Liverpool supporters will have felt a pang of jealousy while watching the Champions League action last night.
The Reds have become used to being involved in the competition’s latter stages and likely would have been had they qualified this year, too.
In the end though, many will have enjoyed Tuesday’s matches regardless. With both of Liverpool’s Premier League title rivals in action, it was good to see them being stretched ahead of this weekend’s games.
At home to Bayern Munich, Arsenal had a particularly difficult evening. Not as assured as we’ve become accustomed to seeing them domestically, the Gunners limped to an unconvincing draw.
Though they’ve been poor in the Bundesliga this season, Bayern deserved credit for that. And according to Arsenal legend Ian Wright, one player was especially due some acclaim after the match.
Ian Wright hails Leroy Sane display
For any Liverpool fans tuning in to the game at the Emirates, they may have been surprised to see Bayern putting up a good fight.
The Munich giants have been second best to Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen all season. But they were better in North London.
Central to everything was Leroy Sane. The 28-year-old caused Arsenal problems all game long, brilliantly winning the penalty which Harry Kane converted to give Bayern the lead.
It was reminiscent of the displays we used to see Sane turn in for Manchester City and underlined why Liverpool reportedly think he could be a Mohamed Salah replacement.
Wright was suitably impressed, taking to X after the game to hail Sane’s performance.
“Leroy Sane so good last night,” raved the pundit. “If you too tight he’ll roll you. If you drop off he’ll take you on and beat you. Floats around the pitch. Player.”
Do Liverpool really want Leroy Sane
Sane has been excellent ever since arriving in Munich for £55m in 2020. But this year he’s taken things up another level. The Germany international has been supreme despite his team’s struggles.
And with just one year now left on his contract, Bayern are starting to sweat over his future. Liverpool’s interest in Sane was first reported on last summer, and was then ramped up ahead of the January window.
On paper, he would indeed be an excellent replacement should Salah end up leaving for Saudi Arabia. Quick, skilful, with an eye for goal and – crucially – left-footed, Sane ticks a lot of boxes.
Unfortunately, there are few he does not tick, too. Chief among them being his age. We all know the kind of age profile Michael Edwards likes to target for Liverpool, and Sane falls outside of it. Still, last night was a reminder that he could be worth making an exception for.