Jurgen Klopp feels pundits who were critical of Bayern Munich early in Niko Kovac's reign are now at risk of looking "silly" as the Bundesliga champions recover under their new coach.

Bayern won their first seven games under Kovac before stumbling into a run of four matches without a victory, but they travel to Anfield on Tuesday for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in fine form.

And Klopp is more aware of Bayern's threat than most, with the German having battled for titles with the Bavarian giants when he coached Dortmund between 2008 and 2015.

"I cannot hide from the fact that Bayern Munich are a team I know more about than most of the opposition we face in international competition," Klopp wrote in Liverpool's matchday programme.

"This season people were far too quick, in my opinion, to draw conclusions on them early and some of those who fell into that trap now risk looking a little silly.

Liverpool will be without defensive leader Virgil van Dijk due to suspension for Bayern's visit, while Joe Gomez is out and Dejan Lovren is battling to recover from a hamstring injury.