Topic: CL 1st leg: L’pool 0 v Bayern 0

[Son of Spion]

The difference being that if we did that away at any of those sides I’d fancy us at home, although I’d still be nervous about the away goal.

Having watched them park the bus, albeit very well, I’m interested to see what they do to hurt us in Munich without leaving themselves massively open. They had an opportunity tonight with Van Dijk out which they won’t be getting next week.

I think anyone with a modicum of sense has respect for what was an excellent away performance, but I’m unsure what they can do to finish the job at home as I massively fancy us to get at least one there when they don’t have 3 men defending the space every time we put a ball in the box.

I think it's pretty clear that they fancy themselves against us at their place.

I'm sure we'll see a different approach from them in Munich, but that could suit us just as much as they think it might suit them. Like you, I fancy us to score over there. We are more than capable. If we are on our game over there, the lack of attacking ambition they had on show tonight just might be their undoing over the course of the entire tie.

[Jm55]

I don't think they defended particularly poorly but also I'm not going to go overboard and pretend they were Simeone lite. If we didn't keep butchering our final pass or show no composure we could be taking a nice lead abroad. It's okay though. I still believe we can and will score at least 2 there. If I'm wrong and showing them no respect so be it. I'm not going to apologise for it.

No you’re right, it was no where near Simeone esque as Simeone teams defend from midfield, win the ball back and break. Bayern struggled to do that today and only really posed an attacking threat when they could whip the ball into the box.

I’m just saying that they defended brilliantly. Personally I struggle to see how they build. That in the second leg and you’re definitely right when you say our final ball was off as it definitely was.

[Skidder.]

Fucking professionally nach Westen Brom'd us.

Felt like a game of poker. Lucky hands, unlucky hands.

I reckon the away leg will be just as tight, and I am throwing a few bob on us to win on pens in Munich.

   

[UntouchableLuis]

I'd rate Roma, PSG and Sevilla far higher from recent teams that came to Anfield in Europe. Defensively they were mostly solid and had some decent build up play but they seemed like the old Stoke at times the way they lumped it up and in their physicality.

It will be difficult at their place - the atmosphere will be intense but an early goal and I reckom it will be comfortable for us.

[idontknow]

If we'd have pulled that off away to Real, Barca, Juventus etc we would all be raving about it.

That's true, Spion. They got what they came for. They did that well.

Just makes the 2nd leg more exciting. 
This tension game after game with the pressure building is beautiful. It's like supporting a football team hunting for all the top prizes. 

[LiverBirdKop]

I don't think they were anything special at the back. Tidy yes, but we didn't make it difficult for them. A solid Meh to both teams.

[Jm55]

Fabinho I thought was fucking brilliant tonight, you’d never guess he was a centre mid if that was the first you’d seen of him. Matip also had a good game.

[Xanderzone]

Bearing in mind we started the game with our 4th and 5th choice CBs, it's not a bad result at all.

They probably have the advantage though.

[Bjornar]

A solid Meh to both teams.

It wasn´t like a Cardiff vs. Newcastle game, it was what it looks like when two really good teams end up nullifying each other in the end.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Bearing in mind we started the game with our 4th and 5th choice CBs, it's not a bad result at all.

They probably have the advantage though.

Not sure they have an advantage when they didn't score an away goal. I think the advantage is slightly ours as a score draw takes us through so how can they be the ones with the advantage?

Obviously they have a good chance of going through but not any more than we do.

[andy07]

Good result for us tonight (could be better, but results could always be better).  Not one shot on target from Bayern.  Our touch was lacking and we looked a bit rusty all round.  Confident we will get the goal(s) we need to finish the job in Munich.  Not sure how anyone can say Bayern have the advantage?  They have to win, we don’t.  The only frustrating aspect of the game was our lack of shots, seemed to want to over engineer everything.

[Bobinhood]

I was very concerned that we would ship a goal or two before the game started, would have rather got a win obviously but very pleased with the clean sheet with VVD out. Basically they have to outscore us 2-1 now, the advantage is ours. Obviously not a walk in the park going away to Bayern but solid result, i mean its two great teams so its close, makes sense. They might feel happy they can turn us over but i dont thinks so.

[johnj147]

bayern defended really well their fullbacks are excellent . glad that kimmach out next leg ... o and these warm weather jollys are not helping things

[Gods_Left_Boot]

Couldn't quite get it done in the second half after a very good stretch in the first half when we lacked composure to finish our chances. Thought in general the spine was very good, apart from a few nervy moments for Alisson and Matip, but both fullbacks were wasteful and really not on their game. Mo was a bit poor and always seemed to be missing something, usually the final ball or touch leading to a chance. Mane worked hard and generally did well in the build up but he was quite wasteful.

All in all, it's a decent result, not conceding was paramount. The tie is still open with no real favourite, but at their place they'll have to open up and leave some space in behind their fullbacks. We're still in with an excellent chance to go through.

[beardsley4ever]

Van Dijk back in.  Kimmich out.  I like our chances in the second leg.  Bring on United.

[RyanBabel19]

Wayyyyyyyy too much being made of their defending. Our attacking was poor for most of the game, final ball was awful near enough all night and the fullbacks didn't play well. They literally did what west ham did, defence focused centrally and all defenders sitting back with midfield sitting right in front of them

They had their strong moments in defence but fucking Mourinhos man u had some games where they just sat back defensively and didn't look like conceding. How many times was Martinez rolling around, gritting his teeth, clutching his leg and timewasting? Give us a half decent final ball tonight and they concede at least 2

I respect Bayern and still think they're a very strong side but fuck all the advantage Bayern talk, they've got no away goal, no Kimmich, were blunt as fuck in attack, Lewandowski did nothing and they need to outscore us in the second leg. Their best play in attack all came from Gnabry, who got past Andy twice and hit some hopeful shots from distance none of which were on target. I think we're in a much stronger position than them because they aren't keeping a clean sheet

[Bjornar]

Wayyyyyyyy too much being made of their defending.

It wasn´t their defending. It was their attacking threat and ability to keep the ball, which meant we had to much more than usual just to be in a position for our attacking efforts to be stifled.

[RyanBabel19]

It wasn´t their defending. It was their attacking threat and ability to keep the ball, which meant we had to much more than usual just to be in a position for our attacking efforts to be stifled.

There was no attacking threat that's the thing. We had our 4th choice CB and a CM in defence, we couldn't go gung ho and leave the back exposed but they offered next to nothing, just kind of passed it about loads, didn't really create with it, lost it, then put everyone behind the ball

[aggerdid]

Drew 0-0 with porto last year. Only difference is the aways the second leg this time. 5-0 in munchen. Up the reds

[Something Worse]

Decent result. Next leg will be fascinating. They have to attack, we are built for that.

[Lush is the best medicine...]

Nice of hummels at the end doing selfies with the people who asked him btw

[M7 Heckler]

Bloody hell wats going on in here? We just played Bayern Munich at home and would have hammered them if we took our chances, of which we had numerous. Final ball was off and the finishing was poor but we just went toe to toe with a very good side and were unlucky not to win 3-0

Avoid a loss there and we are through.. currywurst and chill.

[Machae]

Wasteful in front of goal. Salah and Mane should have scored early on which may have opened up the game a bit more and space to attack. We were very profligate in our passing and seemed to have lost the ability for quick one touch passing

[Gnurglan]

0-0. Tight game with few chances. Thought we looked like the team most likely to score. If we couldn't win, 0-0 was the best possible score. I reckon we'll go through.

[Bjornar]

There was no attacking threat that's the thing. We had our 4th choice CB and a CM in defence, we couldn't go gung ho and leave the back exposed but they offered next to nothing, just kind of passed it about loads, didn't really create with it, lost it, then put everyone behind the ball

That´s a description of the game which fits the last fifteen minutes, after we had finally gained some control of it but at the same time the game seemed to fizzle out. Certainly not the first half when both teams looked like scoring and anything looked like it could happen.

I think Bayern tried to do to us what Real did in the final last year, slowly strangling us to death by out-passing us. They made a good go of it too, which very few teams have enough skill to do, and put is in real danger of succumbing to it yet again. We didn´t beat them, but didn´t concede either, which wasn´t a given. They just looked to me like a really good team.

[rowan_d]

Not the worst result, don't really understand what happened in the second half. Went into the break looking like a goal was imminent, Bayern didn't change anything that I could tell, but we just couldn't get anything going. Tie is in the balance, but we obviously need a big improvement in our CL away performances.

Thought Henderson was great throughout, and Keita had a very good first half.

[Dougle]

It was a terrific game. We were creative, so were they. We were defensively solid, so were they. We took risks, so did they. We'll win the second leg, they won't.

Other news: Bobby Firmino is one of the best Liverpool players I've ever seen. And currently would fit quite naturally into any World XI you cared to pick. It's such a privilege to watch him play football.

Yeah !!

[jckliew]

FAb and Hendo was BOSS!  The rest not so.

Matip after his own goal attempt played very well. He seemed more aggressive to the ball. Has Lewo in his pocket.

FAB is one of the most versatile players since Stevie?  Whatta buy! 

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Having watched the game again, I am a bit puzzled by some of the comments on here. Were we were at our Roma at Anfield best? No we weren't but we were also playing a much better side quality wise. The final touch the final pass wasn't no where our best HOWEVER. in that first half we had 3 chances to score. The clearest one with Mane's shot wide right after being five or six yards in front of goal. So while we didn't test Neur directly that was a glorious chance that we should have buried.

Then there is the chance by Matip, if the ball falls to any one else frm our front three then who knows what happens, so again we didn't test Neur but wee weren't far away from scoring either. Salah's header near the the near post was also a decent chance I thought we could have done better.

The build up to the last attack of the first half when Firmino chipped the ball in Mane's direction. We are talking about several near moments and I think we on a better day, with a little bit more luck and crispier passing in the final third, win the match by two clear goals. So while their defending was good in part's. they didn't exactly put in a catanaccio display here.

Their best chance came from a ball deflected off Matip to Becker's chest. The second half we didn't keep the same intensity and pressure but this was far from a ''meh'' performance or average display. We can play better no doubt, but we weren't without chacnes tonight and Bayern aren't mugs either.

I did not expect a clean-sheet, so I am delighted that we played well defensively for pretty much all of the game considering Van Dijk wasn't there and Fabinho playing.

Henderson was great, as was Fabinho Wijnaldum, and Keita did well in the first half.

IF we play close to what we did tonight in Munich, we can get a result.

[MolbyLovesGravlax]

Think opting for Origi in the hope the ball drops on his head 2 feet out over Shaqiri who might provide th lockpick was a mistake, but otherwise a clean sheet on a day when we were misfiring is not a bad result.
Bayern have to win - unless their plan is to play for 0-0 and hope for the lottery of penalties, which by default should leave more space foe our attacking players.

[Dim Glas]

Nice of hummels at the end doing selfies with the people who asked him btw

he played a good match tonight too, he is better when they defend like that though, we'll see how it is when they have to attack at home!

Hummels is an interesting character, ridiculously bright for a footballer    And has better English than many English people.

[latortuga]

No you’re right, it was no where near Simeone esque as Simeone teams defend from midfield, win the ball back and break. Bayern struggled to do that today and only really posed an attacking threat when they could whip the ball into the box.

I’m just saying that they defended brilliantly. Personally I struggle to see how they build. That in the second leg and you’re definitely right when you say our final ball was off as it definitely was.

I wouldn't call it brilliant.  They played as well defensively as we were poor on the offensive side of the ball, so in that way we made them look a lot better than they were. 

Again, the effects of warm weather training seemed to take the edge off our play and we seemed to lack sharpness with our final balls and some of the passing - TAA couldn't find one.

Overall a 0-0 result at home in the 1st leg is never a bad result in a 2 leg tie.  Many managers in the past would even play for it fearing the away goal, so we are well situated.  The only concern is we have been horrible in away games in Europe for 12 months now, excepting the Porto game.  I do however feel Bayern are there for the taking and we'll get through.

[cipher]

Outside of some sloppy play by our players in the first half, BM pretty much created nothing all game.   On top of that we were missing VVD while Robertson/TAA had poor passing games by their standard.  For the away game, VVD will be back and there's no way our full backs pass the ball as poorly as they did today.  They've also lost Kimmich who is a huge creator for their team.  With no away goal scored today, I like our chances over there.

At the end of the day, after our recent break this was a nice warm up for United this weekend.   Beat them this weekend and we'll get a nice shot of confidence going into this next stretch of games. 

[Xanderzone]

Think opting for Origi in the hope the ball drops on his head 2 feet out over Shaqiri who might provide th lockpick was a mistake, but otherwise a clean sheet on a day when we were misfiring is not a bad result.
Bayern have to win - unless their plan is to play for 0-0 and hope for the lottery of penalties, which by default should leave more space foe our attacking players.

Its something I really hope we rectify in the summer. Im sick of us having players on the bench in name only and never guys who make an impact.

I know Shaqiri was there tonight but even his impact has mainlt been as a starter.

[Bjornar]

I wouldn't call it brilliant.  They played as well defensively as we were poor on the offensive side of the ball, so in that way we made them look a lot better than they were. 

Again, the effects of warm weather training seemed to take the edge off our play and we seemed to lack sharpness with our final balls and some of the passing - TAA couldn't find one.

Missing the point IMO: they made us work three times harder than usual to even earn the right to form attacking moves. The possession stats surely must show this.

[WhereAngelsPlay]

Missing the point IMO: they made us work three times harder than usual to even earn the right to form attacking moves. The possession stats surely must show this.

Not really,they had 2% more of the ball but defended deep and had zero threat,they will have to come at us in Germany and when they do we will smash them.

[Lush is the best medicine...]

he played a good match tonight too, he is better when they defend like that though, we'll see how it is when they have to attack at home!

Hummels is an interesting character, ridiculously bright for a footballer    And has better English than many English people.

was well protected but likely won’t have that in Munich touch wood. And he has a nice memory of anfield now

Not really,they had 2% more of the ball but defended deep and had zero threat,they will have to come at us in Germany and when they do we will smash them.

big virg and possibly degsy being back will mean we can take off the handbrake a bit more that we couldn’t do so tonight

[Bjornar]

Not really,they had 2% more of the ball but defended deep and had zero threat,they will have to come at us in Germany and when they do we will smash them.

So 48-52 possession stats at Anfield, when does that ever happen unless we´re playing Bayern or Man City?

Games against top class teams follow different rules, but the reactions on here rarely reflect that, is my suggestion.

[stockdam]

They did exactly what teams now try to do against us. They mark our front three very tightly and try to throttle our attacks. There were good on the ball and closed us down quickly. Our midfield isn’t too threatening so all the focus is on the front three.

I think we’ll see United try exactly the same tactics. They’ll mark our front three with 5 or 6 players and will be quickly into the tackle in midfield. They’ll try to break quickly.

It’s about the most effective way to play against us.

[Flaccido Dongingo]

Bit flat all round, going there suits us though as they've got to attack, up the Reds.