Liverpool 0, Bayern Munich 0: First Thoughts

An exciting, but fruitless first half gave way to a dull second. The result? A scoreless draw to take to Bayern with the tie in the balance.

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Liverpool 0 - 0 Bayern Munich

The Reds: N/A
Die Roten: N/A

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• Pre-match Thought: I should be terrified, thinking about one of the deadliest center forwards running at our makeshift backline, held together by scotch, duct tape, and will power. But I’m relatively calm. It’s Anfield. It’s a European night. Roberto Firmino has gotten over the same virus that plagued Georginio Wijnaldum, so I fully expect him to chip Neuer and then have a Hall of Fame worthy celebration. Ha! You thought his “one eye” celebration after the PSG winner was great. Anyway, should be an exciting match. Should be goals. Up the mighty MERSEYSIDE Reds.
• Can’t even hear the Champions League anthem over this rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” We got this.
• Bayern are determined to play out of the back, and they might live to regret it. Liverpool’s pressing has nearly caught out the visitors a couple of times in the opening 10 minutes.
• CLOSE! Henderson puts the ball on a plate with a perfect long ball over the top for Mohamed Salah to run onto. The Egyptian can only put a weak, first-time effort on target, which is easy enough for Neuer to collect.
• ...and immediately after Salah’s miss Bayern go close on the other end, after Joel Matip tries his best to score an own goal, but is bailed out—by luck more than anything else—by Alisson’s good positioning.
• Matip is on the verge of a horror show. Alisson got himself into a pickle, but managed to pick out Matip, who flicked it perfectly to a Bayern attacker. Thankfully, the resulting shot only found the side netting.
• Salah misses another fantastic chance created by a great Trent Alexander-Arnold cross to the back post. Salah got a free header, but couldn’t turn it on target.
• It’s Sadio Mane’s turn to miss a big chance. The Senegalese attacker is surprised to find himself both onside and wide open in front of goal, but cannot direct the shot on target.
• As the half draws to a close, the match is opening up and Bayern have managed to win a few quick corners (which thankfully amounted to nothing).
• Now its Matip’s chance for a big miss. The defender finds himself on the end of a brilliant Bobby cut-back after some nifty interplay with Mo on the edge of the area. But he finishes it like a defender, missing the target altogether.
• Halftime Thought: Absolutely fantastic end-to-end match so far, where somehow everything and nothing happened. Liverpool created more chances, putting 9 shots on target to Bayern’s 3, but Salah’s shot on target remains the only one on frame between the two sides. Keita is finally showing signs of being the player we thought we signed, routinely sending Bayern players out for the Echo throughout the half. The makeshift defense is bending but not breaking, and this match is Liverpool’s for the taking if they can be just a bit more clinical in the second half.
• Klopp walks out of the tunnel, ignoring all the adult fans trying to get a high-five. Sees a kid, no more than 12-years-old, gives him a high-five. Never change you beautiful, beautiful man.
• Hendo picks up Liverpool’s first card of the night for a “professional foul” in midfield. Team player.
• With 65 minutes gone, both sides look a bit bereft of ideas. The exciting end-to-end first half has become a rather dull second, with neither team really venturing past the middle third with much dangerous attacking intent.
• Gini, who has had a pretty good night, just made a fantastic tackle. Unfortunately it was on Mo Salah, just as the striker was about to get a shot away. Sigh.
• A rare double change from Klopp. James Milner comes on for Keita, who had a great first half, but faded in the second. And Divock Origi comes on for Bobby, who was also great in the first half, but also faded (though, it might be due to illness). Please be against Everton Divock, not West Ham Divock.
• Matip trying to hit a half-volley from 20+ yards. Come on, man.
• Bayern pulling out all the time-wasting tricks. It’s called “European experience” OK?
• Final Whistle Thought: Huh. Scoreless draw. Did not see that coming. Well, other than a Liverpool win of any description, it’s the next-best option. Still, Liverpool fans can be disappointed about the results on the balance of play. The Reds created the better chances, and kept Bayern to an impressive zero shots on target.

We’ll be back shortly to take an in-depth look at everything that happened in today’s game with the full recap. Until then, let us know your take on the ups and downs of the match in the comments, and if you haven’t already, join the community on the Liverpool Offside, where we’ll have full coverage and lively in-game discussion for every match this season.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com