Klopp Talk: “Be Brave”

Win the game and Liverpool are through. Score and draw the game and Liverpool are through. On paper, at least, it seems to set up well for the Reds, the second leg of their Round of 16 Champions League tie with Bayern Munich.

Even on the road, at Bayern’s home, where their hosts will feel they have to play football more than they did at Anfield, could be an advantage. But however things do play out, Jürgen Klopp is sure of one thing—his side will have to be brave.

“We need a rhythm and we need to do the right things in the specific moments,” Klopp said when asked how Liverpool had to approach tonight’s match against Bayern Munich. “Bayern are a world-class football team with world-class players.

“You need to defend them at absolutely the highest level [and] when you have the ball you have to be really confident, and that is difficult against world-class teams. You need to be brave and playing your best. That is what we have to show.”

Liverpool were unfortunate not to win the first match given they created far more than Bayern on the night, but while that was disappointing, it should also give them confidence—they were the better side before, now they need to be again.

That confidence from experience, though, is tempered by respect for a side that once again sit top of the Bundesliga table. It’s where the German giants believe they always belong—just like they will believe that they, too, should advance tonight.

“There will be moments where we can dominate,” Klopp added. “There will be moments, probably more, when Bayern is dominating. In both moments you can use the situation, but it is all about the balance.”