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Two European heavyweights. Two teams currently chasing top spots in their respective leagues. Yet, the matchup between the 5-time Champions League winners Bayern Munich and Liverpool seems no less than a European final.
The Merseysiders step into Bavarian territory with a 0-0 scoreline, showcasing the respect each team showed one another at Anfield three weeks ago. The game was a cagey affair as both teams looked determined to keep a clean sheet.
But only one team will make it to the next round joining the likes of Tottenham, Manchester United, Ajax and Porto in a bid to win the prestigious competition.
With such huge history in Europe, a number of stellar names have played for both of these sides. So, it comes as no surprise to see a few players turning up in both colours and managing to write their names into the club history books.
So, without much ado, we take a look at 5 players that have donned both the Liverpool and the Bayern jerseys in their careers:
#5 Emre Can
Emre Can started out with the German outfit before making a switch to Liverpool in 2014. Can was a highly rated youth prospect at Bayern, before a lack of regular playing time meant that the German international switched over to Bayer Leverkusen.
Capable of playing both as a centre-back and a defensive mid, the German international truly showcased his talents during the 2013-14 season, helping Leverkusen finish 4th in the Bundesliga and therefore, qualify for the Champions League.
Can’s impressive performances did not go unnoticed as Liverpool activated his £10 mil release clause to sign the player in 2014. Initially, the German’s performances at Anfield were a bit inconsistent, although due to no fault of his as Brendan Rodgers played him right back quite a few times.
Once Jurgen Klopp arrived in 2015, things started to change as Can played more in his preferred area of midfield. He added a few goals to his game and helped Liverpool achieve back to back 4th place finishes in the Premier League.
After his contract expired in 2018, he became a free agent and signed for Juventus in a 4-year deal, where he is currently teammates with Cristiano Ronaldo.
#4 Pepe Reina
Pepe Reina was an absolute Liverpool legend. Despite playing a pivotal role in the 2005 Champions League final, Jerzy Dudek was replaced by Reina in no time.
After turning up for the likes of Barcelona and Villarreal in his native country, Reina was convinced by his Spanish Compatriot Rafa Benitez to join the then reigning Champions League winners.
From 2005 to 2011, Reina was one of the top three Goalkeepers in the Premier League alongside Petr Cech and Edwin van der Sar. The Spanish international won the Premier League Golden Glove an astonishing 3 times in his first three seasons at the club.
To sum it all up, the eccentric goalkeeper made a total of 394 appearances during his eight-year spell with the club, winning the FA Cup and the League Cup once.
Reina spent the 2013/14 season out on loan at Napoli before Bayern Munich came calling in 2014 to have him as an understudy to Manuel Neuer. The Spanish goalkeeper spent a solitary season at the Allianz Arena, making a total of three appearances and winning the Bundesliga title in the process.
Reina spent the next three years as the first-choice goalkeeper at Naples before making a switch to AC Milan during the 2018/19 season.
#3 Xherdan Shaqiri
A graduate of the famed Basel academy, Xherdan Shaqiri was always destined to become the next big superstar of Swiss football. Basel’s academy has given the world of football many wonderful talents, ranging from Mo Salah to Granit Xhaka to the likes of Ivan Rakitic and Gokhan Inler.
So, it was no surprise when Bayern Munich splashed €10 million to sign the pint-sized attacking midfielder in 2012. Despite his obvious talents, Shaqiri always knew that it would be hard to dislodge either of Franck Ribery or Arjen Robben from the first team.
Therefore, despite his limited game time, the Swiss man performed decently whenever given a chance. In his two and a half seasons with the club, Shaqiri made 81 appearances, chipping in with 17 goals in all competitions for the Bavarian giants.
A spell in Italy with Inter Milan followed, before the Premier League and Stoke City came calling for the attacking midfielder. Shaq spent three seasons at the Britannia Stadium until their relegation at the end of the 2017/18 season.
Taking advantage of his side’s relegation, Liverpool triggered his £13.5 million release clause to bring him to Anfield. After a good start to his first season, Shaqiri has faded away a little.
In spite of the presence of Liverpool’s famed front three of Mane, Firmino and Salah, Shaqiri would be hoping to play a positive role on Wednesday’s encounter against his former employers.
#2 Dietmar Hamann
Equally respected and loved by both Bayern and Liverpool fans, Dietmar Hamann brought in a sense of stability and calm wherever he played.
Hamann started out his career at Bayern Munich and after playing a couple of seasons on the right wing, Giovanni Trappatoni made the German his starting defensive midfielder. Hamann spent 5 successful years in Munich winning two Bundesliga titles and the UEFA Cup in 1996.
After the 1998 World Cup in France, Hamann moved to England with Newcastle United before switching to Liverpool after a solitary season at St. James’ Park.
The German midfielder enjoyed a lot of success at Anfield during his seven years with the club. His peak came during the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul. Trailing 3-0 at half time, Dietmar Hamann replaced the injured Steve Finnan as the midfielder turned out to be the catalyst for a stunning comeback.
Goals from Gerrard, Smicer and Alonso combined with Dudek’s goalkeeping heroics completed a stunning turnaround against the legendary Milan side.
Hamann also won a couple of FA Cups and League Cups to go with the stunning Champions League triumph. He represented Liverpool in a total of 311 appearances, scoring 16 goals in the process.
After leaving Liverpool in 2006, the German stayed in the Premier League with Manchester City for a further three more years before hanging up his boots in 2011 after a solitary season with MK Dons in League One.
#1 Xabi Alonso
The best player on this list by a mile. A player revered wherever he played, be it San Sebastian, Liverpool, Madrid or Munich, Xabi Alonso was a creator of art.
His grasp on the game, his eye for a needle of a pass or his humbleness off the field, ‘La Barba Roja’ is a role model for every aspiring footballer.
The bearded genius started his career with Real Sociedad back in 2000, before an offer from his compatriot Rafa Benitez convinced him to come to Merseyside in 2004. The Spanish man won the Champions League in his first season at Merseyside, famously scoring the equaliser from the penalty spot in the 3-3 draw with Milan in Istanbul.
210 appearances and a list of countless memories later, the Spaniard completed a move to Real Madrid in 2009. This was a move that broke a lot of Liverpool hearts as the player truly loved the club and was quoted in 2011 as:
“I am still a Liverpool fan and will be forever, absolutely”
Anyhow, after six successful seasons in Madrid and helping the club to win the La Decima, Alonso decided to take up a new challenge in Munich for an undisclosed fee. The midfielder made the Bavarian giants an even stronger team on the domestic front as he won the league title in all of his three seasons with the club.
Finally, when he decided to end his career in 2017, the midfielder had won it all, be it with the National Team or for the clubs he played for.
