Liverpool kick off their Last 16 tie by welcoming Bayern Munich to Anfield.
After contrasting fortunes for Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur last week, Liverpool will be looking to put one foot in the last eight here, against a Bayern Munich side who have lost just one of their last 14 games in all competitions.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesLiverpool have Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri available after they overcame respective muscular and abdominal injuries.
Dejan Lovren (hamstring) and Robert Firmino (illness) are doubts whilst Joe Gomez (ankle) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) are definitely absent.
Virgil van Dijk is suspended after collecting three yellow cards in the group stage.
Bayern are set to be without defender, Jerome Boateng as he battles stomach issues.
Franck Ribery didn’t travel to Merseyside after becoming a father on Sunday night but will join the squad in time for kick-off.
Kingsley Coman is a doubt after suffering a knock at weekend but Arjen Robben is still sidelined with a thigh injury.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool have lost just one of last seven meetings with Bayern Munich (W2, D4, L1).
- Their last two meetings at Anfield in October 1971 and April 1981 both finished goalless.
- Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski has eight goals in this competition from the group stage alone, compared to just three this time last season.
- Liverpool have won the first leg in each of their last three Last 16 appearances and kept a clean sheet on each occasion.
- Bayern have scored at least twice in each of their last eight Champions League away games.
Prediction
I am expecting a tough encounter for Liverpool despite both sides having their injury concerns.
Unlike their last two clashes here, I can see a score draw but Bayern are on an away roll at minute, so am going for a late Bayern win here.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-2 Bayern Munich
Result: Liverpool 0-0 Bayern Munich