Jurgen Klopp has played down the significance of his history against Bayern Munich after Liverpool FC were pitted against the German club in the Champions League last-16 draw on Monday morning.
The Merseyside outfit were rewarded for their dramatic 1-0 win against Serie A giants Napoli at Anfield last weekend to set up a meeting with Klopp’s nemesis Bayern Munich.
The Liverpool FC boss established a bitter rivalry with Bayern Munich during his seven seasons in charge of Borussia Dortmund between 2008 and 2015.
Klopp won eight games, drew three times and lost on 10 occasions during his spell at the Westfalenstadion.
Bayern were 2-1 winners against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley in 2013 to deny Klopp a first European title.
However, Klopp rubbished the suggestion that his history against Bayern Munich could give Liverpool FC a slight edge.
“I don’t know,” Klopp told Liverpool FC’s website. “This is a different Bayern than what I played, we are already here for three years [and] since the Audi Cup [in the summer of 2017].
“We all know the stadium, the atmosphere will be great. It’s a really nice trip for all our supporters, it’s a wonderful city, so that’s all good.
“The flight is not too long and we obviously know more about German football than about any other league, that’s true, but that doesn’t make a big, massive difference.
“In the end, the boys have to decide it on the pitch. Let’s give it a try.”
Xherdan Shaqiri came off the bench to score in the 73rd and 80th minute to help Liverpool FC ease to a 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday evening.
The Switzerland international was part of the Bayern Munich squad that beat Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final in 2013.
And Klopp reacted to the prospect of Shaqiri facing his former club in the Champions League round of 16.
“It’s nice for Mona [Nemmer] and Korny [Andreas Kornmayer] and Shaq,” Klopp added.
“I will meet former players [too] and it’s good. But at the end it’s a football game on the highest level and we have to play it.
“We knew it before, it’s not that anybody thought ‘thank God it’s Liverpool’, so we don’t think ‘thank God it’s Bayern’. It’s a tough one, but that’s how it should be.
“It’s the last 16 of the Champions League so there are only tough teams in and I’m really excited about it.”
The Reds will welcome Bayern to Anfield on Tuesday February 19 and the second leg scheduled for Wednesday March 13 at the Allianz Arena.
Liverpool FC finished in second spot in their Champions League group behind PSG but ahead of Napoli and Red Star Belgrade.
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