Liverpool turned in an exceptional and comprehensive away performance at the Allianz Arena to win 3-1 and dump Bayern Munich out of the Champions League. But what were the key stats from an incredible European night that saw Liverpool cruise into the quarter-finals?
Bayern Shut Out
Liverpool’s attack has been much vaunted in European competition, but it was their much-improved defence that saw them qualify from this tie over the two legs. Bayern were restricted to just 0.4 xG in this game, 0.9 over the two legs, with just seven shots, three in the second half, just two on target and just three inside the box.
In the second half, when Bayern were chasing the game, they managed just three shots and failed to hit the target. To restrict one of Europe’s elite attacking sides to just two shots on target over two legs of football, to prevent them creating a single big chance over two legs and to concede just once is a testament to how far this Liverpool side have come.
And, not content on establishing himself as one of Europe’s elite defenders, Virgil Van Dijk also became the first defender to notch a goal and assist in the same game in the UCL this season. What. A. Player.
I’ve Run Out Of Mané Based Pun Headlines
Speaking of incredible players, how about that Sadio Mané huh? Notching his 10th goal of 2019, his 19th of the season and his 13th for Liverpool in the Champions League. What makes that more impressive is that he’s now scored in every knockout tie Liverpool have been involved in and nine overall in knockouts – a hat-trick against Porto, at Anfield against City, one in both legs against Roma and, of course, in Kiev.
He’s now also scored seven goals away from home in the Champions League, the most from any player in the club’s history.
He did so in some style, scoring two brilliant goals, as well as notching five dribbles and a key pass. This is Sadio Mané’s world and we’re all just living in it.
From Munich With Love
This was Liverpool’s first ever win in Munich, despite having an overall strong record against Bayern – having secured a 1-1 draw and away goals win the last time they faced them over two legs in 1981. This is also the Reds’ first away Champions League win since the quarter-final stage at the Etihad last year, having lost their last four away games in Europe. Bizarrely, Liverpool now haven’t drawn away from home in Europe since last season’s group stage and a 3-3 draw with Sevilla.
One fun stat to finish on. The last time Liverpool beat a German side in Germany in the knockout stages of the Champions League was in 2005, where they beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-1. We all know what happened after that.
