Date: 19th February 2019
Stadium: Anfield Stadium
European heavyweights Liverpool and Bayern Munich lock horns at Anfield tonight in arguably the most eagerly-anticipated Champions League last-16 clash.
The hosts secured their spot in the first knockout phase in dramatic fashion as a goal from Mohamed Salah and a terrific late Alisson stop sealed a 1-0 win over Napoli and the runner-up spot behind Paris Saint-Germain in Group C.
Liverpool have taken advantage of the gap in the fixture list to embark upon their second warm-weather training camp of 2019 already. After heading to Dubai in January, this time they chose the sunny climes of Marbella on Spain's Costa del Sol.
Bayern enjoyed an easier route to the last 16, going undefeated en route to topping a group that also contained Ajax, Benfica and AEK Athens.
Having won each of the last six Bundesliga titles, the Bavarians have trailed Borussia Dortmund for much of this season but have cut the gap on BVB to two points as the title race heats up in Germany.
Liverpool vs Bayern team news and predicted line-ups
Jurgen Klopp must wait on late fitness tests for Liverpool duo Dejan Lovren and Xherdan Shaqiri before deciding whether the pair can feature. Lovren has not featured for the Reds since sustaining a hamstring injury during their FA Cup defeat to Wolves in early January. Shaqiri, meanwhile, has been battling with an abdominal strain that forced him to miss out on the recent 3-0 victory over Bournemouth. The hosts will, however, be able to call upon Georginio Wijnaldum, who overcame a bout of illness to train alongside his teammates last week. With Joe Gomez still absent following leg surgery, Virgil van Dijk suspended, and Lovren’s involvement unclear, Fabinho is expected to once again fill in at centre-back. But the defence should be boosted by the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is fit again after overcoming a recent knee issue. Otherwise, only long-term absentees Rhian Brewster and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are set to miss out.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Matip, Robertson, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Keita, Salah, Mane, Firmino.
As for Bayern, captain Manuel Neuer is expected to be fit after missing games against Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke with a thumb issue.
Corentin Tolisso (ACL tear) has been out since September, while Arjen Robben's last game was in November. He has been bothered by a persistent thigh injury.
Thomas Muller will miss both legs against Liverpool after his appeal against a red card received in the final group game against Ajax for a challenge on Nicolas Tagliafico was dismissed. Kingsley Coman is also a doubt after limping off against Augsburg, with Franck Ribery set to fill that attacking role.
Bayern Munich XI (4-3-3): Neuer, Kimmich, Hummels, Sule, Alaba, Goretzka, Thiago, James, Ribery, Gnabry, Lewandowski
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