CAUGHT IN A REDLOCK
Liverpool made to suffer... now they have fight on their Hans
IT had all the ingredients of a classic but rarely lived up to its billing.
We have almost come to expect a memorable European night at Anfield after Liverpool blew everyone away on the march to last season’s final.
However, Bayern Munich were too savvy, too streetwise and experienced as they frustrated Liverpool and leave them facing a huge task in the return leg in Germany in three weeks’ time.
But what was perhaps even more worrying for Liverpool was that Jurgen Klopp’s men struggled to find anything like their best in what will surely be a season-defining week.
The Premier League has become Klopp’s priority after a 29-year wait for the title and yet this was hardly ideal preparation for a trip to Manchester United on Sunday. They just could not find a way through Bayern’s rearguard action. Every time space seemed to open up, the Germans suddenly found four or five players ready to close down the danger.
It was a gritty, disciplined performance from the visitors. No wonder they have reached the semi-finals in five of the past six seasons. When it comes to showing off
European Cups,
Bayern match Liverpool on five apiece.
Liverpool smashed Porto, Manchester City and Roma in the knock-out stages last year but none of those opponents have the same pedigree as Bayern and that was there for all to see.
But the comfort for Liverpool was that a goalless draw is no longer a bad result as you would surely back this Reds’ side to score in Munich. Incredibly, this was Bayern’s fourth game at Anfield and they have yet to score but, in 1981, Liverpool were held at home in the semi-final but drew 1-1 in Munich on the way to winning the trophy. The tie is still alive for Liverpool even if they have hit a little bump in the road as they have managed just one win in their last four games. Liverpool pressed late on but Bayern held firm, reducing Klopp (above) and his men to half-chances with Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer making a smart save from Sadio Mane’s near-post header.
But Liverpool will also be grateful themselves they did not concede as it was a nervous night for their patched-up defence. Without the suspended Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool looked wobbly at the back, nervous and vulnerable.
Liverpool were also missing Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez through injury and the patched-up back four looked nervous with Joel Matip, in particular, looking shaky without the Dutchman’s calming influence.
Sure enough, Matip was at fault when Bayern twice went close in the opening 17 minutes and that nervousness spread to the rest of the defence with Fabinho filling in at centre-half.
And even the normally reliable Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-arnold looked vulnerable.
Bayern’s former Arsenal youngster Serge Gnabry’s cross caused panic in the Liverpool defence as Matip nearly put through his own goal but keeper Alisson made a brilliant reflex block. Then Alisson’s pass put Matip under pressure and that let in Kingsley Coman who slashed a shot into the side-netting.
Roberto Firmino was the one Liverpool forward who looked really lively but even he could find no way through and Mo Salah was wasteful in front of goal while Mane miscued the best chance.
Firmino drove forward towards the edge of the box, Naby Keita’s shot was blocked by Niklas Sule and Mane then miscued horribly wide as he fired in a shot on the turn.
Liverpool tried to step up the pace after half-time and went close as Keita drove forward, Sule’s clearance rebounded off Robertson, the ball looped over Neuer but Salah could not sort out his feet quick enough to take advantage.
It ended in a night of frustration for Liverpool but they always knew Bayern were going to be a tough nut to crack.
once as Salah headed wide from a good chance at the back post and Mane spurned a golden opportunity when he turned and shot wide with time and space.
Frustrated Reds captain Jordan Henderson said: “We’re disappointed not to score. But we kept a clean sheet and defended well. “We had enough chances, especially in the first half. It’s not the worst result in the world. The performance level was good, but we lacked that bit more in the final third. “They’re a good team, they’re going to keep the ball. At times we found it frustrating. We were a bit unlucky in front of goal. “It’s still alive. We’ve got to be confident still. It will be difficult, but we have experience in the Champions League. We can go there and hurt them.” Mane failed to hit the target from another opening, missed with an audacious bicycle kick and saw a late header saved. And Liverpool’s makeshift defence of Joel Matip and Fabinho kept Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski quiet as he had no chance to add to his eight Champions League goals.