MX23RW : Thursday, April 25 09:06:58| >> :60:549:549:
[monks data]
Attendance: 68,145
Bayern logo
Champions League | Round of 16
Mar 13, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Liverpool logo

1-3

Matip (39' og.)
FT(HT: 1-1)
Mane (26', 84'), van Dijk (69')

Fulham test could be tougher than Bayern, warns Wijnaldum

Fulham test could be tougher than Bayern, warns Wijnaldum
© Reuters
Liverpool can take the initiative in the Premier League title race if they beat Fulham.

Midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum believes Liverpool will have to make sure they are switched on as they return to domestic action after their midweek Champions League high in Germany.

The 3-1 win over Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena was rightly hailed as an impressive performance but with the quest to end a 29-year wait for the Premier League title still ongoing, there is no time to bask in the glow of making another European quarter-final, where they face Porto.

In fact, Wijnaldum believes Sunday's opponents Fulham, second-bottom of the table, may present an even more difficult proposition than five-time European champions Bayern.

Jurgen Klopp's side capitalised from their Bundesliga opponents, behind on away goals, having to chase a second with the score at 1-1 and leaving gaps to exploit.

The struggling Cottagers are unlikely to offer the same amount of space.

"I think it will be even harder at Fulham," said Wijnaldum.

"They are struggling, fighting to survive and that is always difficult to play against, those teams.

"Fulham will make it as difficult as possible and we have to be focused."

Sadio Mane heads in the second of his two goals against Bayern Munich
Sadio Mane heads in the second of his two goals against Bayern Munich (Kerstin Joensson/AP)

Liverpool go into the game boosted by their impressive display in Germany and no one is flying higher than forward Sadio Mane.

The Senegal international scored twice in Bavaria to take his tally to 10 goals in as many games.

His form has taken some of the pressure off Mohamed Salah, who is enduring his longest goalscoring drought – six matches – since arriving at the club in the summer of 2017.

But despite scoring just three over the same period Klopp is satisfied with the Egypt international's performances and believes he has just been unlucky in front of goal.

"It is good that we split the goals, absolutely. We have 73 points: each goal we scored brought us there and from time to time it is clicking for one (player)," said the Reds boss.

Jurgen Klopp is relaxed about Mohamed Salah's barren spell
Jurgen Klopp is relaxed about Mohamed Salah's barren spell (Kerstin Joensson/AP)

"There was a very good moment in the Bayern game to explain the situation of Mo a little bit – because I think he is in an outstanding shape – when Niklas Sule in the last second came because that was a goal.

"For Sadio it is different, thank God. All the goals the boys score us are so important. Who scores is not too important but of course it helps if the boys are confident and know what they do.

"The first goal that Sadio scored in Munich, if he had not scored for five or six games he probably would not have scored but it was completely natural.

"At the end everyone criticised (Bayern goalkeeper Manuel) Neuer but it was just world-class from Sadio.

"He's in a good moment and hopefully it stays like this, that's the most important thing for us.

"The goals we have scored are important but not as important as the goals we will score until the end of the season."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Carl Markham, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'e3beeaf8-c0c8-4a9f-8cb1-bc61e010187d');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Fulham test could be tougher than Bayern, warns Wijnaldum'});

ID:353613: cacheID:353613:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8934:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Barcelona's Luis Suarez celebrates scoring against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey on February 27, 2019
Read Next:
Suarez: 'Gerrard talked me out of Arsenal move'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
QBayern651016
QCopenhagen62228
3Galatasaray61235
4Man Utd61144

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
QArsenal641113
QPSV62319
3Lens62228
4Sevilla60242

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Madrid660018
QNapoli631210
3Braga61144
4Union Berlin60242

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Sociedad633012
QInter Milan633012
3Benfica61144
4Salzburg61144

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
QAtletico642014
QLazio631210
3Feyenoord62046
4Celtic61144

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
QDortmund632111
QPSG62228
3AC Milan62228
4Newcastle61235

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
QMan City660018
QRB Leipzig640212
3Young Boys61144
4Red Star60151

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
QBarcelona640212
QPorto640212
3Shakhtar63039
4Antwerp61053


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!