Fabinho is Liverpool’s life-saver as he holds the thin red line in Virgil van Dijk’s absence

Shorn of key attacking personnel, this was not the real Bayern Munich. Nor, for reasons unknown, was it the real Liverpool. What it was, then, was one of those European matches we used to get in the old days when every round was straight knock-out. Cagey, risk-free and, if we are honest, a little flat.

This was a Liverpool European night but not as we know it. Absent was the familiar helter skelter and in its place a match between two giants of the game that only occasionally threatened to live up to billing.

Just as well, then, that Liverpool didn’t concede a goal. Just as well, equally, that players such as Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Thomas Muller were not playing for the opposition. Had this been a Bayern Munich line-up of yore, it is hard to think Liverpool would be heading to Bavaria in three weeks with a clean sheet to bolster them. 

Liverpool’s makeshift defence held firm on Tuesday to keep out Bayern Munich’s attack

Fabinho played a starring role as Roberto Lewandwoski and Co were stifled in front of goal

Bayern were unusually unambitious, here. They sought to contain. The fact they were facing a Liverpool central defensive pairing that comprised the fourth best centre half at the club and a central midfield player was not enough to tempt the Germans to consistently engage. 

If Robben – injured – and Ribery – on the bench – been playing then it may well have been a little different.

Liverpool are not currently at their best. All teams go through these periods of uncertainty during a long season and Jurgen Klopp’s players are hanging on a little as they wait for real form to return. 

Liverpool were given a scare early on after some loose passing by goalkeeper Alisson Becker

Kingsley Coman looked a real threat in wide areas for the visitors in the early stages of the tie

As such, this was not the worst result. A goal for Liverpool in the Allianz Arena next month gives them everything. That night they will not be forced to field Joel Matip and Fabinho at the heart of their defence either.

This was the problem that stalked Liverpool here. With Virgil van Dijk suspended and Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren injured, Klopp was seeking solutions. At the end of the 90 minutes, the Liverpool manager will feel that he has got away it.

Bayern did carry a threat from wide positions. Serge Gnabry on the left was impressive while Kingsley Coman on the right was even better. At times in the first half they worried Liverpool and the challenges facing Matip and Fabinho were clear.

Fabinho is not a defender while Matip is strictly speaking not quite good enough for this level.

Matip, 27, has played a lot of football in the Bundesliga so Bayern would have known he is competent in the air and quick over ground. But they would also have known that he can look coltish in possession and can make poor positional decisions.

That was probably why Bayern coach Niko Kovac instructed striker Robert Lewandowski to push up on the Cameroon international early on, suspecting that it was he rather than his makeshift defensive partner who was likely to err. 

There were stages in the first half where Joel Matip (right) looked vulnerable against Bayern

Bayern were encouraged early on as they looked to put pressure on Liverpool’s defenders 

At times in the first half, Matip and Fabinho looked equally vulnerable while Bayern were also encouraged by the erratic footwork of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson. 

Defensive calmness tends to start with a team’s goalkeeper but Alisson has not been at his best recently.

He saved importantly with his chest early as Matip almost diverted a Gnabry cross in to his own goal. But he and Matip then got in a muddle with successive poor clearances to allow Coman to shoot before a poor Fabinho header gave Lewandowski a sight of goal.

A night of persistent Bayern pressure would have in all likelihood only increased Liverpool’s problems. An early goal for the Germans and they could have rolled Liverpool over. 

But as Klopp’s midfield slowly took a hold of the game, so the Bayern threat receded. In the end Fabinho was asked to make only one decisive contribution, early in the second half, and he was able to respond. 

Alisson saved smartly with his chest but the Brazilian has not been near his best recently

Former Arsenal midfielder Serge Gnaby was direct in the early stages and was keen to push on

Coman’s break down the left was immediately threatening and his low ball in to the penalty area was perfect for Lewandowski as the Poland striker received it with back to goal on the six-yard line.

It was a situation fraught with danger for Fabinho. One false move and Lewandowski would turn and score. Another and the Brazilian would concede a penalty. So his tackle had to be decisive and perfect in weight and timing. 

It was all of these things and Liverpool were able to move back upfield with the great Bayern striker left on the ground.

It felt like a key moment in the game and may well transpire to be in terms of the whole tie. The return leg in Munich will be different, more open. In Munich, they are nervous of Klopp as he has hurt them before. It is not inconceivable that he will find a way to do so again.