Outstanding Liverpool roared into the Champions League quarter-finals with a mature 3-1 away victory at fellow heavyweights Bayern Munich.
The first goal of a tense tie came before half time at Allianz Arena as Senegal forward Sadio Mane delightfully punished Germany No1 Manuel Neuer’s impetuous charge and slotted into an open goal. The score was levelled on the night, however, soon after when Cameroon defender Joel Matip sliced into his own net.
Last season’s beaten finalists were then imperious after the break and gained double reward. Netherlands centre-back Virgil van Dijk produced a towering header on 69 minutes and Mane nodded in Egypt forward Mohamed Salah’s enticing cross soon after to emphatically kill the two-legged contest.
Here are the Reds player ratings:
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3)
Alisson 6: Brazil No1 would have been surprised by how little he had to do. Faced two shots on target.
Trent Alexander-Arnold 7: Pinged several delightful cross-field balls. Faced down Ribery and Coman. What a prospect.
Joel Matip 5: Accident waiting to happen. Darts up field must stop. Scored own goal he had threatened in first leg.
Virgil van Dijk 8: Another world-class display. Quietened Lewandowski and headed in fourth goal of 2018/19.
Andrew Robertson 7: Gnabry threatened to have his number again, but fine recovery spoke volumes. Banned for next game, though.
Georginio Wijnaldum 6: Netherlands international kept it simple and this is exactly what Liverpool needed on night.
Jordan Henderson 5: Man who was selected ahead of Fabinho made just seven touches before injury struck him down.
James Milner 7: Solid job from Liverpool’s veteran midfielder. Always an available option on the left flank.
Mohamed Salah 7: Mixed bag. Made up for egregious earlier greed by producing perfect centre for Mane’s header.
Roberto Firmino 6: Ex-Wolfsburg forward ran himself into the ground, at detriment of attacking ambitions.
Sadio Mane 9: Utterly brilliant. Punished Neuer and Hummels to become Liverpool’s all-time away scorer in UCL with seven goals.
7 - Sadio Mane is now Liverpool's outright highest away goalscorer in European Cup/Champions League history. Update. #BAYLIV https://t.co/OtTtNZKElJ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 13, 2019
SUBSTITUTES
Fabinho 7: Liverpool fans got their wish earlier than expected as injury forced his 13th-minute arrival. Consummate run-out followed.
Divock Origi N/A: Ex-Wolfsburg loanee was involved in build-up for Mane’s second on night.
Adam Lallana N/A: Valuable minutes on clock for recovering injury victim.
