"Tomorrow, we probably won't see 0-0. I can't imagine that."
Monday 18 February 2019 19:35, UK
Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac believes Liverpool is the toughest Champions League draw his team could have faced but is confident of securing a positive result at Anfield.
Liverpool, who are second in the Premier League on goal difference, reached the final of Europe's top-tier competition last season and are unbeaten in 19 consecutive European fixtures at Anfield.
The Bundesliga champions have failed to score a goal in three games against Liverpool on their travels but Kovac's side have won their last nine matches ahead of Tuesday's last-16 first-leg tie.
If you look at what Liverpool did in the Champions League last season, and what they are doing in the Premier League this season then you have to say it is the most difficult draw that there is.
"I want to say once again, we are playing tomorrow against an opponent where it is the most difficult draw," Kovac said.
"If you look at what Liverpool did in the Champions League last season, and what they are doing in the Premier League this season then you have to say it is the most difficult draw that there is.
"Other draws would have been difficult, but I maintain that tomorrow and in Munich the form on the day will be decisive."
Kovac's side have scored three goals or more in their last seven matches in all competitions and the former Croatia international does not predict a goalless stalemate on Merseyside.
"I don't know if there is a favourite or not. Liverpool has respect for us as we do for them and there will be a sporting contest tomorrow," he added.
"In the Bundesliga we've played against two teams, [Borussia] Dortmund and [Bayer] Leverkusen, who have had a similar playing style and also the right quality. But tomorrow is a higher level.
"We have to find the solutions. We've got them, but that depends on what happens on the pitch on the night. You can show things and say things to people - that's relatively easy - but putting it into practice is difficult.
"Tomorrow, we probably won't see 0-0. I can't imagine that."
Bayern beat Jurgen Klopp's Borussia Dortmund in the 2013 Champions League final at Wembley and are aiming to progress to the quarter-finals for the seventh successive year.
Despite Liverpool's own pedigree at home in European football, Kovac insists his squad boast the experience to handle the pressure of playing at Anfield.
Kovac said: "The atmosphere will definitely be good but I'm sure my players have gone through a lot of big games with great atmospheres, so that's not an argument that we shouldn't be able to compete tomorrow.
"I'm completely convinced everybody will be right in the head and produce (the) performances they have to do to get a result tomorrow."
