After playing to a scoreless draw at Anfield, Liverpool’s trip to Bayern Munich looked like a scary proposition for a side that had yet to win away from home in the Champions League this season.
But Jurgen Klopp’s side shrugged off its road woes with one of the most impressive performances of the Champions League this year, crushing Bayern Munich 3-1 at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Wednesday.
Liverpool became the fourth English club to reach the Champions League quarterfinals. Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham will join the Reds in the last eight, a remarkable achievement for a league that hasn’t won a Champions League title since 2012. The Champions League quarterfinal draw will be on Friday.
Sadio Mané scored twice and Virgil van Dijk added a key towering header for his first career Champions League goal to see Liverpool quiet the rowdy German hosts with an indomitable performance.
The play of the day, however, belonged to Mohamed Salah.
Salah had a number of chances to send teammates in on goal with his right foot, opting each time to go at it alone instead of using his less-favored peg. Then in the 84th minute, he decided to pull the trigger on such a pass, only he pulled out a trivela with his left foot.
The result was a perfect lob for Mané to head home to all but end Bayern Munich’s European campaign.
Salah
(via @UnivisionSports) pic.twitter.com/96dbNnbPjb— The18 (@the18com) March 13, 2019
Another look at that assist.
Superb assist by Salah on Mané's second goal tonight. Perfect cross with the outside of his left boot.#FCBLFC #FCBLIV #UCL #LFC pic.twitter.com/Xpwg5L50yR
— Joga Bonito USA (@Jasoninho10) March 13, 2019
The goal was just as pretty as Mané’s first, though the Senegalese striker had much more to do on that one.
In the 26th minute, the Liverpool No. 10 made Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer look foolish. Mané did well to bring the long ball down before turning Neuer inside out and firing into an empty net.
World class stuff from Sadio Mané
( via @brlive)pic.twitter.com/xwHznlQ0op— The18 (@the18com) March 13, 2019
Bayern gave the home fans some reason for hope in the 39th minute thanks to the efforts of former Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry.
Joel Matip denied Lewandowski a tap-in, but he he accidentally hit the ball into the back of his own net. In Matip's defense, Lewandowski would’ve scored had he not tried to do something, but it’s never good to give up an own goal.
¡GOOOOOOOOOOL!
Los alemanes empatan el juego tras un autugol de Joel Matip @FCBayernES 1-1 @LFCDisfruta el partido EN VIVO https://t.co/gyBhgBUg42 pic.twitter.com/Wa6372njdh
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) March 13, 2019
Bayern still needed a goal as Liverpool led on away goals, but Liverpool grabbed the next goal through van Dijk, the towering Dutch defender. Van Dijk was no match for Bayern in the box to make it 2-1 in the 69th minute.
BIG Virgil in the 69'.
— The18 (@the18com) March 13, 2019
It was almost a perfect night for Liverpool, though there could be a couple worries for the quarterfinals. Jordan Henderson had to be pulled in the 13th minute with an injury and Andrew Robertson picked up an idiotic yellow card to earn the fullback a suspension for the first leg of the next round.
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