
Brighton earlier this season, but neither of those teams had a forward
KLOPP FRUSTRATED
Juergen Klopp twice knocked Bayern off their perch to win the Bundesliga, but Bayern handed the German one of the most painful defeats of his career when they beat Dortmund in the dying seconds of the
2013 Champions League final at Wembley.
THEY SAY
of Robert Lewandowski's class. But with Fabinho in fine form, Lewandowski barely had a sniff all night.
His one moment of genuine menace ended with Fabinho producing a timely block to scramble the ball to safety as the Poland striker prepared to
pull the trigger. It is a loss that still gnaws at Klopp. However, after Liverpool were stifled by Bayern's defensive masterclass, Klopp will head home to Germany for next month's second leg, facing a tough task, in Munich where his record is not that good.
Juergen Klopp,
"It's not the result or the game we dreamed of. It's the result we have and we will work with that. It was a clean sheet without the big man (Virgil van Dijk). A lot of people wouldn't have expected that. The defending was good.” “We cracked open the door for the return leg. (Ex-germany coach) Sepp Herberger would have been proud — one for all and all for one. But I want to warn against going into the return leg with too much euphoria. It is still a dangerous result.”
Karl-heinz Rummenigge,