Champions League Live: Bayern Munich face Liverpool
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Liverpool 0-0 Bayern Munich
62′ Coman takes a heavy touch, one that normally leaves the opposition defense in his dust but this one invites Alexander-Arnold to dribble into the box but his final pass isn’t quite on the money and Hummels can clear. Just one moment, one combination away from something sparking into life.
58′ For all of the question marks about Neuer’s form, his ball-playing ability makes such a difference. When the going gets tough playing it out the back, he can hit the 20-yard airborne pass that opens up the play. That, eventually, leads to back-to-back corners for Bayern. Liverpool deal with them though.
55′ CHANCE! Keita has two chances to open the space on a break but can’t get either right. The second creeps through, and eventually it comes across to Salah but he miscontrols it and the chance is gone. Huge amount of space that Liverpool failed to exploit there. P.S. There was a surge of noise in the stadium just now. Here’s why:
53′ If Bayern can get past that first line of Liverpool pressing, they look like doing something. Getting past that is not easy though. They do, after a sloppy exchange of possession. Coman gets into space down the left and cuts it back for Lewandowski. It looks like the opener, but Fabinho makes a huge block.
50′ Both sides start the second half as they did the first – solving the questions the opposition is asking of them.
46′ No changes, Bayern gets us started. Neuer in front of the Kop.
HALFTIME
It has been intense and high tempo, but not in the way that was perhaps expected. Both sides have canceled themselves out a bit, and both are struggling to play it out of the back. Gnabry has looked the most dangerous for Bayern, Mane for Liverpool. Neatly balanced. What did you think? Get in touch via any of our social channels (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram).
44′ Again, another superb move from Liverpool. Keita drives forward, play goes wide, neat pass into the box, a little touch off and then Firmino hangs the cross at the back post. It’s just beyond Mane. One combination away from a real chance – and that’s true of both sides.
42′ Matip makes a huge clearance after Gnabry delivers another dangerous cross. Halftime approaching. One last chance before the break? The game feels like it might have one in it.
41′ CHANCE! Liverpool turn up the heat! Salah cuts in, sends a back heel back out to the overlapping player which bamboozles Kimmich, and Matip gets to the cross but it’s wide. That’s how dangerous Liverpool can be, although there hasn’t been much of that so far in this half.
39′ Kimmich needlessly giving the ball away on the edge of the box. Keita’s shot is deflected, Mane gets to it but sends an acrobatic effort wide. All nearly but not quite from both sides.
37′ Thiago makes a great interception, Bayern surge forward and Gnabry sends a low drive towards the far post but Alisson is there. Light drizzle coming down. Bayern slowly but surely having a few more ideas going forward.
33′ CHANCE! Keita has a chance to shoot from the edge of the box after a neat lay-off, it’s blocked by Süle but the ball hits his leg and then his arm. No penalty, but I think it could have been one. Either way, the ball falls to Mane who is not offside and has space and time to score, but can only mishit it, dragging the shot wide.
29′ Niko Kovac isn’t happy at a decision about a throw-in. This game is so incredibly cagey. Bayern seem happy to sit deep, even though they have few ideas from there. Liverpool are pushing, but not quite in the manner as expected. Leaves a lot of hopeful long balls and an incredible commitment to playing it out the back.
27′ Kimmich booked for taking Mane down as he tries to break. That means he’s out of the second leg. Not insignificant that.
24′ CHANCE! Mane wins a free kick that is nearly a corner. Alexander-Arnold’s first ball isn’t good, but his second is and Salah has a free header at the back post. The presence of a jumping David Alaba throws him off though, and his header goes wide. A chance nonetheless.
22′ Hummels is furious. Martinez and Thiago look too close to them to offer any openings, and again playing it out of the back looks a problem. Long ball over the top and then it’s Liverpool’s turn to do the same. Not the back-and-forth that was expected.
19′ It feels like both teams are a bit cagey, notably at the back. Both keepers have started nervously. Bayern appear to have won over the stadium so far, which is a huge plus.
16′ Mane breaks forward after the ball comes to him from the right. He goes for goal as the angle gets smaller, but the pass to Robertson was on. Down the other end, Alisson looks a little nervy and invites Bayern with a poor pass but Coman can only hit the side-netting.
13′ CHANCE! Just like that, Bayern are in the game. Gnabry beats Robertson out wide, gets the cross in and Matip tries to clear it but instead it hits Alisson and bounces clear. Don’t think anyone knew what was happening there but close. Kimmich has a go afterwards but it’s blocked.
12′ CHANCE! Liverpool do go first. Jordan Henderson lifts a long ball over the top and it’s perfectly placed for Mo Salah, but his connection isn’t strong enough and Neuer gets across to save.
10′ Gnabry and Coman are making something happen here for Bayern. Patient possession eventually sparks into life when those two wingers get the ball. Alisson flaps at a cross, but Liverpool clear. No sign of that furious start from Liverpool.
6′ Interesting start. Liverpool look better without the ball, pressing and pushing as usual. Bayern look overly cautious when they have the ball. Both are looking to capitalize on transitional moments, when the ball is won back. Football in 2019 eh?
4′ Crisp passing from both sides so far. Bayern in mint green takes a little getting used to, though. Matip and Mane getting in some big tackles early on. Liverpool’s pressing as furious as expected.
1′ Liverpool get us underway!
20:57 “You’ll Never Walk Alone” rings out around Anfield. It’s a big European night, and there’s a big European sound from the home crowd, drowning out the classic Champions League tune.
20:54 It’s nearly go time in Liverpool. If there were goals for choreos, it looks like the hosts might be 1-0 up.
20:49 Not related to tonight’s game, but some concerning news coming out of Turin tonight. Germany international Sami Khedira has been left out of Juventus’ squad for their game vs. Atletico Madrid tommorrow due to an irregular heartbeat. We hope it’s nothing serious and that Khedira can get back to his family and football as soon as possible.
20:31 Bayern Munich’s former chief media officer Markus Hörwick has been speaking ahead of the game about Niko Kovac’s mentality. Tonight is such a huge game for him, and it’s worth remembering that this, tonight, the Champions League knockouts against Liverpool at Anfield is a first for him. How he handles it will play a huge role. Speaking ahead of the game, Kovac also confirms that although Coman is starting and ready to go, he still feels a little bit of pain. All normal and not worth making too much of it, but worth noting.
20:26 Thomas Müller is unavailable for tonight because of his suspension (which stretches over the second leg as well). “The tension is perhaps a little great, if a little different,” he tells Sky before the game about being with the team but not able to play. “It can be spectacular tonight,” Müller adds. Everything is pointing towards it being that way.
20:20 Bayern have received 2,621 tickets for tonight, and the breakdown is interesting. 108 for employees, 483 for loyal members, 324 for away season-ticket holders, 270 for Bayern tours, and a ballot for the remaining 1,400 tickets. In that ballot, so great was the interest that for every 100 applications 98 had to be rejected. Basically, that just means whoever is there is very, very lucky.
20:13 In position for us in Liverpool tonight is Matt Pearson. Do give him a follow and keep up to date with the game through his eyes. He won’t let you down.
20:01 One more look at that Bayern bench, and it is intriguing that for the club’s biggest game of the season there are three teenagers on the sidelines. Alphonso Davies (18), Lars Lukas Mai (18) and Meritan Shabani (19). If any of them wanted to make a name for themselves, tonight would be the night.
19:51 TEAM news! Firmino, as we found out earlier, is fit to start. Naby Keita starts in midfield, and Fabinho in the heart of defense. There are weak points to attack for Bayern, but going forward that is strong.
As for Bayern, Javi Martinez starts (no Leon Goretzka, who drops out of the squad because of a tendon problem in his right ankle) as does James. Otherwise as expected. Franck Ribery, Alphonso Davies and Renato Sanches are on the bench.
Liverpool XI: Alisson – Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson – Wijnaldum, Henderson, Keita – Mane, Salah, Firmino
Bayern Munich XI: Neuer – Kimmich, Süle, Hummels, Alaba – Martinez, Thiago – Gnabry, James, Coman – Lewandowski
19:47 Bayern have arrived.
19:40 How time flies? Once on the same side, Klopp will be hoping he can shut down Lewandowski tonight.
19:19 Want some more facts? Here they are. Eleven Germans teams have played at Anfield, none have won. The record stands at 14 defeats and three draws. Ouch. Tonight can be historic for Bayern.
19:15 Bayern are wearing mint green tonight, by the way. Red is obviously the color of both teams, but both can’t wear red tonight. Still, I’m not sure whether mint green is the first option Bayern fans would have voted for.
19:10 There are programs and then there are programs. The one from tonight is exceptional, wouldn’t you say?
19:05 Team news expected soon, but here are the players that will definitely miss out:
Bayern: Boateng, Müller, Robben, Tolisso
Liverpool: Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, van Dijk
19:01 Quite the record for Liverpool to hold on to tonight.
18:54 Bayern Munich fans are being escorted into the ground now. The tension is rising. This is what it’s all about, isn’t it?
18:45 Is there a more passionate fan the Bayern man in more scarves than at a pre-game stand? Blimey. What an effort that is.
18:40 No specific starting XI news yet, but this is a huge plus for the home side. Game changing, one might even say.
18:20 Want a flashback? It’s the 2001 Super Cup. Liverpool vs. Bayern Munich. It’s the last time these two sides met competitively. Liverpool won 3-2 thanks to goals from John Arne Riise (pictured below with Willy Sagnol), Emile Heskey and Michael Owen. Strikes from Hasan Salihamidzic and Carsten Jancker weren’t enough for Bayern, who brought Niko Kovac off the bench after the hour mark. It’s a funny old game.
18:13 Not going to be easy staying calm with all this excitement out there, not even for reporters. Even if you can’t speak German, you can see how tricky it can be to navigate a busy crowd ahead of a big night of European football.
18:02 Is Jürgen Klopp the most famous coach in football? It seems everyone knows everything about him, but do you know where it all began? Here’s a look back at how Jürgen Klopp went from average player to top coach. Everyone has an origin story.
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Jürgen Klopp: From the German second division to Liverpool manager
‘In Klopp we trust’
After just over three years at the club, it seems difficult to imagine a Liverpool without Jürgen Klopp. Currently in second place on goal difference in the English Premier League table, Liverpool have every chance this season of winning first domestic league title since 1990. For their manager, it’s been a long road that started…
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Jürgen Klopp: From the German second division to Liverpool manager
Playing career
… as a player in Germany’s second division. Jürgen Klopp played professional football for 15 years, spending 11 of them in Mainz. He started out as an attacker but ended his career as a defender. He retired midway through the 2001-02 season to fill the coaching vacancy at Mainz after the club sacked head coach Eckhard Krautzun. As a player, he never made it to the Bundesliga.
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Jürgen Klopp: From the German second division to Liverpool manager
Making Mainz
During Klopp’s playing career, Mainz frequently fought against relegation to the German third tier. That changed when he took the helm at the club. In Klopp’s third season, Mainz earned promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time in club history. Klopp enjoyed three seasons in the top flight before Mainz were relegated again in 2007. He left the club a year later to join Borussia Dortmund.
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Jürgen Klopp: From the German second division to Liverpool manager
Big step up to BVB
Klopp’s appointment was part of a broader strategy change at Borussia Dortmund: to make football stars instead of buying them. He committed to 20-year-olds Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic as his center back pair — the youngest in the Bundesliga. Dortmund finished in sixth place and fifth place in his first two seasons at the club.
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Jürgen Klopp: From the German second division to Liverpool manager
Trophy run
From 2010 to 2012, Klopp lead Dortmund to their most successful two-year stretch in club history. They won their first Bundesliga title in nearly a decade in 2010-11. Klopp backed that accomplishment up by leading BVB to their first ever domestic double the following season.
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Jürgen Klopp: From the German second division to Liverpool manager
Fan favorite
It didn’t take long for Dortmund fans to fall in love with Klopp. His press conferences became a weekly spectacle and his energy on the touchline became contagious. On the pitch, he implemented an active, high-pressing system that brought BVB, a club that was only a few years removed from near insolvency, back to the pinnacle of German football.
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Jürgen Klopp: From the German second division to Liverpool manager
European precipice
Klopp did not secure domestic silverware after that two-year run, but he did lead Dortmund to the Champions League final in 2013 — their first final since their 1997 title. His side ultimately came up short against Bayern Munich, losing 2-1 late on to hand their German rivals a piece of their treble that year.
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Jürgen Klopp: From the German second division to Liverpool manager
Bitter end
Klopp’s last season with Dortmund in 2014-15 was far worse than any other. His side was second bottom at the winter break, though Klopp wound up leading them to a seventh placed finish. He did manage to get BVB to the German Cup final before losing to Wolfsburg. Dortmund and Klopp decided to part ways after the season, ending his seven-year stint with the team.
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Jürgen Klopp: From the German second division to Liverpool manager
‘The Normal One’
It didn’t take long for Klopp to land back on his feet. Liverpool appointed the German coach in October of 2015, less than five months after he parted ways with Dortmund. In his first press conference, Klopp dubbed himself “The Normal One” — after being asked how he fitted in compared to the likes of Jose Mourinho, who notoriously once called himself “a special one.”
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Jürgen Klopp: From the German second division to Liverpool manager
Roaring Reds
Liverpool fans took to Klopp’s highly animated coaching approach, but it didn’t initally lead to success. The Reds finished eighth in the Premier League in his first season, though he did lead them to the Europa League final before losing to Sevilla. But he guided Liverpool to the Champions League with a fourth-place finish the following season before their third place finish this past season.
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Jürgen Klopp: From the German second division to Liverpool manager
Adored once again
Much like he was in Dortmund, Klopp has become a club favorite at Liverpool. His passionate personality and the attractive attacking football enabled by players like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane have proved a real hit in the stands.
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Jürgen Klopp: From the German second division to Liverpool manager
Opportunity missed
Last season, Klopp guided Liverpool to the brink of the biggest title in European club football. However, an injury to Mo Salah and two blunders by German goalkeeper Loris Karius put paid to Liverpool’s hopes of winning the 2018 Champions League. This season, Klopp hopes to take that last step in Europe’s premier club competition. The next obstable in his path: Bayern Munich in the round of 16.
17:54 A lot has been said before this one. Xherdan Shaqiri has said Bayern might be the best club in the world, Arjen Robben said Liverpool might be the place he least likes to play. Then there was Joshua Kimmich say how Jürgen Klopp might be well suited to being Germany head coach one day, and then Klopp on Hummels and Lewandowski and how his career wouldn’t be the same without them. In fact, it feels like everyone has at least said something. Serge Gnabry has become one of Bayern’s most important players of late and when we caught up with him recently he too had his say about his side’s chances of progressing. The clip below is a sneak peak, but there is of course more from Gnabry, including talk about the title race and learning from veteran teammates. He’s confident, but the 23-year-old – who has a Premier League past with Arsenal don’t forget – is also aware of the quality Liverpool possess.
17:35 There are so many key battles tonight. We’ve taken a look and it makes for some great pre-match reading (we think). For more pre-game content, DW’s Matt Pearson wrote this from Liverpool ahead of the game (includes quotes from Jürgen Klopp).
17:30 Good evening! It’s finally here. Well, almost anyway. Liverpool vs. Bayern Munich. Klopp vs. Kovac. There’s so much to look forward to in this one. We’ve got you covered, with live updates here and on all our social channels (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram). Feel free to join the debate and the coverage. We don’t know what the final score will be, but we promise it’ll be entertaining.
Article source: https://www.dw.com/en/champions-league-live-bayern-munich-face-liverpool/a-47589316?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf