It’s celebration time for the Reds as they draw Bayern Munich in the Champions League round of 16 stages.
The first leg of the encounter will take place in February at Anfield stadium, while the reverse fixture would be played at Allianz Arena in the following month(March)
Why the Reds should be happy with the draw
Though Bayern Munich appears to be a very strong and tough side every manager must avoid, the Merseyside club must be happy they are going to play against the Bundesliga side at this point.
Taking a critical look at Bayern Munich’s performance since the start of the season, the Bundesliga powerhouse are far from convincing and unimpressive.
Their manager Niko Kovač, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti, was embarking on a transition plan at the Allianz Arena as he wants to inject more youthfulness into the team but that hasn’t gone smoothly for the less-experienced manager.
Having failed in his initial plan, the Croatian manager decides to continue with the old players he met at the club.
Most of Munich’s players are in their late twenties or early thirties, hence, it would be very difficult for them to cope with Liverpool’s speedy attacking moves.
Contrary to their upcoming opponents, the Merseyside outfits are made of very young, active, mobile and determined players.
Another reason why the Reds should be happy with the draw is that they are going to play the first leg at home.
Jurgen Klopp and his men— with the help of their fans — have turned Anfield Stadium to a fortress.
After playing eight League matches in front of their fans, they have won seven and drawn just one.
They haven’t lost a single game at Anfield this season and that’s a source of motivation for the team ahead of Bayern’s visit.
The shouts, cheers and praise they often receive from their home fans are surely going to spur them on to victory against the German side.
Liverpool mustn’t underrate the Bavarians
Having said that, Liverpool mustn’t underrate Bayern Munich because the Bundesliga giants still remain a force to reckon with when it comes to European competition.
Irrespective of their recent dwindled form, the Bavarian can wreak havoc to any team at any time.
What to expect
As said by Jurgen Klopp while reacting to the draw, the game is definitely going to be a very attacking and interesting one.
Both clubs have quite a huge number of attack-minded players who are capable of scoring from any angle and we should be prepared for a great game at Anfield.
“It will be a tough one, an interesting one, and I am looking forward to it,” Klopp told reporters after the draw earlier today
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