Bayern Munich 0-3 Liverpool: Reds reach Audi Cup final after Sadio Mane magic

By Jack Wilkinson

Sadio Mane celebrates after opening the scoring for Liverpool

Sadio Mane stole the show as Liverpool prepared for the new campaign with a resounding 3-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the Audi Cup, although an injury to Daniel Sturridge dampened the mood.

Senegal international Mane netted his first goal of pre-season
after seven minutes at the Allianz Arena, before his skilful back-heel set up Liverpool's second, scored by Mohamed Salah.

Sturridge wrapped up the contest seven minutes from time with an audacious chip at the end of a counter-attack, but the striker pulled up immediately with as suspected thigh strain as his injury problems took an untimely turn for the worse.

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It proved to be the only negative on a night of positives for Jurgen Klopp's men, though, who face Atletico Madrid in Wednesday's final after they beat Napoli.

Battling against torrential rain, and Liverpool's rapid front four of Mane, Salah, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino, Bayern were a shadow of the side which cantered to the Bundesliga title last season.

Team news

Summer signing Salah started alongside Coutinho, Firmino and Mane for the first time as Klopp gave an early insight into the new-look attacking line-up at his disposal. Loris Karius got the nod in goal ahead of Simon Mignolet, although the Belgian is expected to return for Wednesday’s final against Atletico.

The hosts, bidding for a fourth Audi Cup triumph, went behind inside 10 minutes when Firmino slipped Mane into space on the left and the winger rifled the ball beyond Sven Ulreich.

Liverpool were dominant on the counter and should have doubled their lead on 13 minutes, but Ulreich denied Salah at his near post after Alberto Moreno's inch-perfect cross.

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Thiago Alcantara's pre-season injury woes continued as he was forced off after 21 minutes, and Moreno almost compounded the hosts' misery with a deft free-kick which Ulreich clawed from under his cross bar four minutes later.

But, after Mane had broken clear on 34 minutes and released Moreno with a back-flick, Ulreich could only tip the Spaniard's shot into the path of Salah, who headed the rebound home from close range.

Mane (L) and Mohamed Salah (R) celebrate Liverpool's second goal

Bayern rarely threatened to get back into the contest and looked to have fallen further behind on 71 minutes when Ulreich deflected substitute Marko Grujic's shot into his own net, but Adam Lallana was adjudged to have blocked the Bayern stopper in the build-up.

Liverpool soon had their third though as Sturridge evaded the offside trap, raced clean through on goal and chipped the ball into the back of the net with an outrageous finish.
But there was no time for Sturridge to celebrate as he pulled up before being substituted at the next break in play.

Roberto Firmino set up Mane's opening goal

The England striker now faces a race to be fit for Wednesday's final against Atletico Madrid, and perhaps Liverpool's season opener at Watford on August 12.

Man of the match

Liverpool's front four were in imperious form at the Allianz Arena but Sadio Mane led the charge with an explosive 45-minute display, which yielded a goal and a key role in the Reds' second.

What's next?

Liverpool can clinch their second trophy of pre-season if they beat Atletico Madrid in Wednesday's Audi Cup final. Bayern, meanwhile, face Napoli in the third-place play-off.