It might have been a bit scruffy for some tastes but Liverpool’s performance in winning 3-1 at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena was as impressively efficient as any in their storied history. Locked at 0-0 from the first leg of their Champions League last 16 encounter at Anfield Jurgen Klopp’s side produced what the manager called a ‘mature’ performance to progress. A double from Sadio Mane and Virgil Van Dijk’s booming header were enough to comfortably cancel out Joel Matip’s Djimi Traore own goal moment.
It wasn’t a technically brilliant display. Misplaced passes were plentiful. Mo Salah still seems somehow out of sorts and the midfield trio of Gio Wijnaldum, James Milner and Fabinho who was introduced after an early injury to Jordan Henderson still goes about its business with a philosophy more akin to the one used by the tortoise in the famous race against the hare. With Naby Keita out injured and Xerdan Shaqiri recently and bafflingly marginalised by the manager there was no snap in the middle of the park but what they did they did with great control and confidence. You always felt Bayern were more than arms-length away, even when Matip’s brush with disaster brought the German side back into it at 1-1.
Knowing that they were still ahead in the tie on away goals Liverpool didn’t panic as some of their sides of the past might have. Instead they tightened up defensively, cut down on the sloppiness at the back and reaped the rewards when Van Dijk rose to meet Milner’s corner and all but settle the argument. It helped to have Mane around too. While Salah stutters in front of goal the Senegal striker has hit something of a purple patch of form. His first goal was mesmerising as he killed a difficult pass with one superb touch before pirouetting away from the defence and chipping into a net that had been vacated by a confused looking Manuel Neuer. For his second, Mane flung himself head first to meet Salah’s pin-point centre and give the result a rather glossy look. This was a well-deserved victory but not one which was achieved with much ease for the most part.
The one disappointment on the night was the late booking picked up by Andy Robertson. The Scotland captain has been sensational at left-back since joining the Reds from Hull City for what now looks a cut-price £8million, but will miss the first leg of the quarter-final after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament. It was a rash, needless and not very sensible challenge late in the game but at the same time it said much about Robertson’s approach to the game. He’s full blooded and committed in everything he does, which unfortunately has cost him on this occasion. However, those about to reach for the strong stuff at the thought of a Cristiano Ronaldo or a Lionel Messi running at Milner or (horror) Alberto Moreno in a few weeks’ time should remember that Van Dijk, an even more important figure in the Liverpool rearguard, was suspended for the first leg tie against Bayern but the team still came away with a clean sheet. Klopp will have a plan for dealing with whichever opponent he is handed in the last eight.
Liverpool are one of four English teams awaiting the quarter-final draw on Friday morning (March 15). Klopp doesn’t appear too keen on meeting a Premier League rival at the last eight stage of the competition but when you look around the other options Juventus, Barcelona, Porto and Ajax will all present their own difficult challenges also. I may be riding straight through Clicheville when I say this but there really are no easy games at this level and especially not at what is now the business end of the competition.
There was a murmur among some pundits and even fans that Liverpool might be better served exiting Europe to lessen the workload as they hunt down Manchester City in the title race. Yet surely a loss leading to Liverpool’s very own Brexit would have damaged confidence and forced Klopp into the difficult task of picking his players up for the trip to Fulham on Sunday? This way they will have great morale going down to Craven Cottage and the momentum they have built from going into Bayern’s back garden and emerging victorious should really help them when they come up against the west London outfit. I guess if you pressed most Liverpool fans to choose between winning another Champions League and finally getting their hands on a first domestic title for 29 years they would choose the latter. Yet Liverpool Football Club has been built on its successes in Europe also, so it is vital that they make the most of their opportunity to challenge. The goal must be to go one better than in 2018 when they were Kariused into submission in Kiev in the Champions League final against Real Madrid.
Liverpool can go back to the top of the table with a win over Scott Parker’s side. That will heap all the pressure back on to Manchester City who are in FA Cup action this weekend. City will still have the opportunity to overhaul Liverpool if they win the game in hand that they will have as a result of their involvement in the cup but the old adage that you would rather have the points in the bag than the games in hand rings especially true at this time of the season. Every game is do or die now in the league for both Liverpool and City. Neither can afford a slip of any kind, and both seem morbidly fearful that if they do drop points the other will march on imperiously and win all of their remaining games to seal the crown. The reality is that both will have their moments of triumph and despair along the way between now and May, but somehow knowing that doesn’t stop either team from feeling that every game is a sudden death decider.
Whether or not Liverpool can carry off that long awaited title there is no doubt that they are right in the mix for Champions League honours. The other seven sides will have taken note of Klopp’s side after such an impressive statement at the home of one of the true giants of European football. Only Ajax who ran roughshod over Real Madrid to win 4-1 can perhaps claim to have turned more heads with their result in the last 16 of the competition. For now, and though it could all end in tears and nothing on the silverware front, we’re all dreaming of a Premier League and Champions League double, the first time that Liverpool will have won the domestic and European title in the same season since 1984. It’s still possible in March, and you can’t ask for too much more than that.
