Liverpool ease into Audi Cup Final

Liverpool will play Atletico Madrid in the final of the Audi Cup after Jurgen Klopp’s side ran out comfortable 3-0 winners against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

Neither team had really had chance to settle when Sadio Mane opened the scoring for Liverpool after just 7 minutes.

The Senegalese was played in by Roberto Firmino after the Brazilian won the ball back on halfway and the former Southampton man raced past his man on the edge of the box before planting a left-footed effort back across Ulreich and into the far corner.

Liverpool almost doubled their lead just minutes later, Moreno scampered away down the left and crossed early to the back post for Salah. The Egyptian hit it first time, aiming low at the near post but Ulreich saved well.

In response David Alaba fired a 30 yard free-kick just wide before Thomas Muller attempted to restore parity with a fizzing drive from long range but his effort was always rising.

Bayern were forced into a change after 21 minutes when Thiago was forced off with what looked like a groin injury, he was replaced by reported AC Milan target Renato Sanches.

Ulreich was called into action again after 25 minutes. Liverpool won a free kick on the edge of the box after Tolisso brought down Firmino. Moreno stepped up and curled a great effort over the wall and towards the top corner, only to see the German’s big left hand deny him.

It didn’t stay 1-0 for long though, just 10 minutes later Salah doubled Liverpool's lead. The impressive Mane found Moreno on the overlap with a sumptuous back-heel and the Spaniard's cross-cum-shot was only parried as far as Salah at the back post with the Egyptian duly heading into the unguarded net.

Liverpool 'keeper Loris Karius showed that he hadn’t switched off despite not having been tested when he raced out to meet a through ball before James Rodriguez could get there.

That capped off a mightily impressive first half from Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp’s side looking dangerous every time they went forward.

The ‘Reds’ made a couple of changes at half-time, withdrawing the best player on the pitch up until that point in Sadio Mane. However, they started the second half on the front foot once again.

Sanches saw yellowing for hauling down Firmino as he looked to break before Salah was denied by the flag when he could see the whites of Ulreich’s eyes.

Bayern threatened to spring into life just before the hour mark when James tried his luck from the edge of the box but his his fiercely-struck effort flashed a yard wide on Karius' left-hand post.

That optimism was short-lived, Hummels had to be alert to prevent Firmino from racing clear before James was replaced by Kingsley Coman with the Colombian appearing to be in some discomfort.

The game dropped into something of a lull, with Liverpool making a quadruple substitution on the 68 minute mark. One of those changes, Daniel Sturridge had the chance to make an immediate impact. He was played in in the left channel and he raced clear but he could only flash the ball wide of goal with only Ulreich to beat.

Just seconds later, Liverpool thought they had extended their lead. Two of the substitutes combined with Kent getting to the byline down the left and pulling the ball back to Grujic who stroked the ball home from just inside the box with the help of the inside of the post, however the goal was chalked off, with the referee deeming that Lallana had impeded Ulreich.

Bayern then briefly threatened with Lewandowski seeing a free kick flicked over by the wall and the resulting corner being flicked just wide by Hummels.

Liverpool then made up for that disallowed goal by making it 3-0 for real. Kent put Sturridge in behind with the simplest of balls over the top and the England man duly dinked the ball over Ulreich from the edge of the box.

The former Man City striker was withdrawn shortly afterwards after injuring himself in scoring.

A very impressive performance from Liverpool all told, but they will have to prove that it wasn't a one-off when the Premier League season starts for real next weekend.