Bayern Munich (0) - (0) Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Knockout Stage 2nd Leg - Wednesday 13th March 20:00 GMT - Match Preview
Tomorrow night Liverpool head over to Germany to take on Bayern Munich, the first leg at Anfield ended goallessly leaving it open to debate as to who are favourites to advance. Bayern has home advantage in the 75,000 seat capacity Allianz Arena however with the away goals rule a score draw will see Liverpool advance into the next round.
Both sides are 5 times winners of the competition and are also in tight battles for their domestic league titles this season, Bayern has hit a run of great form recently winning their last 5 to go top of the Bundesliga, they have the same 57 points total as Dortmund however just edge ahead on goal difference. Liverpool has suffered a slight dip in form over the past 6 games with 3 draws and 3 wins but are still well in the hunt just a single point behind leaders Manchester City.
Virgil van Dijk missed the first leg with a suspension but is available for selection once again and is a certainty to start tomorrow night. Jurgen Klopp may well field the same starting line-up that played well at the weekend and beat Burnley 4-2 with Adam Lallana being the surprise inclusion in midfield. He was subbed off in the 2nd half after putting in a man of the match performance and will be disappointed if he finds himself back on the bench.
Bayern manager Niko Kovac faces a few dilemmas with his team. Thomas Muller remains suspended and is joined by Joshua Kimmich who picked up a yellow in the first leg making him unavailable for tomorrow. Kovac will also be without French pair Tolisso and Kingsley Coman who are both sidelined with injuries. David Alaba and Arjen Robben are also doubts but it is thought that Alaba should be able to play.
Brazilian Rafinha is most likely to stand in at right-back in place of Kimmich, he is not a bad replacement but is a marked step down in quality from Kimmich and could provide Liverpool with an area to exploit. Serge Gnabry is likely to play ahead of him on the wing and is unlikely to contribute too much defensively which may allow Sadio Mane and Andy Robertson to really enjoy themselves on that side of the pitch. On the opposite wing, French legend Franck Ribery is likely to come in in place of Coman. Ribery still possesses great skills and technical ability but at 35 his lightning pace is not quite what it once was.
The first leg at Anfield was not exactly a bore but clear cut chances were few and far between with Bayern not even managing a single shot on target, I am expecting that to change this time around though with Bayern revitalised since that game they may be more willing to attack which will open the game up. An open free-flowing game would suit Liverpool who seems to get frustrated easily by teams that sit in and play defensively. If Bayern comes to attack this could be the goal-fest we were anticipating in the first leg and could go either way.
Rafinha will be very important.