Wijnaldum and Liverpool “Not Really Worried” About Champions League Draw

By the numbers they should have won, which means the Reds are more annoyed than worried about drawing Bayern.

Based on the numbers, based on the possession and the shots on goal and the chances created, a 2-0 scoreline in Liverpool’s favour would have probably been the right outcome on Tuesday evening when they took on Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Instead it was a nil-nil draw. The first reaction might understandably be disappointment. The second, though, should be hope backed by the knowledge that if Liverpool can play as well in the second leg as they did in the first, they should be the ones who advance.

“We played a good first half,” was midfielder Gini Wijnaldum’s take on the game. “The second half was OK. We created chances [but] unfortunately we didn’t score a goal. We were not lucky with the chances. But the good thing is we didn’t concede.

“Sometimes you have those kinds of games—that you don’t score the chances you have or not give the final pass well. We have to deal with it. The way we are playing we have the quality to create chances [in Munich]. That’s why I’m happy we didn’t concede.”

Having not conceded means Bayern Munich have been deprived of a potentially valuable away goal, and that’s important because it means any score draw—be it 1-1 or 2-2 or more—means Liverpool will be the ones heading on to the Champions League quarter finals.

Another nil-nil draw would mean extra time and, if the game were still level, penalties. While traditionally having the second leg at home is considered an advantage for the hosts, a scoreless draw in the first leg does appear to give Liverpool something of an edge.

Because in Tuesday’s game, despite Bayern keeping their fullbacks deep and playing a surprisingly defensive game to stop the Reds, Liverpool created enough quality chances—without conceding any—that they really should have won the game comfortably.

That they didn’t is disappointing—for the payers and coaches and fans alike—but it will give everyone involved good reason to feel positive about their chances to advance heading into the second leg of the tie at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, March 13th.

“I’m not really worried about scoring goals because we already showed we can do it in games before,” Wijnaldum added. “We just have to do it again there. Hopefully we have a little bit more luck with the chances and hopefully we win.”

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com