Jurgen Klopp admitted Liverpool only had themselves to blame after their Champions League hopes were left hanging in the balance.

Bayern Munich played with the composure of a team who have reached the Champions League semi-finals eight times in the last decade and they summoned an excellent defensive performance to secure a 0-0 draw.

But Klopp believes the result would have been different had his side’s passing been sharper, particularly during the first half when Sadio Mane missed the game’s best chance and fired wide with only Manuel Neuer to beat.

Jurgen Klopp shows his frustration as Liverpool were held by Bayern at Anfield on Tuesday

Defender Joel Matip reacts with anguish after slicing a second half effort over the bar

The Germans will be favourites to progress to the last eight but Klopp was not too disheartened with the scoreline and is confident his team have enough to get through, provided they recapture their sharpness in the Allianz Arena on March 13.

‘Our problem was that our last pass was not our friend,’ said Klopp. ‘There were 10 or 12 passes where it was on a plate. How it is in situation like this is that I’m sure Bayern will feel better but day by day it will feel better for us and worse for Bayern.

‘If we had won 1-0 what would have changed? Nothing. It’s not perfect but good enough to work with. It is the best draw (not conceding an away goal). A 0-0 would have been enough for us. So it is not perfect but good enough.’

Sadio Mane missed one of the clearest chances to score in the first half, screwing a shot wide

Liverpool have lost every game they have played away from home in Europe since last April – the semi-final in Rome, the final in Kiev then three group games – and before they go to Germany they have a sequence of demanding Premier League assignments.

‘It is not the result or the game we dreamed about and nobody will remember this game in 20 years,’ said Klopp, who will at least have Virgil van Dijk back from suspension. ‘In Germany, we say it is like the Homburger Shooting, a big ballyhoo before the game and then not much happens.

‘It was an intense one, you saw the respect both teams have for each other. I didn’t see when we watched Munich before, like the full backs stayed in their half and Gnabry defended on the wing so there was a lot of respect. 

Salah missed a few good openings, heading one chance wide of the goal at the far post

‘But we had chances, in the first half with Sadio, if he strikes the ball better, with the overhead kick. A goal would have changed things.’

Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac is similarly cautious about the return fixture and said: ‘It is half full, half empty, I can’t remember that many clubs have not lost and not conceded at Anfield and the way Liverpool played, they are a sensationally good team.

‘My team in defence and as a whole kept everything tight at the back and played at a high level, tactically and mentally. We didn’t score but we didn’t let one in. 

‘We are at home now, we will play in front of 75,000. We know if we concede, we have to win. We will see.’ 

Alisson was almost caught out in defence on a number of occasions as Liverpool looked nervy

Sean O’Brien hopes to remain in the frame for international selection after the World Cup, despite his move to London Irish later this year.

Following the tournament in Japan, O’Brien will leave Leinster and link up with Declan Kidney’s Exiles on a three-year deal.

The IRFU have a strict stance on selecting players based overseas, with Joe Schmidt regularly stating his preference for players to remain in the Irish system.

Sean O’Brien wants to continue Ireland career after the World Cup when he joins London Irish

Andy Farrell will succeed Schmidt as Ireland head coach after the World Cup, however, and O’Brien is hoping the union will apply a softer stance to players plying their trade abroad.

‘That’s the current situation now, if you’re out of the country at the minute obviously it’s a bit different, or if you’re not contracted to the World Cup, but thankfully I am,’ he said.

Irish Rugby leaders take a strong stance on players plying their trade out of the country

‘And, after that, when new management takes over, we’ll see where we are at then.

‘But hopefully in an environment where I’m playing well and I’m fit and healthy, hopefully you are always in with a shout.’

The Tullow native will be reunited with Kidney at the ambitious London club later this year. The Corkman gave O’Brien his first Ireland cap against Fiji back in 2009 when he was Ireland head coach.

Les Kiss – who worked under Kidney and Schmidt as Ireland defence coach – is also on the coaching staff at the London Irish set-up.

O’Brien admitted on Tuesday that he had a ‘couple’ of offers from other clubs, but it was the opportunity to work with his former mentors again that influenced his decision.

‘The big thing was Deccie and Les Kiss,’ he said ‘The lads know me and know what I am about and I had a great relationship with them, always had. What they wanted to achieve over there fitted with what I wanted to achieve as well.

‘So, you know for me do I look at this club or these other clubs that mightn’t have any type of culture or vision as such, but just want to try and win things.

O’Brien will link up with Declan Kidney at London Irish when he moves from Leinster this year

‘I think what Deccie is trying to do over there is create a special environment to take over and try and succeed at some point in the future rather than bringing a load of people together to just try and win big games and not have long-term goals.

‘Hopefully, when I leave there, London Irish will be in a better place than when I find it after Christmas.’

O’Brien’s age (he turned 32 earlier this month) and his injury profile meant the IRFU were unwilling to offer the veteran flanker a central contract extension.

Leinster were simply unable to match London Irish’s package, understood to be in the region of €400,000 (£347,348) per season. The offer of a three-year deal looked a big vote of confidence from Kidney, considering O’Brien’s injury problems in recent season.

‘It probably was,’ he admitted. ‘I probably pushed them on the third year. I suppose I was going to give up an awful lot here obviously. So, I wanted a bit more commitment from them in terms of what they want me to do try and do there for them.’ 

Ireland boss Joe Schmidt will be replaced after the World Cup in Japan ends later this year