With Real Madrid, three time holders, now eliminated from the current UEFA Champions League competition, the highest finisher still alive from last year’s tournament is Liverpool FC. By no means are they the favorites though, or even close, as the odds makers and projectionists see their opponent Wednesday night, Bayern Munich, to beat them and advance to the quarterfinals.
The two teams played to a goalless draw in the Anfield leg, so from an aggregate stand point, the Reds will have a good advantage due to the fact that they did not concede any away goals.
Liverpool do have some fitness issues to be concerned with in this one. Midfielder James Milner is a doubt while defender Joe Gomez is now closing in on a return having recovered from surgery to repair the fractured leg he suffered in Liverpool’s win over Burnley in late 2018.
He’s expected to make his comeback after the international break
It seems likely that right back Trent Alexander-Arnold will be fit despite coming off injured against Burnley yesterday. According to James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo, Jurgen Klopp’s decision to withdraw the youngster was only due to “precaution,” not from necessity.
Liverpool FC at Bayern Munich UEFA Champions League Round of 16 (Aggregate 0-0) FYIs
Kickoff: Wednesday, March 13, 8PM local, Allianz Arena
Liverpool Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Odds to qualify via Betfair: Liverpool 4/5, Bayern Munich 10/11
Google Result Probability: Bayern Munich 45% Draw 27% Liverpool 28%
Prediction: Bayern Munich 1, Liverpool 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.