No Mueller, no Robben, no Boateng so think Kovac will go in defensively with Javi:
Neuer
Kimmich/Sule/Hummels/Alaba
Goretzka/Martinez/Thiago
Gnarby/Lewa/Coman (if his ankle is ok, otherwise Ribery)
Bayern will score on those makeshift CBs, but Javi can't keep up with Liverpool's front three.
I think 2-2 likely if Kovac goes with that lineup, maybe substitute James for Goretzka as he has an ankle injury too then it would be 4231 with James at #10.
Will be interesting to see if Klopp goes full Gegenpressing as Bayern normally don't play anyone with the intensity of Klopp's system in Germany.
That would put a kink in any plans.
I need to be more open-minded, I guess.
Clean sheet with no VVD and Robertson on a yellow. Definitely better than a 2-2 draw.
Now Liverpool can play on the counter with Bayern having to attack as the home side.
I'm just thrilled that Liverpool were kept to 3-4 real chances.
Hummels looked like...2016 Hummels.
Obviously the ideal situation was to win (for either team). But the second best result for Liverpool (and thus the next worse result for Bayern) was a 0-0 draw.
The away goals rule is really dumb. But at least Liverpool is on the right side of it now.
If so, I like Sadio's chances of potting one in Munich.
He's probably only a small notch behind Kimmich defensively. Nowhere near Kimmich offensively - which didn't matter today because Kimmich mostly stayed back.
There will be goals.
Bayern XI vs Liverpool:
Neuer (c) -
Kimmich, Süle, Hummels, Alaba -
Martínez, Thiago -
Gnabry, James, Coman -
Lewandowski
Liverpool XI vs Bayern:
Alisson -
Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson -
Wijnaldum, Henderson, Keita -
Salah, Firmino, Mané.
Liverpool have missed their last six clear-cut chances in the CL (four vs Napoli, two vs Bayern).
Courtesy of BassTunedToRed on Twitter.
I know Goretzka probably would have started at 10 if he wasn't hurt, but as long as Javi does his job I'd rather have James for his creativity - even though I know he won't work as hard defensively. Thiago and Javi should behind him.
James & Mo both left some quality wanting, today.
Alaba pocketed Mo.
Mane was able to get alone on Kimmich a couple times in the PA, but Kimmich did a nice job of keeping him wide and narrowing the angle on Neuer.
Honestly, both sets of CBs and the DMs played very well.
I think he struggled to create a little bit and it (along with Gnabry in a few instances) kept Lewy from getting the ball at his feet a lot.
It was a really interesting and intense match, though.
I know this: if Robben had been healthy, he would have done far worse things to Robertson than Gnabry did today.
That's gonna be one tired team facing United. Ugh.