Liverpool hammer home Champions League credentials with statement victory in Munich

Jurgen Klopp spent much of the lead-in to Liverpool’s trip to Bayern Munich railing against pundits who had suggested his team would be better off losing.

His testy press conference responses left no doubt whether he agreed with the suggestion their Premier League title hopes could be aided by a Champions League exit.

But, while useful as a means of spelling out his position, Klopp’s words didn’t feel like the precursor to a momentous performance at the Allianz Arena.

But that is exactly what Liverpool delivered on Wednesday evening.

This was a statement victory. It exorcised any lingering doubts whether last season’s run to the final was, in fact, fluke.

Liverpool’s strength is perhaps best underlined by the fact they became the first team in eight years to prevent Bayern Munich passing this stage of the Champions League.

The perennial German champions have spent the intervening period amassing a wealth of experience and European know-how that Klopp’s side still lack.

But none of that mattered for Bayern this around, for the simple reason that they were facing a superior team.

Klopp was understandably delighted to see his players prove that during a performance that he felt sent shockwaves around Europe.

“I see it like all the boys see it in dressing room and everybody who sees it with us, it is a big night," he said, grinning from ear to ear during a triumphant post-match press conference at the Allianz Arena.

"We set the bar for LFC, for this wonderful club, that we really are back on an international landscape of top football. We all think that is where the club belongs and I am really happy about the result.

"I knew we had a chance and the boys made it happen and that is brilliant absolutely brilliant.

"There are some places in world football that if Man City, if Barca, if Real Madrid comes here it is not expected that they will win, they know it is a very tough place to come.

"They are always an outstandingly strong team, but we kept them as often away from our goal as possible, my impression was that there were not too many difficult situations around our box and that is a massive sign.

"That is the first step to winning a game like this. You cannot always play free flowing football.

"It makes me really proud and happy because I really think this club deserves awareness again. We are back, let’s carry on, we have a lot to improve, a lot to learn, but we are back and I like that."

For too long the brief of Liverpool managers has been to downplay expectations surrounding this historic club.

Of course, Klopp's confidence is inspired by the fact that Liverpool boast a team capable of maintaining an assault on top honours for quite possibly the first time in the Premier League era.

But, the Reds boss saluted the away supporters housed in the heavens, it finally felt like everyone involved - from the manager and players to the fans - finally believed that to be true.

Events in Germany last night served to wash away a forgettable start to this Champions League campaign featuring defeats at Napoli, Red Star Belgrade and Paris Saint-Germain.

They also provided the perfect start to a period in which Liverpool’s trophy credentials will be decided in both Europe and the Premier League.

Should Klopp succeed on either front, perhaps he will be more keen than usual to find out how the pundits greet the news.

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