Liverpool 0-0 Bayern Munich: Jurgen Klopp fails to get one over on former foeBy Pete Hall at Anfield
Last Updated: 19/02/19 11:15pm
Jurgen Klopp failed to get one over on former foe Bayern Munich as Liverpool were held to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie at Anfield. Liverpool, whose makeshift defence looked shaky early on, spurned a host of chances in the first half to break the deadlock, with Sadio Mane the biggest culprit, unable to find the target from two efforts in quick succession. After the break, Liverpool retreated into their half much more. Bayern created openings of their own, with former Arsenal player Serge Gnabry firing their best effort over just before the hour mark. The match, in truth, petered out, with Liverpool perhaps with one eye on the Super Sunday clash with Manchester United, live on Sky Sports. However, Liverpool held on to that vital clean sheet ahead of the return leg in Munich in three weeks' time, as Klopp failed to gain some form of revenge for his Borussia Dortmund side's 2013 Champions League final defeat at the hands of Bayern.
Liverpool started well, with Mohamed Salah picked out by a perfect lofted pass from Jordan Henderson, but the team's top goalscorer failed to really test Manuel Neuer in the away goal.
Then Liverpool got out of jail after Gnabry skipped past his man all too easily before firing a low cross into the middle, Joel Matip tried to clear, but instead diverted the ball towards his own goal, only for Alisson to block.
Liverpool continued to look shaky with Kinglsey Coman then hammering the ball into the side netting after Alisson had put Matip in trouble with a poor pass. Bayern then failed to clear their lines themselves, with Trent Alexander-Arnold crossing for Salah, who could only head wide at the back post.
The chance of the half fell to Sadio Mane in the 32nd minute after Niklas Sule had charged down Naby Keita's strike, but Mane could only scuff wide with the goal at his mercy, before then acrobatically firing wide from another good position.
The pace of the game slowed somewhat after the break, with chances less plentiful. Gnabry actually had the first meaningful strike of the half just before the hour mark, but his effort drifted over the top.
Klopp switched it up and introduced James Milner and Divock Origi but it was Mane who had their last chance to snatch all three points, with his header saved smartly by Neuer late on.
https://www.skysports.com/football/liverpool-vs-bay-munich/report/403919
