Preview: Liverpool vs. Bayern Munich - prediction, team news, lineups
By Daniel Lewis , Senior Reporter | 4h
Two former Champions League winners locks horns at Anfield on Tuesday evening as Liverpool and Bayern Munich face off in the first leg of a highly-anticipated last-16 tie.
Liverpool made it all the way to the final last season but had to work hard to
progress through a difficult group this time around, whereas Bayern eased through Group E to remain on course for a first continental triumph in six years.
Liverpool
Manchester United legend Gary Neville told Liverpool to forget about challenging for the Champions League this season if they were to seriously rival Manchester City for the Premier League title. For a while it looked as though Jurgen Klopp heeded that advice as his side's hopes of progression from Group C were hanging by a thread at one point.
Back-to-back away losses to Red Star Belgrade and Paris Saint-Germain left Liverpool requiring victory at home to Napoli on the final matchday - far from an easy challenge against one of the continent's most dangerous sides. In the end a Mohamed Salah strike 34 minutes into December's match proved the difference , though Klopp also had to thank
Alisson Becker for producing a late wonder save.
It is on such fine margins that memorable runs are built, as was the case last season when Liverpool made it all the way to the final, where they lost 3-1 to Real Madrid. If not for some terrible goalkeeping from
Loris Karius , the man Alisson was brought in to replace in a record transfer last summer, Liverpool may well have added a sixth European crown to their collection.
For a side that made it to last season's final and made it through their group this time around, Liverpool have a surprisingly poor recent record in Europe. In their last eight matches, stretching back to the 2017-18 semi-finals, they have lost five and won three.
Klopp's men have lost four European away games in a row, including all three this term, making Tuesday's first leg at Anfield all the more important. Liverpool are unbeaten in 19 consecutive European matches on home soil, winning 14 of those and last tasting defeat back in October 2014 against Madrid.
It is their second-longest unbeaten streak at home in European competition after their 40-match run between September 1974 and December 1991. If they are to have any hope of booking a place in the quarter-finals at Bayern's expense, their unbeaten home run will surely have to stay intact.
Liverpool have had 10 days' rest between matches, giving Klopp a chance to take his players abroad for a warm-weather training camp. After dropping points in two successive Premier League matches
prior to beating Bournemouth 3-0 last time out, the recuperation period came at just the right time.
The Reds' domestic title hopes are still in their own hands with the final stretch drawing into sight. Now the Merseysiders turn attention back to the European stage, and you get the sense that they will not throw in the towel - despite Neville's words of advice.
Recent form in Champions League: WLWLLW
Recent form (all competitions): LWWDDW
Bayern Munich
Following a slow start to their season that nearly cost Niko Kovac his job, Bayern have hit a good run of form at just the right time and are now right back in the Bundesliga title race.
From nine points adrift of Borussia Dortmund this time last month to two points adrift after 22 matches, albeit having played a game more than the league leaders, Bayern will now consider themselves favourites to win a seventh successive league title.
Kovac's side are also still in contention for German Cup glory, but it is the Champions League that they truly want. Having lifted the most famous club trophy of them all only twice this millennium, the Bavarian giants will be keen to put things right this season.
As one of five teams to remain unbeaten in the group phase, along with Ajax, Barcelona, Lyon and Porto, Bayern have momentum on their side as they attempt to reach the semis for an eighth time in 10 seasons - an incredible record, given the competition.
Bayern are also on a run of eight consecutive Champions League away games without a defeat, with their last loss on the road coming against PSG in September 2017. Only once before have they enjoyed a longer run - 10 games between October 2012 and April 2014.
The German champions were not quite perfect in Group E, though, as they were held home and away by Ajax, conceding three times in their most recent European outing in Amsterdam to just about hold onto top spot.
Bayern were also recently taken to extra time by Hertha Berlin in the DFB-Pokal and had to twice recover from a goal down to see off Augsburg in their final Bundesliga match prior to their Merseyside trip. Results may have been largely positive, then, but Die Roten are still not at their ruthless best.
There is a reason why Bayern are so heavily fancied, though, as they have won 11 of their 14 last-16 ties, including the last seven since an away-goals reverse at the hands of Inter Milan in 2011. That winning run includes 5-1 victories home and away to Arsenal, giving them a record of 10 wins from 15 two-legged ties against English clubs.
Recent form in Champions League: WDWWWD
Recent form (all competitions): WWLWWW
Team News
The week-and-a-half break between matches has given Klopp an opportunity to bring certain players back up to speed, though a few key men still remain absent.
Klopp has admitted that he is planning for the game without Dejan Lovren , who is carrying a hamstring injury, while Joe Gomez remains on the sidelines with an ankle problem.
To make matters worse for Liverpool, record signing Virgil van Dijk is suspended after picking up three yellow cards in the group phase, meaning that it could well be a makeshift centre-back pairing of Fabinho and Joel Matip .
Liverpool do at least have Trent Alexander-Arnold back available and their front-three trio are all fit, so Klopp will be hoping that Salah, Roberto Firmino and
Sadio Mane can paper over the defensive cracks.
In terms of the visitors, they were given a major injury scare against Augsburg on Friday as Kingsley Coman , the scorer of two goals, limped off with an apparent ankle injury.
Coman has been given the all clear to play at Anfield, however, which is a big boost for Kovac as Thomas Muller will miss out through suspension.
Kovac has a couple of selection decisions to make, including which of Javi Martinez or Leon Goretzka to go with in central midfield, though there is an easy call to make up top as Robert Lewandowski is in great form.
The Poland international leads the Champions League scoring charts this term with eight in total, and he is aiming to find the back of the net for a fifth consecutive European game - something he has not previously managed in the same season.
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Keita; Salah, Firmino, Mane
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Kimmich, Sule, Hummels, Alaba; Martinez, Thiago; Gnabry, James, Coman; Lewandowski
Head To Head
These European heavyweights have surprisingly met on just six previous occasions in European competition and not at all in almost two decades, last facing off in the 2001 UEFA Super Cup in Monaco.
Liverpool won that match 3-2 and also came out on top in the semi-finals of their victorious 1980-81 European Cup campaign, courtesy of an away goal from
Ray Kennedy .
Bayern claimed victory in the sides' first contest, in the 1971-72 European Cup Winners' Cup semi-finals, but that remains their only win in this fixture.
We say: Liverpool 1-1 Bayern Munich
In three previous trips to Anfield, Bayern have failed to score a single goal. With the Reds struggling to get players back to full fitness in time for Tuesday's match, however, the German champions will fancy their chances of bagging at least one away goal, which could prove crucial come the end of the second leg. Liverpool are unbeaten in 19 European home matches and Bayern are on a run of eight away matches without defeat in the competition, so everything points towards

https://amp.sportsmole.co.uk/football/liverpool/champions-league/preview/preview-liverpool-vs-bayern-prediction-team-news-lineups_350619.html

luvola:
Blood will flow

Why did you change from Barcelona/Real Madrid fixture
You are a cheat sir

cc
mukina

iwaeda:

Why did you change from Barcelona/Real Madrid fixture You are a cheat sir
cc mukina

It like you dnt know i am the king of liverpool thread so keep off

luvola:


It like you dnt know i am the king of liverpool thread so keep off

You put Liverpool vs Barcelona/Madrid and you now changed it to Liverpool vs Bayern, that is not honesty!

iwaeda:


You put Liverpool vs Barcelona/Madrid and you now changed it to Liverpool vs Bayern, that is not honesty!

show me the evidence ..lol

Details of this match will follow soon.

Expect some preview soon

Van djik suspended after receiving yellow card thus dealing a major blow for the jurden kloop side.

Let's go there

LIKES FOR LIVERPOOL

LIKES FOR BAYERN..

BATTLE FOR KEY PLAYERS....Likes for SALAH....Shares for ROBBEN.

I tels u. Buh Liverpool shall triumph.

Preview coming soon

Nuer is doubtful for liverpool match .

Okay, see my signature below to stream the match

Game to watch

The German side cannot afford defensive mistakes is they want to move on in the Champions League, according to their manager
Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac warned his team they would find themselves under heavy pressure against Liverpool unless they improved defensively.
The Bundesliga giants came from behind twice before claiming a 3-2 victory over Augsburg on Friday.
But Bayern's defending concerned Kovac ahead of the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday, with his side having now failed to keep a clean sheet in six games in 2019.
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"This [defensive mistakes] cannot happen to us at Liverpool," the Croatian told a news conference.
"When my players at Liverpool start letting people go, especially with the front three there [Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino], then we will find ourselves in a very dangerous situation every minute.
"That's why it's important to have the ball to take responsibility and act in a disciplined way.
"Then you can defend something, but if you let the opponents run, then every team in the Bundesliga has the quality to score."
Kingsley Coman scored a brace for Bayern and set up David Alaba's winner, before coming off with an ankle injury.
FC Bayern English
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The 22-year-old twice drew his team level after a Leon Goretzka own goal and Ji Dong-won strike for Augsburg.
Kovac, who is hopeful over Coman's availability for the trip to Anfield, said Bayern were still not where he wanted them to be when out of possession.
"I think it felt like three shots from Augsburg and two of them scored. That's what basically haunts us throughout the season – every shot is a goal," he said.
"And if we don't have the ball, we don't act as I imagine. We know that our individual mistakes mostly result in goals."
Bayern's win moved them to within two points of Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund , who visit Nurnberg on Monday. Kovac: Bayern can't afford defensive mistakes against Liverpool
Dejan Kalinic
Last updated 05:57
05:27 16/02/2019 
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https://www.goal.com/en/news/kovac-bayern-cant-afford-defensive-mistakes-against/evpx9fex8yal1lisqehhwwb0z

Liverpool resume their Champions League campaign with a tantalising tie against German giants Bayern Munich at Anfield on Tuesday night.
The last-16 first-leg clash will be the first meeting of the two continental heavyweights, who have each won the European Cup on five occasions, since the Reds beat Bayern in the final of the UEFA Super Cup back in 2001.
Niko Kovac's Bundesliga champions qualified for the knockout stages of this season's competition by topping Group E ahead of Ajax, Benfica and AEK, while Jürgen Klopp's men finished second in Group C, behind Paris Saint-Germain, and ahead of Napoli and Red Star Belgrade.
Both sides currently sit second in their domestic leagues and seem closely matched heading into this contest. We've picked out three key battles that could help decide the game...
Sadio Mane v Joshua Kimmich
Versatile Germany international Kimmich has played more minutes under Bayern boss Kovac than any other player this season, including every second of their Champions League campaign thus far.
Predominantly used at right-back this term, the 24-year-old is equally adept playing as a midfield pivot and initially made the breakthrough in Munich as a makeshift centre-back under Pep Guardiola, who insisted Kimmich had the quality to play in any position.
Tipped off by his former boss Guardiola, Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez has been following Kimmich's career closely and after meeting the player at a Doha training camp last month said: "He can be one of the best players in world football in several positions, maybe he already is."
Ball-playing Kimmich, who leads Bayern with 12 assists this season, is expected to eventually end up in midfield as a No.6, but it's his defensive fortitude at full-back that is sure to be put to the test at Anfield when he comes up against an in-form Mane.
Liverpool's Senegalese forward has scored in each of his last four games and is only behind Mohamed Salah in the club's scoring charts for the season.
Usually starting from the left flank, the No.10 has developed the happy knack of claiming crucial goals.
Mane bagged Liverpool's last - which proved to be the winner - in the thrilling 4-3 victory against Crystal Palace last month, scored the Reds' single strikes in a pair of 1-1 draws with Leicester City and West Ham United, and netted the opener to initiate a 3-0 win over Bournemouth last time out.
Georginio Wijnaldum v Leon Goretzka
Signed from FC Schalke in the summer, Germany international Goretzka has become an integral part of Kovac's central midfield - often playing in tandem with Spain international Thiago at the base of a 4-2-3-1 formation.
The 24-year-old, who says he models his game on the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos, has the ability to score goals from deep and pick out key passes for his teammates - notching six goals and three assists this season.
His box-to-box role can make him hard to pick up as he can drop deep or move further forward to find gaps as the game dictates. If Goretzka does find space in the final third, expect to see a long-range shot - one of his specialities.
Looking to shut down the young German and exert his own influence on the tie will be Liverpool's Dutch midfielder Wijnaldum, who is not dissimilar to his potential opponent in his ability to play as either an attacking or more defensive option.
The 28-year-old began the season having transitioned into a traditional No.6 role, as the deepest man in midfield, but in recent fixtures he's reverted to a position further up the pitch.
In last Saturday's 3-0 win against Bournemouth, the Netherlands international was the most advanced midfielder in a 4-3-3. He set up three goalscoring opportunities for his teammates, enjoyed a 91 per cent pass completion rate and scored an exquisite lob after breaking forward to connect with Andy Robertson's lofted pass.
If Wijnaldum can replicate his attacking repertoire at Anfield on Tuesday, he will almost certainly cause problems for Goretzka and Thiago.
Joel Matip v Robert Lewandowski
This battle promises to renew an old rivalry from German football's Ruhr derby, when Matip's Schalke battled Lewandowski's Borussia Dortmund for regional bragging rights.
The duo faced off seven times in all competitions during this four-year period and shared the spoils equally - winning three each and drawing one.
Lewandowski secured his high-profile move to Bayern in 2014 and gained the advantage in their head-to-head before Matip joined Liverpool two years later.
The Reds defender will certainly know all about his opponent's game heading into this clash, as will manager Jürgen Klopp, who mentored the Poland international during his time in Dortmund. Stopping Lewandowski, however, is another matter.
He has been Bayern's top scorer in each of the last four seasons - 2017-18 (41), 2016-17 (43), 2015-16 (42), 2014-15 (25) - and the 6ft 1in forward is top of the tree again this term, and by quite some distance, with 25 strikes so far.
A classic No.9, the 30-year-old conducts most of his business in and around the box, where his natural sense of positioning, awareness and deadly finishing with either foot, or aerially, make him prolific.
Usually deployed as a lone centre-forward, shackling Lewandowski would go a long way to blunting Bayern's attack. Matip's familiarity with his old foe might make him best placed to do just that.
The centre-back has played every minute of Liverpool's last four matches after returning from a broken collarbone fresh and rested.
He led the team with 11 clearances and two interceptions as Liverpool kept a clean sheet against Bournemouth last time out and his return to form is perfectly timed with Virgil van Dijk suspended for this match.

https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/features/338270-liverpool-v-bayern-munich-three-key-battles

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Reds rock with defensive crisis***


Team News
Liverpoolwillheadintothisgame inthe middleof adefensive crisis. With Joe Gomezout injured, Dejan Lovren half-fit andVirgil vanDijk suspended, JoelMatip is theironly fully-fit recognisedcentreback.
Thereis hopethatLovren willmake a recovery intimefor thegame, but Jurgen Klopphasadmittedthatwillbetouch and go.If the Croatian does not make it, itis likelyFabinho willstart atcentre back once again.
That is not an issuefor the Braziliangiven he hasplayed there before and impressed butis lessthanidealnonetheless. Liverpool’s only otherabsentee is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
BayernMunichwillbe without Corentin Tolisso, who is a long-term absentee with a cruciateinjury pickedupinSeptember.
Arjen Robben is also out injuredwhile the Germanswillhave towait on a latefitness test for KingsleyComan. Helimped out of thewinoverAugsburg andlooksunlikelyto feature. Thomas Mullerwillalso beabsent ashe’s servinga suspension.
What the managers said
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 04: Jurgen Klopp looks on prior to the match between West Ham United and Liverpool FC. (Photo byCatherine Ivill/Getty Images)
DespiteBayernnot being attheir best this season, Kloppstillbelieves the German championsare aquality opponent for his side tobe facing:
“Over theyears I havewatcheda lot of Bayerngames andthisseasonas well, five orsix,” the manager told Liverpoolfc.com.
“You watchalways the resultsand goals, butfull games it’s different. [I’ve watched] five or six and now we havethe more detailed analysis, andit’s just quality. It’s a mix of quality and experience.
“They weresix timesinarowchampionsof Germany, which is not easy, and they were oneof the teamsinthe last 10yearswho wereprettymuch allthe timeinthe quarter-finals, semi-finals, finalof the ChampionsLeague.
“These playersare stillallthere, with a fewnice add-ons:Goretzka, Gnabry, Coman.Theyhave different rolesinthe team but they are allstill there andit’s just a reallygoodfootballteam.”
AUGSBURG,GERMANY – FEBRUARY 15: Niko Kovac looks on prior to the match between FC Augsburgand FC Bayern Muenchen. (Photo byAlexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Niko Kovac, meanwhile, hasadmittedheis worriedabout histeam’s defensive problems heading into the game:
“Every shot is a goalatthe moment,” he said.
“When wehave the ball, wedon’t play like I expect the team toplay. Their (Augsburg) second goalis agoodexample.
“The second ball with allthatroominthe backis somethingthatcan’t happen. Liverpoolwouldpunish us for that sortof mistake.
“Defensively, weneedtobe betterworking backwards, and thatis something thatwill be going into myanalysis.”
Stats
Thisis the firsttimeLiverpool have faceda Germanteam inthe ChampionsLeague was14yearsago. Theywentontowinthe competitionthatyear. Infact, they’ve beatenaGermanteamontheirrunto winningthe competitioninfour of theirfive successes.
The Redshave won justoneof their five meetings with Bayern, drawing three and losingtheother one.
Jurgen Kloppdoesn’t have agreat record againstthemeither. He’s faced Bayern29 timesasa manager, winning 9, losing16 anddrawing the other four. He’s lost more games against them thananyotherclub.
Bayern, meanwhile, havewon 22 of their 51 games against English clubs intheir history.
If Liverpoolwinthisgame it willbe justthe second timean English side hasbeata Germanonein aknockoutgame since 2011.Tottenham were the first todosowith theirwin over BorussiaDortmund. Facebook Twitter Email
LIVERPOOL,ENGLAND - MARCH 24: Fans sing before kick off during the friendly match between Liverpool FC Legends and FC Bayern Legends at Anfield on March 24,2018 in Liverpool,England.(Photo by Jan Kruger/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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Dominique#

Klopp calls on Anfield crowd to push Liverpool ‘140%’ against Bayern Munich
 Ste McGovern  19/02/2019
 Champions League, Premier League
 0
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has urged his sides fans to create a powerful atmosphere in their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.
The Reds face the German league champions in the first leg of their last 16 tie at Anfield on Tuesday night, as daunting a task as they could have expected in the first knockout round.
Klopp has said that the crowd can help Liverpool raise their game to “140%”, an oddly specific number that we’re not really sure how he arrived at.
The former Borussia Dortmund manager says his charges need to make it easy for the supporters to get behind them first by putting in a strong performance.
“We have to create an atmosphere on the pitch and make it easier for the people,” said Klopp at his pre-match press conference.
“It will be outstanding. It’s something to enjoy – there’s a lot of power involved in the atmosphere.”
“Playing home first is not usually an advantage but we don’t care,”
“There are two legs to play. Let’s create a basis we can use in the second game.
“Our crowd is really able to push us from 100% to 140%.”

https://thefootballfaithful.com/klopp-calls-on-anfield-crowd-to-push-liverpool-140-against-bayern-munich/

Okay

Christiano Ronaldo scoring in this match

Who do you want to win?
Like for Liverpool
Share for Bayern Munich

Both teams to score and under 1.5

Lol... You don open thread since last year December?

YNWL


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk2ZqpkFvfI

YNWA