UEFA Champions League 2018-19: In a field of artists, Liverpool's ugly duckling holds his own
Sadio Mane has just, inexplicably, given the ball straight to Serge Gnabry on the right wing. Bayern Munich's German right-winger can charge at a bare Liverpool defence, which is short of its full-backs, who have bombed forward. Why in their right mind would they not? Surely, Mane was going to do anything daft in that area of the pitch, was he?
Well, it was one man's job to ensure that he was there - the insurance to Mane contriving mind-numbing daftness. Gnabry was away, but only until Jordan Henderson stepped across him, neatly bullied his opponent off the ball, and then carried the ball forward.
But, Henderson could always do this, couldn't he? Wasn't it what bailed him out of so many awkward situations - his willingness to never stop, and never give up on haranguing opponents? Why are we waxing lyrical about one moment, now?
Well, it wasn't one moment. What it was, was one of many high points on a night when Liverpool's captain did what he always does, but in stark contrast to many of the other occasions when he does this, the praise was universal.
There was none lesser than his manager's. “Of course, Hendo did a brilliant job there, it was unbelievable how many balls he won back and stuff like that.
“It was a fantastic game from him – but that’s actually what we expect as well,” belted Jurgen Klopp. Yes, it was a very matter-of-fact admission from Klopp. Liverpool expect Henderson to be Henderson. Liverpool expect Henderson to hound and harangue opponents. Liverpool expect Henderson to be there, covering for his full-backs, who are almost always bombing up the field, as he showed in such earnest last night, especially after he had sussed out Gnabry was giving Robertson a hard time.
They kept a clean sheet without the "big man" at the back, too.
Yes, that's what Virgil van Dijk's been called now. The Big Man, no fancy exaggerations.
They kept that clean sheet with a right-footed midfielder playing on the left of the two centre-backs, alongside a Cameroonian who, on his best of days, really fails to inspire too much confidence. With that threadbare a rearguard, do you want macho in midfield? Do you want calm, simple, steady and intense in midfield?
Gini Wijnaldum and Naby Keita were pressing the life out of the Bayern Munich midfield, especially in the first half. But, when you have ballers of the quality of Thiago Alcantara and James Rodriguez on the opposition, you know they are going to have moments when they bypass the press. They're that good.
On occasion last night, they were good. They did get past Wijnaldum or Keita, whoever it was face-to-face with them. Then there was Henderson to get past. Nah, not happening, mate. Look, there is no denying the kind of artist that Thiago is - the ease and elegance with which he plays his football is a joy to behold.
Pitted up against that, Henderson was the Ugly Duckling. Yet, he completed more passes on the night than Thiago did. And no, that was not because Liverpool monopolised control of the ball. In fact, the Reds had only 49% of the ball in the game.
Heh, what do we know? The lumbering Ugly Duckling was the best midfielder on the pitch, which was graced by the beauty, the grace of the football of James Rodriguez, Thiago and Naby Keita.
The captain led by example in the first leg, registering more passes (72), passes in the opposition half (41), possession regains (8) and tackles (4) than any of his teammates.
And no, his passing was not the sideways-sideways-backwards-sideways grind that it's made out to be. He produced the most thrilling pass of the game midway through the first half. Picking up the ball on the centre circle, he was quick to get it out of his feet, while also noticing that Salah had made a run in between the centre-back and full-back.
If the Egyptian had got a tad bit more of his boot on that, that ball flies past Manuel Neuer, it would've given him no chance. And then, there would have been little else to talk about for Liverpool fans - well, at least until Sunday, when they take on Manchester United.
This was a tie Liverpool could not afford to lose, even if they didn't win.
Liverpool didn't lose, tick. Liverpool didn't concede an away goal to Bayern, tick. Liverpool kept Bayern to no shots on target, tick.
But the biggest tick on the night came in the middle of the park. In the midst of artists and aesthetic beauty, there he was - Jurgen Klopp's priceless Ugly Duckling.
There's a reason why every manager he's played for thinks he's that vital. There's a reason he's still captain of Liverpool - you don't keep that armband for too long if you're as mediocre as he's made out to be.
He's not Steven Gerrard, but he doesn't have to be. He can be Jordan Henderson, and boy, on the back of last night, who would bet against him being a force that leads Liverpool to the promised land?
That's for another day, though. For now, it's just a wonder how this duckling isn't more universally loved than it is.