Champions League boost for Liverpool as crucial Bayern star could miss the first leg at Anfield

Bayern Munich are unsure about the fitness of Manuel Neuer ahead of the Champions League round of 16 first leg against Liverpool.

The Bavarians play at Anfield in a couple of weeks and Neuer has a finger injury which saw him sit out the 3-1 loss at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen.

Manager Niko Kovac was asked about the keeper, but could not confirm how long he would be out for, according to Bavarian Football Works (h/t Liverpool Echo):

“I can not say exactly. When I say it will be five months, there is a big fuss, and if I say it will be five days, everyone thinks it’s not that bad. The fact is, he was in pain. Otherwise, he would have played.”

Sven Ulreich, the stand-in keeper, also shed light on Neuer’s injury and claimed the German could still play:

“The thumb (Neuer’s) is really fat, but in one or two days things should look different and he could be able to play.”

Not facing Neuer would provide Liverpool with a huge boost. The German is one of the best keepers in the world and can win games on his own for Bayern.

We are without Virgil van Dijk for the first leg as he serves a suspension while Bayern will be without the services of Thomas Muller for both ties. Bayern have not been at their best this season and trail Borussia Dortmund by seven points in the Bundesliga.

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Jurgen Klopp has faced Bayern several times during his time with Dortmund, and it will be interesting to see if we can get the better of his German rivals over two legs.