Liverpool reached the Champions League quarter final with a 3-1 win over Bayern Munich.

Sadio Mane set the Reds on their way at the Allianz Arena as he tied Manuel Neuer in knots before chipping the ball into an empty net from a difficult angle.

The Bavarians pulled level when Joel Matip turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Robert Lewandowski to meet a Serge Gnabry cross.

But Jurgen Klopp’s side roused after the break with successive headers, first from Virgil van Dijk and then Mane’s second goal of the evening to progress.

Here were the key talking points from the Allianz Arena:

Reds officially back on the map

 

They said Liverpool’s days were numbered. Shows how much ‘they’ really know.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have officially put themselves back on the Champions League map with a performance that was a perfect blend of maturity and dominance.

Bayern Munich knew they had to go all-out after holding the Reds in the first leg three weeks ago but never really looked like landing a glove on their opponent.

In years gone by, the visitors may have been tempted to rest on their laurels with a fractional lead heading into the final stages of such a decisive fixture.

Clearly Klopp had other ideas as last season’s finalists continued to swarm the Bavarians; laying siege to Manuel Neuer’s goal with wave upon wave of attacks.

A long-awaited return to their perch in the Premier League is still a matter of weeks away – but make no mistake, Liverpool are again among Europe’s elite.

Mane is poetry in motion

 

Tempting as it is to marvel at Mohamed Salah, there has only been one star attraction in Liverpool’s front line this season – and it isn’t the Egyptian.

Sadio Mane continues to steal top billing from the current Golden Boot holder and may soon eclipse him with more displays like this one at the Allianz.

He took just 25 minutes to unlock Bayern’s defence. Neuer may struggle to watch back a personal ordeal that was pure poetry in motion.

Beneath the gaze of national coach Joachim Low, Germany’s no.1 was tied in knots by Mane before his tormentor hooked a superb ball into the empty net.

His second of the night made the tie a more assured affair and also etched his name into history as Anfield’s highest scorer in Europe away from home.

As it was last season, the power struggle in Liverpool’s front line is already a foregone conclusion.

Van Dijk raises the bar again

 

Just when all appears to have been said of Virgil van Dijk, he manages to go one better.

Liverpool’s record signing raised the bar once more with a level of performance that lent itself heavily to some of European football’s greatest all-time defenders.

A bullet header to help retake the lead evoked memories of Sami Hyypia’s goal-getting heroics in the memorable run to the 2005 Champions League final.

But there is more to Van Dijk’s game than the occasional spot of marksmanship. His role in Mane’s opener did not go unnoticed with a brilliant long ball.

Right now, there is no other defender on the planet who is a better all-rounder.

Klopp facing a familiar headache

 

Van Dijk’s display was a stark reminder of what Liverpool had previously lost.

They soldiered through the first leg due to the defender’s suspension for a careless booking picked up in December’s group stage finale with Napoli.

A similar scenario will face Klopp’s side when Friday’s draw is made after Andy Robertson was cautioned in stoppage time for a foul on Leon Goretzka.

Losing the Scotland captain for the quarter-final first leg leaves the Liverpool manager facing a familiar headache and one which could have been avoided.