Bayern Munich suffer Liverpool defeat

Bayern Munich sunk to a 0-3 defeat to Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool in the semi-final of the pre-season Audi Cup on Tuesday night.

Under the eyes of new sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, goals from Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah and Daniel Sturridge condemned the German champions to a fourth defeat in five pre-season outings.

"0-3 never feels good," admitted Thomas Müller, "That was anything but ideal."

Despite a tiring Asian tour, where Uli Hoeneß described the strain placed on the players as "borderline," coach Carlo Ancelotti included star forward Robert Lewandowski and newcomers James Rodriguez and Corentin Tolisso in the starting line-up.

But, right from the start, they struggled to come to terms with Liverpool's intense pressing game, a trademark of Klopp's football at Borussia Dortmund. After just seven minutes, French signing Tolisso was caught in possession in midfield as Liverpool took an early lead.

Speaking to German broadcaster Sky, Müller said the team's lackluster performance "wasn't necessarily anything to do with the trip to Asia," but added: "We're at a point where we aren't at 100 per cent in any respect. We have to look ahead as soon as possible. We absolutely have to show a reaction."

That reaction will have to come quickly. Bayern only have one more warm-up game, a third-place play-off against Napoli on Wednesday evening, before Saturday's German Super Cup meeting with Borussia Dortmund, a game which CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says Bayern will be taking "extremely seriously."

They begin their Bundesliga title defense at home to Bayer Leverkusen on August 18.

mf/ (dpa, sid)