Didi Hamann makes Liverpool a favourite with Bayern Munich and Manchester City to win the Champions League this term as long as Jurgen Klopp gets his offence to ‘click again’.
The Reds, FCB and Citizens have all booked their place in the quarter-finals after wins over Inter Milan, RB Salzburg and Sporting Lisbon. Liverpool overcame their Serie A opposition 2-1 on aggregate, despite losing the second-leg 1-0 for their first loss at Anfield in a year.
Hamann feels Liverpool were not by and large superior to Inter Milan over the two ties. The former Reds midfielder also notes the tide shifted in the Merseysiders’ favour once referee Mateu Lahoz showed Alexis Sanchez a second yellow, which Hamann believes was unjust.
Inter Milan had broken the second-leg deadlock just two-minutes before Lahoz gave Alexis his marching orders. The Nerazzurri, like in the first-leg, came out of the break strongly and took great confidence from Lautaro Martinez’s goal. But the threat weakened with 10-men.
Liverpool breathed a great sigh of relief with Alexis dismissed as they could begin to assert some dominance again. Klopp’s men were far from their best, and managed just two shots on target from 12 attempts, per WhoScored. Both on-target hits also came from defenders.
Virgil van Dijk forced Samir Handanovic into a save on 15-minutes. Trent Alexander-Arnold also tested the 37-year-old in the 48th-minute, before the Reds missed the mark with their following seven efforts. Mohamed Salah accounted for three, with two hitting either post.
Hamann makes Liverpool a favourite for UCL if Klopp gets attack to ‘click again’
Hamann feels Klopp getting the Liverpool attack to ‘click again’ will determine if his former side can win the Champions League this season. He also believes Bayern Munich will need Alphonso Davies and Leon Goretzka back fit, with the key pair currently on the sidelines.
“Only the return of Davies and Goretzka will make Bayern one of the favourites again – alongside Liverpool and Manchester City,” Hamann wrote in his column for Sky Germany.
“Liverpool wasn’t really better against Inter Milan over two games. The dismissal of Alexis Sanchez – unjustified in my view – helped them in the second-leg.
“But Liverpool are very stable, and probably have the best defence of any team in the competition. They will soon click again on offense, and then Liverpool will be one of the top favourites for me.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
