In stark contrast to the reaction from fans of their perennial rivals Manchester United, Liverpool’s response to the Champions League draw seemed almost universally positive.
The first leg of the European tie on Tuesday February 19th next year will see Liverpool welcome Bayern Munich to Anfield, before making the return journey shortly after on Wednesday 13th March.
Around the same time, United have a daunting face-off with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, with some fans positively cringing at the prospect of a defence likely to include Phil Jones and Chris Smalling having to stand up to Edinson Cavani, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe.
Buoyed by an absolutely scintillating run that has left the atop the Premier League without suffering defeat, and the unabashed enthusiasm of their perpetually gurning manager Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool fans have delighted in their own pair up that sees the German face the side he has taken on more than any other, Bayern Munich.
In comparing Man Utd’s opponents pedigree on paper it would seem that Liverpool have the harder time. As with the Reds, Munchen have won the European title an impressive five times, the last coming five years ago against Klopp’s old side Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium. PSG have never won the competition.
Klopp has only beaten the Bavarians nine times from 29 meetings, but the outlook is positive for the Merseyside club after an exceptionally solid second-half of 2018, with this year’s signings Virgil Van Dijk, Alisson, and Xherdan Shaqiri sewing seamlessly into the fabric.
@AnfieldRd96 welcomed the tie;
Liverpool vs Bayern Munich
Bring. It. On.
@TheKopMagazine couldn’t resist having a pop at the Red Devils in response to their own team's club, as it becomes increasingly speculated that Liverpool could well crawl out of Manchester United's shadow;
‘Liverpool have drawn Bayern Munich in the Champions League, PSG have been given a bye’
@AnfieldUrchin reminded fans of a club legend’s recent comments regarding the potential tie before the draw was made:
‘Dietmar Hamann last week.
"Liverpool are the last team Bayern Munich would want in the draw."'
@Reid1988j went some way to concur;
‘Liverpool will tear Bayern apart’
As did @AnfieldUrchin;
“Happy with the CL draw..Bayern have lost the fear factor they once had & are beatable..Liverpool have every chance of going through to the last 8.”
Liverpool are currently fifth favourites to go one step further than last year - when they reached the Final in Kiev to be ultimately defeated by Real Madrid - and go on to lift the most prestigious trophy in club football for the sixth time.
The Reds find themselves at around 9/1 to win the Champions League - considerably in from this time last week when they still had to face Napoli at 15/1 - and are odds on favourite (10/11) to take the first leg tie at Anfield against the Bavarians.
Bayern Munich, however, have drifted out slightly to 14/1 to win the competition.
The two teams last met in a pre-season friendly in 2017, when Liverpool comprehensively ran out 3-0 winners in the Audi Cup at the Allianz.
Liverpool have met Bayern Munich once before in the European Cup; over two legs in the 1981 Semi-Final. After a goalless stalemate at Anfield, a Ray Kennedy goal in a 1-1 in Munich saw Liverpool seal passage to the final and go on to win the Cup in Milan against Real Madrid.
- Games: 29
- Wins: 9
- Draws: 4
He will return to face his old rivals in the Champions League!
#UCLDraw