Klopp’s two-pronged approach vindicated again

Jurgen Klopp was at his snappiest with the Anfield press corps when it was suggested before this match that an exit from the Champions League against Bayern Munich would only boost their chances of winning a first domestic title in 29 years. He said the suggestion was mad. Now we will see if the energetic German coach is right.

Liverpool are only one point behind Premier League leaders and holders Manchester City and this consummate triumph over the Bundesliga’s top side showed Liverpool have the nerve to survive and thrive in the eight-game run-in. The atmosphere was as intense as Anfield on a red hot European night in a match they knew they had to take the sting out of a free scoring Bayern team with a passionate support to match. In a delicately poised match, Virgil van Dijk’s decisive header was no more than his side deserved and merely emphasised why Liverpool were most pundits’ favourites when they drew the German champions.