Michael Owen: Liverpool Will Eliminate Bayern From The Champions League

By Joshua Walters

Former Liverpool striker, Michael Owen, believes the Reds have what it takes to knock out Bayern Munich from the UEFA Champions League when the two sides meet at the Allianz Arena in the round of 16 second leg.

The first leg at Liverpool’s Anfield stadium ended goalless two weeks ago, but Owen, who won the Uefa Cup with Liverpool in 2001, believes last season’s losing finalists can pull off a surprise and qualify to the quarterfinal stage of the competition.

Stretching back to last season, Liverpool have lost their last four away fixtures in the UEFA Champions League, failing to pick up a single away point in this season’s group stages after losing to Paris Saint Germain, Red Star Belgrade and Napoli.

"It's certainly on a knife edge and it's the toss of a coin, I'd suggest,” Owen told the Liverpool Echo.

"Nil-nil is never a bad result in my opinion. Of course Liverpool could go out there [on penalties] drawing 0-0 but any score draw sends them through.

"This away-goal rule could play into Liverpool's hands now. So it is a 50/50 game.

"Liverpool of course have conceded a couple of goals against Burnley, but in general they have been looking as solid as a rock at the back.

"It's feast or famine at the moment up front. They are either not scoring or scoring fours and fives, but we know there are goals in there and Bayern Munich are on a nice little run, too.

"They scored plenty of goals at the weekend [beating Wolsfburg 6-0] but it's not the best Bayern team I've ever seen.

"They aren't streaking clear at the top of the Bundesliga, so I'm pretty confident."