Champions League verdict: Didi Hamann on Liverpool v Bayern Munich

Two of my former clubs go head-to-head in the Champions League last 16 and I can’t wait for the Liverpool v Bayern Munich tie.

Like the bookmakers, I find it very hard to call, although I’d probably err towards Bayern, who are visiting Anfield at a good time with the Reds slightly off their game and, of course, Liverpool are missing the suspended Virgil van Dijk.

If Bayern can get any sort of a positive result on Merseyside, I’d take them to finish the job in Munich. It's not a vintage Bayern side but you write them off at your peril and I think Liverpool could be worth opposing for the first leg at Anfield.

Liverpool's front three of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah get so many plaudits but the key man in this side is Van Dijk. Bayern will be delighted that the influential centre-back is out of the picture.

Bayern know they can hurt Liverpool and they also possess enough European streetcraft to be able to do what’s required to take a positive result back to the Allianz Stadium next month.

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