Klopp wary of Allianz Arena return with Liverpool
MUNICH, Germany: Jurgen KloppbringsLiverpooltoGermany to resume their battle against Bayern Munich with the hosts billing Wednesday’s Champions League last 16 return leg as an ‘all or nothing’ showdown.
After a goalless draw at Anfield in the first-leg three weeks ago, there is still everything to play for at Munich’s Allianz Arena.
Stuttgart- born Klopp knows what awaits his Reds in the highly- charged arena where Bayern tend to raise their game and away teams face a barricade of whistles whenever they touch the ball.
“The four goals are all well and good,” said Klopp after Liverpool’s 4-2 win on Sunday at Burnley, with Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane both scoring twice, “But what does that have to do with Munich?
“It will not be so easy to score four goals there as well.”
The 51-year- old has a modest record of nine wins, five draws and 16 defeats in 30 games against the Bavarians - as coach of either Liverpool or former clubs Mainz and Dortmund - dating back to 2004.
However, in his seven seasons with Dortmund, between 2008-15, Klopp managed an impressive four wins, plus a draw and four defeats, from nine games in Munich.
He tasted victory on his last visit to the Allianz Arena - in April 2015 when Dortmund beat Bayern on penalties in the semi-finals of the German Cup. Klopp knows that the visiting team must walk tall at the Allianz Arena.
“We have no problem with self- confidence, we are in a good mood,” he insisted.
However, Liverpool fans hope Reds’ striker Mo Salah has a redletter day in Munich after one goal in his last eight games.
The Liverpool match is seen as a season- defining tie for the German champions.
The five- time winners last failed to get through the last 16 stage in 2011 and confidence is high after resuming top spot in the Bundesliga at the weekend for the first time since September.
“It’s a very important game - everything is riding on this,” said sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic.
“The boys have put some more self- confidence in the tank,” he added after Saturday’s 6- 0 mauling of Wolfsburg.
Bayern will be without the suspended Thomas Mueller, but James Rodriguez will slot seamlessly into the attacking midfield role. — AFP