IS this the least important really important game we’ve played all season?
Bear with me.
We’re all in for this league title. The Reds may not win it but the attitude has to remain that they’ll die trying. Of course we want to win the league and the Champions League, but the odds of us winning the former are far greater than the latter, as things stand.
Bayern Munich are not exactly a free hit but they aren’t a season-defining challenge either. I’d rather win our next two league games (Manchester United and Watford) than better Bayern over the two legs.
On the other hand, the glamour and excitement of knockout phase games against European royalty are inescapable. You’d have to be made of stone not to be relishing Anfield under the lights for this kind of challenge.
While it’s reasonable to see this tie as a distraction from the season’s main event there is also the possibility that it can provide fresh impetus to the campaign. To be champions you have to get to feel like champions. You get to feel like champions by beating teams as good as Bayern Munich.
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Manchester City’s biggest advantage over Liverpool is that they already wear the crown. They claimed it in style last season and, although they’ve had to play catch up to us for much of this season, they will feel/know that the title remains theirs until someone definitively proves otherwise.
We cannot amble to the title. We must attain a mantle of invincibility. That largely happens by winning lots of football matches, but it mainly happens by beating the big sides.
There’s another factor in this encounter with Bayern that I don’t think many of us appreciate. We want Liverpool to win the league. We want it more than anything and I’d safely guess that if you polled our fan base a good majority would rather claim the title than the Champions League, if a choice were possible. But is the same true for Mo Salah? For Firmino? For Wijnaldum?
While it would be ridiculous to assert that lads not raised with the Premier League as their bread and butter don’t get the magnitude of achievement that Liverpool claiming the title would represent, they are simultaneously men of Europe, in the sense that they have grown up with the European Cup as the be all and end all.
I suspect that Klopp, despite not being a native of these shores, may have his finger on the pulse slightly more than some of his players — because he’s required to — and might just favour the league over the Champions League, but there will be no telling any of our lads that Europe is just some sort of distraction from this season’s main event.
It’s always a bit daunting looking at a potential Bayern Munich lineup. They are not champions of Germany every year for the last six years without cause.
You may be relieved to know that Corentin Tolisso and Arjen Robben, long-term injury casualties, will not line up at Anfield. But they can perm a front four from this five: James, Ribery, Gnabry, Coman, Lewandowski. That’s significant firepower, especially in the context of Liverpool’s defensive fitness concerns.
The Reds may have to ask Fabinho to drop deeper than his deep six position and partner Joel Matip at centre back. The defence’s gain is the midfield’s loss, though.
The midfield, then; Henderson, Wijnaldum and Keita. All big players. All will know their jobs. The rest naturally fall into place. Ours is a good squad, but given a handful of injuries our first 11 quickly picks itself.
The first leg being at home is not an advantage, but Bayern Munich will be concerned. They’ve witnessed Borussia Dortmund’s humbling against the Premier League’s Spurs. Liverpool are better than Spurs. The Bavarians will have done the maths.
Predicted 11: Alisson; Trent, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Keita; Salah, Firmino, Mane
Kick off: 8pm, Tuesday
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)
Odds by Redsbet: Liverpool 11-10, Draw 53-20, Bayern Munich 51-20
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I really hope none of our lads die trying to win the league as I suspect do you Rob. This is not the first time you’ve linked death to football matches and given your age and the team you support you should know better.
It’s a well worn figure of speech. I think you are over reacting a bit.
I know it’s a turn of phrase but I can assure you I’m not over reacting.
You are over reacting. No malice what so ever in that sentence and trying to suggest otherwise is poor form
I am not suggesting there was malice intended. Linking death and football upsets me. Soz.
It is and you are.
I’m dying to know what happens next in this funny to and fro!!!
“The Reds may not win it but the attitude has to remain that they’ll die trying.”
The Reds have died trying for the past few seasons Rob.
The problem is that they always die before the end, but thanks to the magic of the reset button, we can go again next season, and then die trying.
Wait, I think I was referring to FIFA 2020.
Come on you Reds!
“We cannot amble to the the title. We must attain a mantle of invincibility.”
This is the mountain we are now on. From nowhere, Klopp has brought us a hell of a long way up it in 3 seasons, Never lose sight of this.
Could any of us have believed back then that the likes of Bayern would be coming to Anfield and fearful of what lies in store. Quickly followed by a match at Old Trafford against the mancs trailing in our wake.
I’m not sure if we have quite attainrd the invincibility Rob so eloquently describes as where but we are bloody close. 1 defeat in 26 league matches. Let’s give it all on and off the pitch, Scouser Tommy. it’s all in there. Sing it, “empty your soul into the pitch” as Klopp brilliantly put it.
Enjoy this. Massive football games coming thick and fast. We’re coming back. Nothing is certain in life except ….
Personally, I’d disagree with the idea that this is the least important really important game of the season, as it will almost certainly have some bearing on what happens next Sunday.
I get the idea that idea that we’re all desperate for the title, but I think confidence is the biggest asset the team can have in trying to achieve that. And confidence can’t be turned on and off like a tap.
I am up for winning as the man above says. Win and get the feel and go again. Confidence us the most elusive x-factor. Get it, use it, make more. Go on the reds !!!