Thomas Muller is set to miss both legs of Liverpool’s Champions League showdown against Bayern Munich after his appeal against his suspension was overturned, according to a reliable journalist.
Bild correspondent Christian Falk reported on his personal Twitter account on Monday afternoon the “bad news” that the German superstar won’t be available for either of the last-16 fixtures.
Bad News for @FCBayern +++ the application is rejected +++ @esmuellert_ is missing in both matches against @LFC
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) February 4, 2019
Müller was handed a two-match suspension for his red card against Ajax in December, after kung-fu kicking Nicolás Tagliafico.
The Bundesliga champions were keen to appeal the suspension, but Falk has explained their arguments have been officially rejected.
OPINION
This can only be good news for Liverpool ahead of the double-header, which begins when Bayern travel on Anfield on 19 February, followed by the return leg in Bavaria on 13 March. Muller has not had his best season for the German giants, but remains a crucial member of their side. His 28 matches in all competitions this season have yielded five goals and eight assists, three of which have come in his last four matches. As for his overall record, it is enough to make even the ice-cool Virgil van Dijk raise an eyebrow. In 468 matches for Bayern, the 29-year-old has scored 181 goals and supplied 159 assists. As well as being a true Bayern great, he is a Germany legend, with 38 goals from 100 internationals. Andrew Robertson has handled everyone and everything that has come his way in the last 14 months quite brilliantly. But, it is nonetheless a real boost for the left-back he will not come up against Muller in the last-16 tie.