There is everything left to play for in Liverpool's Champions League round-of-16 tie with Bayern Munich after the Reds were forced to settle for a goalless draw at Anfield on Tuesday night.
Liverpool, fresh from a warm weather training camp in Spain, created the better of the goalscoring chances but came unstuck against a stubborn Bayern defence that remained organised in the face of the hosts' fearsome attacking trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, the latter of whom had a night to forget in front of goal.
The 0-0 draw means last season's runners-up Liverpool will have to go to Munich on 13 March and score to progress while there will be the feeling that this was an opportunity missed to build momentum ahead of the Reds' Premier League clash against high-flying arch-rivals Manchester United on Sunday.
Liverpool came into their clash with Bayern certainly the fresher of the two sides, having last played 10 days ago compared to the visitors who, just four days prior to their trip to Anfield, narrowly beat Augsburg 3-2.
To add, Jurgen Klopp had taken his side to Marbella during their break, although the Reds boss would have been relieved to see Roberto Firmino recover from a virus picked up in the warm weather training camp to start against Bayern.
And the Brazilian, along with the rest of his teammates, certainly looked fresh in the opening stages of the clash and they could have taken an early lead when a superb long ball from Jordan Henderson was received by Mohamed Salah.
However, the Egyptian could only get his toe to the ball, which was easily claimed by Manuel Neuer.
Liverpool looked bright going forwards, but what was clear in the first half was that they looked less so down the other end of the pitch.
Virgil Van Dijk's absence through suspension had resulted in a centre-back pairing of Fabinho and Joel Matip but their lack of communication with each other and, indeed, Alisson Becker was obvious from the off.
Indeed, it led to two nervy moments for the hosts when, firstly, Matip's attempted clearance rebounded off Alisson and only just away to safety with Robert Lewandowski lurking before the Brazilian goalkeeper gave the ball to the defender - only for Kingsley Coman to steal it off him and drive into the side netting.
But despite those moments, Liverpool got a greater grip on the game and came close to opening the scoring when Matip drove Firmino's cut-back just wide of the goal.
Liverpool thought they should also have had a penalty when Naby Keita's shot hit Niklas Sule's leg before making contact with his arm, but nothing was given.
Bayern came into this game having suffered some surprise losses this season. But even without Jerome Boateng in defence, they made life difficult for Liverpool at the back.
The only issue for the visitors, however, was the longer the game went on the more the hosts created.
But Salah, in particular, seemed unsure in front of goal and squandered too many second-half attacks while Mane saw a late header fly wide.
Liverpool will feel it was a better night for Bayern, who still haven't scored at Anfield in four games but who will have walked away on Tuesday night feeling they hold the advantage in the tie though the Reds will be pleased by the way they kept a clean sheet without Van Dijk in the side.
Liverpool vs Bayern line-ups
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Matip, Robertson, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Keita, Salah, Mane, Firmino
Subs: Mignolet, Moreno, Milner, Lallana, Shaqiri, Origi, Sturridge
Bayern XI: Neuer, Kimmich, Süle, Hummels, Alaba, Javi Martinez, Thiago, Gnabry, James, Coman, Lewandowski
Subs: Ulreich, Rafinha, Mai, Shabani, Ribery, Davies, Sanches
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