Bayern Munich 0 Liverpool 3: Daniel Sturridge goes off injured as swashbuckling Reds blow hosts away

Daniel Sturridge goal vs Bayern
Daniel Sturridge scored in Liverpool's win but was substituted with a suspected muscle injury Credit: GETTY IMAGES

 Bayern Munich 0 - 3 (Mane 7', Salah 34', Sturridge 83') Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp hopes Daniel ­Sturridge’s latest injury setback does not prove serious as the Liverpool striker’s bad luck struck again. 

Sturridge scored the third in his side’s swashbuckling friendly victory over Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena, but pulled up after an exquisite chip over goalkeeper Sven Ulreich. He was promptly subbed, having been on the pitch for 20 minutes. It was a cruel blow for the striker, who has looked outstanding in training and took that form into an illustrious setting. 

“I can’t say (how bad it is). He hurt his thigh,” said Klopp. “He has prepared really well and I just hope it is a small injury and he can play soon. It was a great goal and you could see how fast he is so it’s a shame.” 

Trent Alexander-Arnold of FC Liverpool and Franck Ribery of FC Bayern Muenchen
Trent Alexander-Arnold got the better of Franck Ribery throughout Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Sturridge himself was confident. “I’ll be OK,” he said. “We’ve been training hard so this is probably fatigue. I’m feeling great.”

The incident marred an otherwise encouraging night for Klopp. There was a sound of rolling thunder as Liverpool marched into the Allianz Arena and the accompanying lightning bolts came from the visitors’ counter-attacks. Klopp’s side have looked outstanding in their friendlies so far, but defeating Bayern is a different level.

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool scoring the second goal 
Mo Salah scored Liverpool's second Credit: GETTY IMAGES

The manner in which Klopp’s side ran such an accomplished side ragged on their own turf will have many wondering where this side is heading over the next 12 months. On this evidence, expect the opening weekend to sound like a starting pistol to Klopp’s sprinters. 

Any judgments are heavily caveated given this was not a game of consequence. Equally, it would be misguided to argue it lacked a competitive edge. Unlike fixtures in Hong Kong and Berlin, Klopp was treating this as more than a training session. The outcome may have been irrelevant, but the standard of performance was not. 

Klopp picked what could be considered his strongest line-up, save for the continued absence of James Milner and inclusion of goalkeeper Loris Karius. Alberto Moreno, a surprise selection, was as good as anyone as Bayern’s defence succumbed twice before the interval. 

Klopp’s side is never more dangerous than when invited to counter-attack, demonstrated when Sadio Mane put the visitors ahead after seven minutes. Roberto ­Firmino stole possession and sent the Senegalese clear to finish in style. Moreno almost added a ­second from a free-kick and crossed for Mohamed Salah, who was denied by Ulreich. 

A gorgeous build-up involving a Mane back-flick and drilled Moreno cross enabled Salah to double the advantage after 34 minutes. It was the Egyptian’s fourth in five games since he signed. 

Klopp made changes at the break, the introduction of Adam Lallana and Gini Wijnaldum evidence that Liverpool’s lack of strength in depth does not apply to midfield. 

Liverpool were able to switch gears at will and make Bayern look fatigued. They were denied a third after Ryan Kent had tricked Rafinha and teed up Marko Grujic, but ­Sturridge supplied the perfect ­finish before misfortune struck. 

Klopp knows few sides in England will play with the same adventure and risk as Bayern, but for Liverpool this was a classic case of progress via the power of the counter-attack, or “Vorsprung durch Gegenangriff” as they might say to the sponsors of the Audi Cup.

Team details

Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1): Ulreich; Rafinha, Hummels, Martinez, Alaba; Tolisso, Thiago; James, Muller, Ribery; Lewandowski.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Lovren, Moreno; Coutinho, Henderson, Can; Salah, Firmino, Mane.

Referee: Robert Hartmann (Germany)

                                                                                                    

Analysis

ITV's punditry team are still struggling to comprehend the offside decision to disallow Grujic's goal. 

Paul Ince doesn't think that Adam Lallana, who is literally standing on the goalkeeper's feet, is interfering with play enough for it to be offside.

 

Sturridge's goal

 

FULL TIME

Absolutely brilliant stuff by Liverpool, who are firing on all cylinders. Bayern Munich look completely lost. Work to do for Carlo Ancelotti.

90 mins - Bayern 0 - 3 Liverpool

Bayern are really not happy here and have lost their cool. Lallana is booked for a little tussle with Vidal in the middle of the pitch, Vidal is too. And Bayern fans are streaming out of the stadium.

87 mins

Sturridge off, Solanke on. That poor boy.

 

GOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!

Bayern 0 - 3 (Sturridge 83') Liverpool

STURRIDGE! He waits on the halfway line, Bayern have no idea where he is and he bursts away from the back line. He gets to the box and decelerates, it looks like the chance has gone... but he scoops it out of the ground like Davor Suker Euro 96 style and lobs the goalkeeper. Absolutely brilliant.

And oh my word he's genuinely injured himself doing that. Daniel Sturridge has injured himself in a five minute cameo. By scoring.

83 mins - Bayern 0 - 2 Liverpool

Lewandowski takes a free-kick from 25 yards and however they're doing it, there's a great camera angle just behind him so you can perfectly see the flight of the ball. It's really cool that. Maybe it's on a rail across the roof or something. 

Anyway, he hits the wall, it's a corner, and from that corner, Hummels shoots wide at the near post.

82 mins - Bayern 0 - 2 Liverpool

The ball is headed away at the corner of the six yard box from a corner and it tees up Moreno perfectly to launch a volley at goal. He obliges and keeps it low... but it's just wide of the post. That would have been ace.

80 mins - Bayern 0 - 2 Liverpool

Sturridge has both Sanches and a defender in his way and manages to go past both with a duck and tuck move, dragging the ball one way and flicking it the other, going between both. Sanches is furious with himself, curses the air and leans over.

Alaba is now down with an injury. Things are getting worse for Bayern. That's Thiago, James and Alaba now with problems.

Woodburn and Flanagan about to come on for Liverpool.

77 mins - Bayern 0 - 2 Liverpool

Sanches now doesn't really seem to know what position he's playing. He's still in the middle of the pitch as a midfielder, but he now has Vidal alongside him dictating play and is just filling space he doesn't need to be in. It could well be a confidence thing - without game time how is he supposed to improve? Whatever the reason for his decline from Euro 2016, he looks half the player he was when Bayern signed him. 

74 mins - Bayern 0 - 2 Liverpool

The ITV commentary team still hasn't figured out that that goal doesn't stand. None of the two seem to have realised quite how offside Lallana was.

GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLL disallowed

Absolutely brilliant from Ryan Kent who pulls off a magical piece of skill on the left, leaves the Bayern defence bamboozled and sets up Grujic for the shot. The midfielder tucks it low, it hits the post and ends up in the back of the net. 

Adam Lallana was in front of the goalkeeper while the ball went in the net and thus, it was offside.

70 mins - Bayern 0 - 2 Liverpool

Sturridge nearly scores with his first involvement. On the left of the box he takes the ball to feet, moves forward and hits a low shot across goal, which ends up just wide.

69 mins - Bayern 0 - 2 Liverpool

Liverpool mass substitutions.

Firmino, Matip, Salah, Henderson off.

Klavan, Kent, Grujic, Sturridge on.

66 mins - Bayern 0 - 2 Liverpool

Sanches has done it again! His first touch - an attempted pass forwards - goes straight to Liverpool's midfield as they defend a Bayern attack. Hummels goes through the back of Firmino to stop the move.

Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Oh dear god. The commentator has just said:

"Well. To quote the words of Rihanna, it hasn't all been work work work for Bayern."

63 mins - Bayern 0 - 2 Liverpool

Urgh, Renato Sanches has been absolutely dreadful tonight. By my substandard counting he's given the ball away in dangerous situations twice now (might be three times) and the latest gives Liverpool a three on one counter-attack. Coutinho tries to go past Martinez but the giant Spaniard blocks his path and Bayern survive. 

Bayern bring on Coman for Rodriguez, who goes straight down the tunnel.

60 mins - Bayern 0 - 2 Liverpool

JAMES! Pronounced Ham Ez. The Colombian absolutely batters a shot from 20 yards which flies into the advertising boards beside the goal and bounces back. He's trying to get involved more in play, having hardly touched the ball throughout. Bayern beginning to edge their way into this one.

57 mins - Bayern 0 - 2 Liverpool

Tolisso, Bayern's big money buy (as well as Coman) hasn't done much to suggest he's going to replace Alonso any time soon. He's a different kind of player, and Ancelotti knows his soccerball, but so far... not good. 

Liverpool are winning the ball and passing out from the back really well here tonight. It's genuinely impressive.

54 mins - Bayern 0 - 2 Liverpool

Alexander-Arnold has been really impressive out on Liverpool's right. He gets forward at the right times and has done well defensively too, taking care of Ribery for most of this game. Coutinho is starting to influence the game more in attack for Liverpool too... but his pass to Firmino is cleared away. And who is back to regain possession? Alexander-Arnold. He might be playing his way into Klopp's first team here.

Salah is juuuuuuuust offside as he is put clean through on goal. Lucky break for Bayern.

51 mins - Bayern 0 - 2 Liverpool

A Bayern corner is headed away by Lallana but Ribery runs into trouble on the edge of the box and Liverpool break. Sanches tries to haul Firmino to the ground and it takes him a good five seconds to do so. He is booked, to nobody's surprise.

48 mins - Bayern 0 - 2 Liverpool

Mane and Can are off, Wijnaldum and Lallana are on, which means Coutinho has moved over to Mane's slot on the left. 

Liverpool still working hard to win the ball back, denying Bayern time on the ball.

KICK-OFF 2

And we're back! Liverpool start with the ball this time. Will Bayern turn up?

Paul Ince on possible solutions for Bayern Munich

"I'm not even sure what they could do, to be honest".

Salah's goal

 

Liverpool are frighteningly quick

 

Liveprool celebrating their second goal

Credit: GETTY IMAGES

 

Paul Ince doing tactical analysis

So far he's pointed out that Rafinha moved forward too soon for Liverpool's opening goal, leaving space in behind for Mane to run into but not pointing out that had Bayern not passed the ball directly to Liverpool, he'd actually be in a dangerous attacking position. These are the decisions that footballers have to make! If the ball had been pinged over to Rafinha, his attacking positional nous would have been applauded. Instead, he is a villain - a swine(steiger)! And Paul Ince is no longer his friend.

HALF TIME

That's it for the first 45 minutes. Liverpool are flying, Bayern haven't gone through departures yet. 

44 mins - Bayern 0 - 0 Liverpool

And Mane is away again! He's absolutely on fire. Firmino finds him with the pass this time, he plays with the ball on the left for a bit and turns to pass it backwards... and is taken out by Rafinha, who has clearly had enough of him. 

41 mins - Bayern 0 - 0 Liverpool

Mane is terrifying this Bayern defence. He looks like when you watch a YouTube video at 1.5 speed and nobody can keep up with him. Liverpool are also defending well... and even Moreno is having a good game! He steps forward and spots Firmino making a run, fires a low, hard pass into his path but the defence covers and clears the danger.

38 mins - Bayern 0 - 0 Liverpool

Bayern have not had a particularly encouraging pre-season and having lost Lahm and Alonso in the summer to old Father Time (retirement) they've had big gaps to fill but don't seem to have quite done it. 

That said... it's only pre-season and you'd expect the German side to go up the gears when it matters.

Ribery has just been put on the floor by Alexander-Arnold. Even Klopp isn't a fan of that one.

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLL!

Bayern 0 - 2 (Salah 34') Liverpool

Sadio Mane creates this one with a brilliant little backheel flick inside the box. Bayern don't know what to do with him. The pass from Mane sets up the cross and Salah comes across at the back post to head into an empty net. Another pre-season goal for Salah!

32 mins - Bayern 0 - 1 Liverpool

Bayern, on the other hand, are defending much deeper than Liverpool and look to be trying to draw them in to counter-attack, as is Klopp's team's Achilles heel. 

Jurgen Klopp is animated on the sidelines too, almost as if he's taking this one pretty seriously. 

Bayern are in control of the ball at the moment, passing it around Liverpool's half with Ribery the main creative outlet.

29 mins - Bayern 0 - 1 Liverpool

Credit: EPA

 Liverpool are pressing really high up the pitch when they lose the ball - as always - but are defending quite near their own box when Bayern get past the halfway line. That will leave a lot of space to play in through the middle part of the pitch unless Liverpool's forward fancy doing a lot of running tonight.

26 mins - Bayern 0 - 1 Liverpool

This is a great chance for Liverpool to score. A free-kick  25 yards out - this has Coutinho written all over it. He steps up... SURPRISE ATTACK! Moreno takes the kick and bends the ball over the wall and towards the top corner, Karius dives and parries the shot but it falls into the middle of the box. Bayern try to scramble it away, Liverpool head out for a goal kick.

23 mins - Bayern 0 - 1 Liverpool

Ribery is so pretty to watch. He twists and turns and ducks around corners, never staying static and has spotted a run at the back post from Thomas Muller, who just can't reach the pass. Mane has gone down theatrically after a late sliding tackle connects with his legs. There's nothing malicious in the challenge, just poorly timed.

20 mins - Bayern 0 - 1 Liverpool

Credit: GETTY IMAGES

 Alexander-Arnold does really well to win the ball from Ribery near the box but takes too long and tries to be clever with it immediately after. Bayern win it back and Liverpool rush to get back in position to block the attack. They manage and Mane goes on a run down the left but sends his cross to the goalkeeper.

Renato Sanches is getting ready to replace Thiago, who is receiving treatment on the sidelines after going to the bench holding the left of his lower torso, which could mean a groin injury. 

17 mins - Bayern 0 - 1 Liverpool

Bayern have a free-kick about 30 yards out. Alaba and a couple of his pals stand over the ball but it is Alaba to take it... and that's not far away! Alaba puts a sidefoot through the ball, makes it dip just before it reaches the goal but he's a little wide of target and the goalkeeper isn't troubled.

Ribery and Alexander-Arnold are having a lovely little battle out on the Liverpool right. This is a big challenge for the youngster against one of the greats.

14 mins - Bayern 0 - 1 Liverpool

Here's Mane's goal for you.

13 mins - Bayern 0 - 1 Liverpool

Moreno gets forward down the left and is way too fast for anyone to catch. Salah runs into space at the back post and Moreno spots him, sending a curled ball across the box and in front of the defender. Salah can only really shoot at the near post... does so and it's saved. Corner. 

10 mins - Bayern 0 - 1 Liverpool

Bayern are passing around patiently, Liverpool defending well. Alexander-Arnold does well to let the ball roll out for a throw but in another move later on threads a through-ball to nobody.

GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL

It's Mane!

Bayern 0 - 1 (Mane 7') Liverpool

Sloppy play in the centre-circle as a pass is given straight to Firmino, who moves forward and passes sideways to Mane on his left. One touch from Mane controls the ball, the second is enough to power the ball past the goalkeeper.

6 mins - Bayern 0 - 0 Liverpool

Credit: AFP

It's not the most high-tempo of matches so far but Bayern have almost taken the lead as Karius comes miles off his line to head a chipped pass away and Rodriguez very nearly chips him from 30 yards. His attempted shot is headed away by a defender .

3 mins - Bayern 0 - 0 Liverpool

If you're asking, yes that did take me surprise. The pictures from the match, which I definitely didn't think started at 7:45pm, have  been flung onto our screens and it's 0-0.

KICK-OFF

And we're off!

There's a storm brewing...

And not a metaphorical one. There has been an electrical storm in Bavaria and the ITV4 studio has lost access to its television feed. This is not ideal if they are planning on broadcasting the entire game.

Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool are tired

This is pre-match interview:

"Tough one! It's one of the best teams in the world, whatever lineup Carlo will choose is a real challenge but that's what we need now. One and half weeks until the season.

"We are a little bit tired but we need to be concentrated, defend well and be brave.

"If you are passive against Bayern you will always lose."

Hello

Good evening Liverpool and Bayern and soccer fans, welcome to our liveblog covering this competitive match between Liverpool and Bayern Munich.

Who will win? It doesn't matter, but this could be a great way to gauge how both sides are shaping up ahead of the start of the real football season. It's also going to be the first time that ITV4 will ever broadcast Mo Salah playing in a Liverpool top and James Rodriguez in the colours of Bayern - what fun. I hope Andy Townsend is there.

Starting lineups

 Liverpool

Bayern Munich

 

Preview

What is it?

It's the Audi Cup clash between Liverpool and Bayern Munich in the Audi Cup.

Er, what's the Audi Cup?

It's a competition comprising four teams. Atletico Madrid and Napoli make up the group. 

What's the format?

The winner of both 'semi-finals' will square off in a 'final' on Wednesday evening. Alternatively, the two losers will also do battle for third place which is also scheduled for Wednesday.

When is it?

It's tonight, so Tuesday, August 1.

Where is it?

At Bayern's home, so the Allianz Arena.

What time is kick-off?

It's 19.30BST.

What TV channel is it on?

You can watch coverage on ITV4 and ITV Player online. Alternatively, you can follow build up and latest score with our live blog.

Napoli and Atletico Madrid are also competing in the Audi Cup

What's the main talking point?

Philippe Coutinho's future has been widely discussed this summer with Barcelona and PSG linked with the Brazilian.

Liverpool insist they won't sell their star man, but that hasn't quelled the rumours.

No official bid has yet been made, but it could all hang on what happens with Neymar in the coming days. Neymar is said to be keen for Coutinho to join him in France once his protracted move is finalised.

Coutinho's future has been widely discussed

What are latest odds?

Bayern Munich to win 8/15

Liverpool to win 9/2

Draw 3/1

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