Liverpool travel to Bayern Munich on Wednesday for the second leg of their Champions League LAST-16 tie.
The two sides are deadlocked after playing out a highly competitive 0-0 draw at Anfield last month but the Reds know they could put themselves in the driving seat if they score the first goal, with Bayern failing to get an all-important away goal in the first leg.
Jurgen Klopp’s men go into the tie on a 10-game unbeaten streak, extended by their 4-2 win over Burnley on Sunday, although they have drawn five of those games.
Bayern, meanwhile, are on a seven-game unbeaten run themselves and have overtaken Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga on goal difference.
Read on for Bayern Munich vs Liverpool TV channel info, predicted XIs, team news and stats.
When is Bayern Munich vs Liverpool?
Competition: Champions League
Venue: Allianz Arena
Date: Wednesday, 13 March
Kick-off: 8.00 PM GMT
Where can I watch live?
UK residents can watch Bayern Munich vs Liverpool on BT Sport 2, channel number 414 for Sky TV customers and 528 for Virgin Media users.
Bayern Munich vs Liverpool combined XI
Given the effect he’s had on Liverpool’s defence this season, it’s hard to see past Alisson in goal, although Manuel Neuer has started to get back to his best in recent weeks with one goal conceded in his last four games.
Virgil van Dijk has arguably been the best centre-back in Europe over the past 12 months, while Niklas Sule has spent most of his time this season pulling his slower centre-back partners out of trouble.
Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold are supreme modern full-backs, as is Joshua Kimmich, though he misses out through suspension.
A midfield base of Fabinho and Thiago offers all the guile, skill and bite in the tackle that you’d need to both feed the ball forwards and protect the back four, while the pace and trickery of Serge Gnabry and Sadio Mane ahead of them is enough to terrify even the most hardened Champions League full-backs.
Up front, there really are only two players to go with – Robert Lewandowski and Mohamed Salah have a ridiculous 40 goals between them this season.
Subs: Neuer, Alaba, Hummels, Milner, Goretzka, Rodriguez, Firmino
The away record that should spook Liverpool fans…
If Liverpool wish to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals this season, they must do so by achieving something they have failed to do so far this term; avoid defeat away from home in Europe.
The Reds faced Napoli, Red Star Belgrade and PSG during their group stage campaign, losing all three away and being totally reliant on their form at Anfield.
More alarming for Liverpool supporters is the fact that they only managed one goal during those three games as well, with a James Milner penalty in a 2-1 defeat in Paris their only strike outside of Merseyside.
How have Bayern turned it around?
After spending most of the season clinging onto the coat tails of fierce rivals Borussia Dortmund, Bayern have finally surpassed the Black and Yellows and now sit atop the Bundesliga on goal difference.
The Bavarians have won 12 of their last 13 games and are on a seven-game unbeaten run across all competitions, giving a once under-pressure Niko Kovac some vital breathing space.
Central to this remarkable turnaround has been the form of Lewandowski, who now has been directly involved in 22 goals during his last 20 outings for Bayern.
Sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has hailed the attacking prowess shown in Bayern’s last two games, 6-0 and 5-1 wins over Wolfsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach respectively, while he also praised the more compact defensive approach that has seen the Bavarians concede just one goal in their last four games – starting with their impressive Anfield display last month.
“We have achieved a lot of momentum at the right time of the season,” said Salihamidzic. “We’ve scored 11 goals in the last two games and put in compact defensive performances.”
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Head-to-head
Wednesday’s tie will be the ninth time Liverpool have locked horns with Bayern Munich with the two sides sharing five draws in their previous eight meetings.
Bayern’s only victory over the Reds was a 3-1 win in the 1971 European Cup Winners Cup, while Liverpool last beat the Bavarians in the 2001 European Super Cup, winning 3-2.
Liverpool wins: 2 Draws: 5 Bayern Munich wins: 1
Team news
Trent Alexander-Arnold should be fit, despite coming off injured against Burnley, while James Milner is also a doubt, which could leave Liverpool’s right side very short on Wednesday. Dejan Lovren is in contention but unlikely to be risked given his recent return to fitness.
Joe Gomez (ankle) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) remain long-term absentees, although the latter is finally nearing a return, while Van Dijk will be available having served a suspension in the first leg.
Bayern will be without suspended duo Thomas Muller and Kimmich, while Arjen Robben (calf) and Corentin Tolisso (knee) are both injured.
Kingsley Coman is a fitness doubt, meaning Franck Ribery should start in attack.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Henderson, Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Predicted Bayern Munich XI: Neuer, Rafinha, Sule, Hummels, Alaba, Martinez, Thiago, James Rodriguez, Gnabry, Ribery, Lewandowski.
Squawka prediction
Bayern were incredibly impressive with their ball retention and defensive solidarity during the first leg but are expected to be more expansive during the home leg.
This should open up some space for Liverpool’s front three to hit the Bavarians on the break, but home advantage and a complete turnaround in form – not to mention Liverpool’s horrendous Champions League away form – should give the Germans the edge on the night, meaning Klopp’s men will be left to focus solely on their Premier League title charge.
Bayern Munich 2-1 Liverpool.
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