Gary Lineker’s Liverpool vs Bayern Munich predictions

A disappointing run of results in January has raised doubts about Liverpool‘s ability to go all the way in the Premier League this season.

Defeat to title rivals Manchester City followed by draws against Leicester and West Ham has seen the Reds’ lead in the league cut from 10 points to nothing, albeit with a game in hand.

They now face Bayern Munich in the Champions League and Gary Lineker believes a return to the competition they reached the final in last year could be just the tonic to get their season fully back on track.

‘Welcome release’

Read more: Liverpool vs Bayern Munich: Kick-off time, TV channel, team news and odds

“Liverpool’s recent blip does not make any difference in the Champions League,” Lineker, the BT Sport presenter and former England striker, told i.

“It’s the kind of result you get at this time of year. But obviously drawing a couple on the bounce starts to make people think, adds a little pressure.

“The Champions League might be a welcome release in a way, to have a blast, which they certainly did last season. When the knockout games start it’s all about excitement and those big midweek games at Anfield are usually high-octane stuff.”

Bayern in transition

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Lineker also believes Bayern’s poor form, which sees them trail Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, coupled with Liverpool’s ability to blow teams away at Anfield makes Jurgen Klopp’s men favourites.

“Bayern have not had a great season,” Lineker added. “They are going through a transitional phase but still have lots of great players with bags of experience.

“It’s Bayern Munich, one of the biggest clubs in European football so it will still be a tough nut to crack.

“Liverpool are a really good side. They might have gone off the boil these past couple of weeks but that can change quickly.

“I think they would have preferred to have the second leg at home but as they showed last season against a couple of teams, Roma and Manchester City for example, they just blasted early on.

“That’s what they will look to do against Munich. I make Liverpool slight favourites and would fancy them to go through.”

Read Gary Lineker’s full Champions League predictions here