Liverpool drew 0-0 with Bayern Munich in their Champions League first leg last 16 tie at Anfield
Tuesday 19 February 2019 23:53, UK
Liverpool produced a 'professional' Champions League performance during their goalless first leg draw with Bayern Munich, says Tim Sherwood.
Despite creating a number of chances, Jurgen Klopp's team could not find a goal and the score is still level heading into the return leg at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, March 13.
There was an air of disappointment at full time with Liverpool failing to capitalise on their Anfield advantage, but Sherwood had plenty of praise for how they performed.
He told The Debate: "On any other day, they could have scored two or three in that game and we would have been singing their praises and I think we're right to do it now because I think it was a very professional performance in Europe at home.
"It was the right amount of attacking, the right amount of chances created, Manuel Neuer made some very good saves - he'll have to play well in the second leg, too - and Alisson was hardly tested tonight.
"I think it was a very controlled, experienced Champions League performance from Liverpool, obviously gained from the experienced they had last year. Going so far in the competition, they really believed they could take on anyone and based on that performance there, you'd have to say that was the case.
"The onus is on Bayern to come out now. They have to come out and score against Liverpool but they have to be very cautious that they don't concede against one of the best front threes in European football.
"I think it is a great result tonight. A 2-1 win would have been a worse result because Bayern getting the away goal would have been a disaster for Liverpool, but that didn't happen.
"They were never hit with a sucker punch, they saw it out professionally, they were the team cautiously pushing forward, they had their chances and let's not forget, they had no Virgil van Dijk tonight, he'll be back for the away leg. I think it is a very positive result for Liverpool."
His sentiments were echoed by former Liverpool midfielder Steve McMahon, who believes there is still everything to play for in the last-16 clash.
He added: "I think it's a good result. People will say that Liverpool should have got something out of the game and I believe they were the better side on the night - Sadio Mane could have had a hat-trick on any other given day - but 0-0 in this kind of a competition is a good result.
"Away from home, Liverpool can score goals. We've seen that with the pace and power that they have and it's a tricky one, but it's not over by a long shot. Everyone will be disappointed initially, but I don't think Jurgen will be, I think he will be quite delighted with that.
"It was a pragmatic Bayern tonight, they weren't going to win that tie at Anfield, just because Liverpool were cut short at the back in terms of personnel, it wasn't going to be won tonight on this performance.
"They've worked it over two games, worked their heads well, they're experienced enough to know what they're doing and they've thought 'it's OK, we can get another bit of the cherry and get them back at our place'. It is very much game on for the two sets of players.
"Expectations were for Liverpool to beat them by one or possibly two and get a good advantage going to Bayern. It didn't happen, but 0-0 is a good result and they've got to be experienced enough to know that. Liverpool can score goals against anybody in world football."
