Munich: Sadio Mane scored twice to steer Liverpool into the Champions League quarterfinals after a superb 3-1 win at Bayern Munich dumped out the German giants.
Having missed the goalless first leg at Anfield three weeks ago through suspension, Virgil van Dijk’s long pass led to Mane’s excellent first-half goal at the Allianz Arena here, Wednesday.
“His first goal was ridiculous, the calmness with how he’s finished it off,” Liverpool midfielder James Milner said. “He’s on fire at the minute and let’s hope it continues for the rest of the season.”
Dutch centre-back Van Dijk then headed last season’s runners-up Liverpool into a 2-1 lead from a Milner corner on 69 minutes after Joel Matip’s own goal had handed Bayern a first-half equaliser.
Mane made absolutely sure of Liverpool’s place in the quarterfinal draw by nodding in six minutes from time.
Liverpool’s 3-1 aggregate victory means they join Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Manchester United in the quarterfinals, completing a clean sweep of English sides reaching the last eight for the first time since 2008/09.
“It is good for English football — that’s what you want,” added Milner. “We have good feelings from last year, so hopefully we can carry that on and go as far as we can.”
It is a bleaker picture in Germany as Bayern’s exit leaves no Bundesliga club in the quarters for the first time since 2005/06, as Borussia Dortmund and Schalke also bowed out in the last 16 — to Tottenham and Man City respectively.
This is the first time since 2011 that Bayern have failed to make the quarterfinals.
AFP