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Liverpool take on reigning German champions Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie at Anfield on Tuesday night. 

As finalists in last year’s edition of Europe’s premier club competition, the Reds will be confident of securing a positive result in front of their own fans. However, Jurgen Klopp will know that Bayern represent a fearsome opponent. The Reds will have to be at their best to keep the visitors’ top class attackers out.

On the chalkboard

In Robert Lewandowski, the Bundesliga giants boast one of the most lethal finishers in European football. As per Transfermarkt's stats, the 30-year-old has racked up 25 goals and 11 assists in 30 appearances in all competitions so far this season.

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Keeping the 102-cap Poland international quiet is a must for the Reds, but it’s easier said than done. To make things worse, Liverpool will be without key centre-back Virgil van Dijk due to suspension, Joe Gomez because of injury, while Dejan Lovren is also a doubt due to fitness concerns.

Being without his three first choice centre-backs, Klopp faces a big task in putting together a rearguard capable of stopping Lewandowski.

Doubling up

Joel Matip will almost certainly start in the heart of the home side’s defence. The 27-year-old will bear much of the responsibility for keeping the Polish hitman quiet. He will know Lewandowski’s game well from their shared time in German football, where - prior to his switch to Anfield - the centre-back represented Schalke.

The Liverpool defender will be tasked with tracking Lewandowski’s movements in the box, ensuring he never has space to comfortably get a shot off. However, the 27-cap Cameroon international cannot be left to marshal the Bayern No. 9 alone.

As one of the Reds’ more mobile midfielders, Georginio Wijnaldum must be diligent in performing his defensive duties. The Dutchman must track back and mark the experienced 30-year-old whenever Bayern look like mounting an attack. 

With Matip and Wijnaldum doubling up on Lewandowski, Liverpool stand a great chance of taking the prolific striker out of the game.