Liverpool warned to watch out for ‘best No 9 in world Lewandowski’ by legend John Barnes ahead of Bayern Munich clash
The Polish striker has scored 25 goals this season, helping Bayern close the gap to Bungesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund
LIVERPOOL legend John Barnes has warned his former club to beware of the "best No9 in the world" Robert Lewandowski when they host Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
But the 55-year-old thinks the Reds are the favourites of the eagerly-anticipated Champions League tie, claiming the German giants seem not as determined as they have been in the past.
Bayern had a difficult first half of the season as they entered the winter break in the Bundesliga trailing Borussia Dortmund by seven points.
But the German giants have won every game since the German top-tier resumed in January, scoring 19 goals in six games.
Lewandowski has netted three of them and added five assists - taking his tally up to 25 goals this season.
And Barnes, who won two league titles and the FA Cup during his 10-year spell at Anfield in the '80s and '90s, has alerted Liverpool to the dangers of the Polish striker's goal-scoring prowess.
"Even though Bayern may not be the team they were, you have to be very careful when the ball gets into the box.
"Lewandowski for me is the best classic number nine in the world."
Barnes, however, claims he would rather play alongside Reds current striker Roberto Firmino, who - apart from scoring - regularly helps his team-mates get on the scoresheet.
He added: "Lewandowski would be similar to playing with John Aldridge, he’d be scoring more, and I’d be supplying.
"But, for selfish reasons, I’d much rather play with Firmino as he’d make me score more goals.