Despite a couple of jitters in Premier League, Liverpool are still leading the title race in England. But they must shift their focus to Europe this midweek prior to the Champions League Round of 16 contest against Bayern Munich. The big boys of Bundesliga have picked up the momentum of late and should be upbeat before clashing heads on Tuesday night.
Liverpool, the runners-up last season, lost three group stage outings but maintained their supremacy at Anfield against the likes of Paris St-Germain, Red Star Belgrade and Napoli. The home crowd will be roaring for the Merseysiders, but an outfit of Bayern’s calibre should be aiming for a result on the road to be in the driver’s seat ahead of next month’s return leg tie at the Allianz Arena.
Team News
Jurgen Klopp, the Reds boss is having a crisis at the back with three first-team centre-backs unavailable against the Bavarians. Virgil van Dijk has been rock solid in deep defence, but the Dutchman is ineligible to play the first-leg fixture having been booked during their final group stage encounter versus Napoli. Joe Gomez has gone through surgery to accelerate his recovery from a leg injury whereas Dejan Lovren is in trouble with a reoccurring hamstring injury over the past few weeks. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was an integral part of the Reds training camp in Marbella, but the Three Lions sensation won’t be risked this early in spite of making significant progress from a horrific knee injury suffered towards the end of the previous term.
Formation
Klopp has mostly preferred a 4-3-3 since taking charge of Liverpool in the autumn of 2015. However, he has tweaked the pattern a bit this term and often lined the Reds up in a 4-2-3-1 with Mohamed Salah as the ‘number 9’. But the gaffer should switch to a 4-3-3 this midweek and focus on the midfield game to overcome a defensive lapse against the likes of Franck Ribery, Kingsley Coman and Robert Lewandowski.
Manager: Jurgen Klopp
Goalkeeper
Alisson Becker, between the sticks, has been a revelation since completing a high-profile switch from AS Roma. The flamboyant Brazilian would keep his place but must be alert and ready for a sterner test in the absence of Virgil van Dijk.
Defence
Klopp is blessed to have two attacking fullbacks in Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson who fit in his strategy, philosophy and gameplan. The duo should keep on creating chances down the flanks with their usual overlapping runs and pinpoint crosses. However, at the same time, they must track back persistently and concentrate on their defensive work rate to help out a not so impressive central defensive pair of Joel Matip and Fabinho. Matip is the only centre-back available whereas Fabinho, predominantly a midfielder, could be slotted in alongside the ex-Schalke man having impressed in a similar role last month against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Midfield
A ‘midfield three’ of skipper Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and James Milner received criticism for lack of creativity and imagination, but they should be lined up together this time due to their experience, ability to break down opponents’ moves, high work ethics, pressing game and the expertise of retaining possession under pressure. Naby Keita has improved his display lately but should be introduced at a later point to inject more directness in the centre of the park banking on his down the middle runs and dribbling traits.
Attack
Although Xherdan Shaqiri would be keen to leave a mark against his former employers, the Reds must field Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino together in the attacking third with the latter operating centrally allowing the Egyptian to feature down the right flank and Mane on the left. Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge would be there among the substitutes in order to be utilised depending upon the circumstances.