The Bundesliga has no reason "to hide behind the Premier League" says Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac after seeing the German champions hold English Premier League frontrunners Liverpool in check.

Bayern gave themselves the edge in their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie with Jürgen Klopp's side as they contained the likes of Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane with a disciplined display in Tuesday's goalless draw at Anfield.

The well-drilled visitors had opportunities to score a potentially crucial away goal too as they secured a positive result that puts them in a favourable position ahead of the second leg at the Allianz Arena on 13 March.

Watch: Niko Kovac looks back on his first six months at Bayern

After Borussia Dortmund's 3-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in their first-leg encounter last week and ahead of Schalke's meeting with Manchester City, Kovac insisted the German top flight should have no fears when it comes to facing up to its English counterpart.

"We produced a top performance against a top opponent, I think I have to highlight that once again. They were in the final last season and this season are leading the Premier League. It's a great performance. The Bundesliga doesn't need to hide behind the Premier League, and especially Bayern Munich," said Kovac, whose team are second to Dortmund in the domestic table.

"We have a lot of quality, we have proven that in recent years, but nothing is done yet. I'm the last one to go and start celebrating now. We'll take the result, but we have to concentrate, focus, and perform at 100 per cent in the next game."

Kimmich banned

Kovac is likely to adjust his approach to the second leg, and will definitely have to make a change to his starting line-up with Joshua Kimmich's yellow card at Anfield incurring a suspension.

Joshua Kimmich will miss the second leg at the Allianz Arena through suspension. - AFP/Getty Images

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The Bayern boss acknowledged he had taken a leaf from the book of one of his successors, Pep Guardiola, in trying to contain Liverpool's formidable front line on Merseyside.

"Manchester City have a similar playing style to us. You look at what Pep has done with Man City. I think that we did something similar and we did it well. We didn't give anything away and our success proves the team right," explained Kovac, who took charge last summer.

"Half full or half empty, it's always the same question. There aren't a lot of teams that come here and don't lose, don't concede a goal. When you look at how Liverpool go forward, they're a very good team. What my team did — not just the defence, but the whole side — giving them hardly anything, shows that we also played to a very high level, technically, tactically, mentally.

"Yes, we didn't score a goal, but we didn't concede either. Now we play at home, and I think we have already seen that it's an advantage to play at home. We'll play in front of 65,000 fans, and we want to go through to the next round, just like Liverpool."

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