Liverpool defender Andy Robertson believes the Reds can still make it to the last eight of the UEFA Champions League despite being held to a goalless draw by Bayern Munich at Anfield in a round of 16 encounter on Tuesday night. According to the Scotland defender, it would not be easy but a big challenge for the Reds to get the required result to reach the next stage in Europe.
Robertson is confident of the Merseyside club’s chances of progressing to the quarter-final stage of the competition. The result at Anfield on Tuesday night means a score draw in Germany on March 13 would be enough to send Jurgen Klopp’s side through to the last eight in Europe. And despite failing to create many chances or properly threaten Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer at Anfield, Robertson remains optimistic about their chances.
“We were at home so of course we were disappointed. We came up against a very experienced team, a team that has been there and done it for six or seven years now,” Robertson said. “They knew how to frustrate us and how to frustrate the fans and they did it well but we had chances and if we had taken them on another day the result would be different. A clean sheet at home in the Champions League is so crucial because we know when we go over there and if we can grab one it means they have to score two. These are all things that come into play and if we can be a bit more clinical I think we can score over there.”
The Scotland international, though, says the return fixture in Germany would be difficult, yet he is backing his side to beat Bayern. “We back ourselves to win any game, whether it is home or away, which is why we are disappointed. Going over there is a new challenge but there’s probably a bit more pressure on them than us because they are at home and their fans will start demanding things. We can try to play our game, try to create the chances we need and try to get goals and if that happens then it puts us in the driving seat.”
Robertson’s comments come with a huge match against Manchester United coming up at Old Trafford on Sunday, with the Scotland international saying that thoughts of beating the Bundesliga champions Bayern would be put on the back-burner. “It’s a long way away and it needs to be put to the back of the mind because we have some big Premier League games coming up so Bayern is forgotten about for now,” he said.
With current leaders Manchester City, top of the table on goal difference, playing in the Carabao Cup, Liverpool have a chance to regain first place with their game in hand on Pep Guardiola’s side. Their meeting with United at Anfield in mid-December, a 3-1 victory, proved to be Jose Mourinho’s final game in charge. But under caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United are the top-flight’s form side having claimed eight wins in nine league matches under the tutelage of the Norwegian. “Another huge game. I think it will be a bit of a different game than when we faced them last time,” said Robertson.