Bayern Munich enter Saturday's Bundesliga Klassiker against Borussia Dortmund with plenty of "healthy poison" from a week's training as they aim to all but to decide the title race.

Bayern top the table eight points ahead of Dortmund and would go 11 points clear with victory. Dortmund, for their part, can move within five points if they win.

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said on Friday that they are ready for the big game in Dortmund where they have not lost in the league since 2018.

"We've had healthy poison in training, which I love. We've had a very good week, we've done everything right up to kick-off - now we want to take that into the match," Kompany said.

Each side has only lost once this season in the Bundesliga, Dortmund the reverse fixture in Munich in autumn and Bayern at home against Augsburg last month.

Bayern have the best attack with 85 goals as Harry Kane seeks a league record equalling fourth straight brace. Dortmund have the second best defence with 22 goals conceded, one more than Bayern.

Kompany said he is relishing the big occasion, saying: "The Klassiker is a title in itself. The truth is, these games are so important that they deserve their own little title.

"In terms of the feeling, these are the matches you play football for. It's not Dortmund against anyone, it's Dortmund against Bayern Munich. In my head, it's only about winning. The chance to win there is the most awesome thing for me!"

Kompany said that goalkeeper Manuel Neuer could return to training from a calf muscle injury and that they will discuss the next steps but the 39-year-old is unlikely to feature in what could be his last Klassiker, with his future beyond the season still open.

"He might train with us today, then we'll discuss it right up until the game. It's all positive – but maybe not for tomorrow," Kompany said.

"We're discussing it with Manu, though. If not, we'll go with Jonas Urbig, who's always filled in for him very well."

Kompany was cautious whether Dortmund's Champions League exit in mid-week at Italy's Atalanta would impact their performance.

"It could have any kind of effect on BVB, you don't know. It was a setback but it was also a game in which Dortmund could've progressed. So, it does have an impact mentally, which could go in either direction," he said.

Manuel Neuer could return to Bayern Munich team training later on Friday but coach Vincent Kompany cautioned expectations that he could feature in Saturday's Bundesliga table topper at Borussia Dortmund.

Kompany said that Neuer has recovered earlier than expected from a calf muscle injury and that they will discuss the next steps.

"He might train with us today, then we'll discuss it right up until the game. It's all positive – but maybe not for tomorrow," Kompany said.

"We're discussing it with Manu, though. If not, we'll go with Jonas Urbig, who's always filled in for him very well."

However, Saturday's game could also be the final Klassiker for 39-year-old Neuer if he doesn't renew his contract beyond summer.

Bayern enter the big match eight points ahead of Dortmund and have not lost in the league there since 2018. Victory could all but decide the title race while Dortmund have the chance to keep it open.

Each side has only lost once this season in the Bundesliga, Dortmund the reverse fixture in Munich in autumn and Bayern at home against Augsburg last month.

"The Klassiker is a title in itself. The truth is, these games are so important that they deserve their own little title," Kompany said.

"In terms of the feeling, these are the matches you play football for. It's not Dortmund against anyone, it's Dortmund against Bayern Munich. In my head, it's only about winning. The chance to win there is the most awesome thing for me!

Kompany was cautious whether Dortmund's Champions League exit in mid-week at Italy's Atalanta would impact their performance.

"It could have any kind of effect on BVB, you don't know. It was a setback but it was also a game in which Dortmund could've progressed. So, it does have an impact mentally, which could go in either direction," he said.

Liverpool may have been handed a boost in their rumoured £50m transfer pursuit of Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck.

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The Germany international has been on Liverpool’s radar for some time, and it seems unlikely now that Bayern Munich will be going after him.

According to Christian Falk, writing in his latest column for CF Bayern Insider, Bayern seem to have decided on a new deal for Dayot Upamecano over a potential transfer move for Schlotterbeck.

TEAMtalk have also linked Schlotterbeck with Liverpool, reporting that he could cost around £50m, and a lack of competition from Bayern should help the Reds.

Christian Falk on Nico Schlotterbeck transfer

Discussing the Schlotterbeck links with Bayern, Falk said: “They made the decision that they would look at signing a new centre-back had Dayot Upamecano not agreed on signing a new contract. But the Frenchman did put pen to paper! So, Bayern have decided on Upamecano – though not against Schlotterbeck, it should be emphasised. He would have been a sound alternative had FC Bayern needed a defender.

“So, they don’t see a situation where this topic would be brought to the table again. Even if Kim Min-jae were to leave the club, they don’t need a player like the Borussia Dortmund defender, because then you have three number one centre-backs between Jonathan Tah, Upamecano and Schlotterbeck! They would need a player behind the first-choice partnership, and this simply isn’t Nico Schlotterbeck.”

Liverpool fans will have to hope this gives their club a decent chance of landing Schlotterbeck, who looks like he could be ideal to give them a boost at the back.

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It’s been a disappointing season for LFC, who have not been solid enough with their defensive displays, conceding 35 Premier League goals so far, which is a whole ten more than Manchester City and 14 more than league leaders Arsenal.

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Virgil van Dijk is not getting any younger, while Ibrahima Konate is nearing the end of his contract, so Schlotterbeck could have an important role to play in Arne Slot’s squad.

We’ll have to see if Liverpool definitely end up going for him, but it looks like there could be an opportunity there now that Bayern have secured Upamecano’s future.

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