BAYERN MUNICH star Thomas Muller will miss both legs of the Champions League showdown with Liverpool after failing in a bid to reduce his two-game ban. Muller was suspended for two matches by Uefa last month for his red card in the final group game with Ajax. Thomas Muller with a horrific challenge that saw him banned for the Champions League tie against Liverpool The 2014 World Cup winner was dismissed for a flying karate kick into Ajax defender Nicola Tagliafico's head during the game in the Allianz Arena. Uefa regulations mean Muller had to serve an automatic one game ban but he attempted to make that the punishment in an appeal to Uefa which was backed by Bayern. But disciplinary beaks backed their original call and it means Liverpool will face Muller-less Bayern in both legs of the last 16 tie. Bayern have had a difficult league campaign so far, falling to third in the table after losing 3-1 to Bayer Leverkusen this past weekend. 3 Thomas Muller will be unable to play against Premier League leaders Liverpool Credit: Getty - Contributor 3 Thomas Muller's omission could be bad news for Liverpool based on his current form Credit: AFP or licensors So how will Bayern fare without the frontman in the side? Stats show that Bayern are almost guaranteed victory when Muller scores or assists, winning 92 per cent of the games which he has done so and only 59 cent when he has not. In his 29 appearances last season, the German scored eight goals and set up 14 more and Bayern scored 2.76 goals per match when Muller was on the pitch vs 1.76 when he was not. This season however, in 17 appearances he has managed just four goals and five assists and Bayern's league form has suffered. The German champions will miss the 2014 World Cup winner's experience when they take on last year's Champions League finalists. But based on Muller's form this season, his absence could actually work against Liverpool as they bid to reach the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, Liverpool will be without defender Joe Gomez who had leg surgery today.<doc-sep>Bayern Munich will be without Thomas Muller for both legs of their Champions League tie against Liverpool after his two-match suspension was upheld by UEFA. Muller received a straight red card for a foul on Nicolas Tagliafico during the 3-3 draw with Ajax on December 12. Bayern appealed the decision in the hope that Muller could play a part in the last-16 tie against Liverpool. However, on Monday the German champions announced that their appeal had been rejected. Bayern travel to Anfield for the first leg against Liverpool on February 19, with the return leg at the Allianz Arena to be played on March 13.<doc-sep>SINSHEIM, GERMANY - JANUARY 18: Thomas Mueller of FC Bayern Muenchen looks on during the Bundesliga match between TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and FC Bayern Muenchen at PreZero-Arena on January 18, 2019 in Sinsheim, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/TF-Images via Getty Images) Bayern Munich will be without one of their most potent attackers, Thomas Muller, for both legs of their upcoming Champions League tie vs. Liverpool. Earlier today UEFA declined the appeal made by Bayern Munich to have Thomas Muller’s two-game suspension reduced to just one. The Raumdeuter‘s reckless — even if it was entirely accidental — foul on Ajax defender Nicolas Tagliafico means Niko Kovac heads into his first big Champions League knockout rounds tie without one of his key players. Bayern’s tumultuous season has produced many scapegoats for disgruntled fans of the Bavarian giants. Niko Kovac takes the cake as the main target for many, but club legend Thomas Muller is not far behind. Sure, Muller has faded a bit in recent seasons. He’s no longer in the upper echelon of the world’s best, but he’s not as far off as a vocal minority of “fans” would lead you to believe. For one thing, his style of play has changed, perhaps deliberately. He’s still very much a goal-minded individual, but his game is much more built around his ability to create these days. His intelligent movement and clever runs are not used to create opportunities only for himself but more often for his teammates. He no longer looks for an opportunity to shoot as much as he looks for the opportunity to create a shot for his teammate. This is evidenced by his being the most creative player for Bayern in each of the past two seasons. This season only Joshua Kimmich has more assists than Muller across all competitions. The Raumdeuter has been a key player since the arrival of Niko Kovac. The Croatian has utilized his vice-captain both centrally, directly behind Robert Lewandowski, and out wide on the right, allowing him to roam inside as he pleases. No matter where Muller has featured this season, though, he has been a standout player for Die Roten. Whereas other stars like James Rodriguez and Arjen Robben have struggled to make an impact due to both injury and lack of form, Muller has consistently turned up for Kovac. His almost telepathic understanding with star forward Robert Lewandowski has been a key component to any success Bayern has found this season. The Pole has even acknowledged that he plays better and feels more comfortable when Muller is on the pitch. To suggest that Muller’s absence from the upcoming Champions League clash against Liverpool is a blessing for the Bavarian giants is utter folly. Rather, it’s quite the opposite: a curse. His ability to find space for himself and create space for others will be sorely missed, as will his determination to never give up on either end of the pitch. A victory for the German side is still totally conceivable — especially considering Liverpool’s own Virgil Van Dijk will be absent from the first match at Anfield. However, Thomas Muller’s absence across both legs will be a massive blow, and Niko Kovac will have to be at his tactical best to overcome it.<doc-sep>In a disappointing result for Bayern Munich, Thomas Müller’s appeal to reduce his two-game suspension was rejected by the Appeals Senate of the European Football Union (UEFA) today. Müller, who received a two-game ban because of a high kick on Ajax’s Nicolas Tagliafico back on December 12th, will now definitely miss both ends of Bayern’s upcoming Champions League set with Liverpool. Müller has been a consistent force and playmaker this season for the Bavarians, and his offensive prowess will be missed against the high-octane attack of Liverpool. The suspension will leave Niko Kovac examining his options. James Rodriguez would seem like the natural replacement for Müller, but Kovac could shift Leon Goretzka up to the “10” if he decides to go with a more defensive midfield structure. If so, Javi Martinez or Renato Sanches could get the call to play with Thiago Alcantara as part of a double-pivot, allowing Goretzka to play in a more attacking role. Goretzka has excelled offensively of late as he has four goals in his last three games for the Bavarians. James, of course, has been embroiled in a battle for playing time all season under Kovac. Whatever Kovac decides, Bayern will have its work cut on February 19th and March 13th when the Bavarians square off with Liverpool.<doc-sep>
Muller's Champions League ban upheld - Bayern without attacker for both Liverpool legs The World Cup winner has not been shown leniency after appealing a red card shown in the final UCL group stage match against Ajax Bayern Munich will be without Thomas Muller for both legs of their Champions League round of 16 match-up with Liverpool after UEFA rejected the German club's appeal to reduce the attacker's two-match suspension. The Bundesliga champions announced on Monday that the European Football Union's Appeals Senate had upheld French referee Clément Turpin's decision to show Muller a red card following a dangerous challenge on Ajax defender Nicolas Tagliafico. Replays of the incident show the 29-year-old's foot connecting with Tagliafico's head, seemingly accidentally scraping the Argentine's scalp, whilst trying to control a high ball. There would be no lasting damage, thankfully, with Tagliafico going on to complete the match, scoring a last-gasp equaliser in the process. Article continues below And, although it did appear that Muller only had eyes for the ball, Bayern's call for the decision to be overturned has been rejected, meaning they will have to face a high-flying Liverpool side without the talismanic 2014 World Cup winner. Muller, of course, apologised for the incident, stating on Twitter: "I would like to apologise to Nico Tagliafico for yesterday's incident. There was no intention in the foul - get well." Bayern boss Niko Kovac echoed his player's sentiments somewhat, though did feel that the officials were right to dismiss Muller - even if he feels they got other decisions wrong during a thrilling 3-3 draw. "The red card for [Maximilian] Wober was totally justified because he took on that challenge in a negligent way," the Croat said. "The red card for Thomas was fair as well. He didn't see the player but you have to be aware of your opponent coming at the ball at your back. Both penalty decisions correct. Both red cards correct. "The referee did well, except in the case of the goal that made it 3-3. I'm not a referee but I think it was offside." Muller, a youth product of the Bavarian giants, has scored 108 goals in 305 league appearances for the club and has 38 goals in 100 caps for national side Germany. Liverpool host the first leg of the highly-anticipated clash at Anfield on February 19.