FUSSBALL’S COMING HOME CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND OF 16

Bayern are the Champions League’s great achievers yet Liverpool start as favourites and Klopp says: That is our biggest achievement .. people think we could win it

IN the past six seasons Bayern Munich have reached the semifinal of the Champions League five times. Only once over the last 12 years have they failed to reach the quarter-final stage – and yet

Liverpool are favourites to come out on top over the two legs of their last-16 clash. According to Reds manager Jurgen Klopp, that is the mark of just how far his side have come during his time at Anfield. “It’s a huge game. It is a game you want to see and maybe that is the biggest achievement for my team so far,” said Klopp.

“Not only are we back in the competition, but some people think we could win it.

“That’s good but there’s still a lot of work to do.

“We don’t underestimate ourselves, we don’t think we are not good enough. We are a competitive side and, in our stadium with our people, we are a proper force. And so we have to show that again tomorrow night and make life as uncomfortable as possible for Bayern.”

Several Bayern stars have suggested the Reds are favourites and say the emotion of Anfield gives Liverpool a massive edge.

And Klopp wants to use that European-night atmosphere at Anfield to let Bayern know they are in for a real scrap.

“We know there is a lot of talk about it – the most emotional stadium in Europe and all that stuff,” he said. “In Germany they described us as the most emotional club in the world. Emotion is very positive, let’s show that tomorrow.

“People have called me in the last few days to tell me Germany is going mad over this game. Let’s hope we create an atmosphere to show why.

“It’s something to enjoy – there’s a lot of power involved in the atmosphere.”

Not that Klopp believes it will be easy. As manager of Borussia Dortmund, he found a way to break Bayern’s stranglehold on the German game, but he has nothing but respect for a club that he almost joined as manager way back in 2008.

“To beat them was the biggest challenge you could face in German football,” he said.

“Sometimes we did it and sometimes we didn’t. I don’t see it as a personal thing for me.

“It is two big clubs facing each other and I am really happy to be part of this game.”

Had Bayern beaten Real Madrid in last year’s semi-final (Real went through 4-3 on aggregate), they’d have met Liverpool in the final in Kiev.

In the previous season they went out at the quarter-final stage, again against Real Madrid, in extra-time.

In 2015-16 they lost to Atletico Madrid at the semi-final stage on away goals. In fact, the last time Bayern were knocked out by a team from somewhere other than Spain was in

2012 – when Chelsea beat them in the final.

The pressure will keep coming for Liverpool, for whom

James

Milner

(right) is hoping to be fit, after tonight, with a trip to Old

Trafford on

Sunday in the

Premier League.

Klopp added:

“We have only tough months in the season. We’ve had a lot of tough months, it’s always tough.

“We can’t think about Manchester United. We are a really strong side and that is what we have to show.”

Asked if he would rather win the Champions League or the Premier League, Klopp said: “For all Liverpool fans it’s the Premier League.

“But for now it’s the Champions League – we have to do our best.”

Salah is all smiles as he targets more Champions League success for the Reds tonight DIFFICULT DRAW Worried Bayern coach Niko Kovac BAYERN MUNICH boss Niko Kovac fears the German side were handed the toughest tie possible when they were drawn against Liverpool.The Bundesliga giants have not failed to reach the quarterfinals of the European competition since 2011.But Kovac admits they face a tough task against Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League title challengers and finalists against Real Madrid last May.He said: “We’re playing against an opponent that’s the most difficult draw.“If you look at whatLiverpool did in theChampions League last season and what Liverpool are doing in the Premier League this season, then you have to say Liverpool is the most difficult draw that there is.“Other draws would have been difficult – but I maintain that this game and in Munich the form on the day will be decisive.“I don’t know if there is a favourite or not. Liverpool has respect for us as we do for them and there will be a sporting contest.”Bayern are without defender Jerome Boateng (left) who failed to make the trip from Germany because of a stomach bug.Franck Ribery is also a doubt after his partner gave birth and he travelled later than the rest of the squad to Merseyside – while striker Thomas Muller is suspended for both legs.

FINAL SAY Klopp chats with Mane (left) as the Reds warm up for big Bayern clash