Daily Schmankerl: The aftermath of Bayern Munich vs. Arminia Bielefeld; Real Madrid’s alleged package offer for Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland; Liverpool, Manchester City join hunt for Florian Neuhaus; #TimoTime; and MORE!

Die Folgen: Bayern’s 3-3 draw with Bielefeld (Bavarian Football Works)

Bayern Munich was its own worst enemy against Arminia Bielefeld as it left points on the pitch with a 3-3 draw. While it certainly could have been worse, the Bavarians still probably are a little bitter at themselves for the lapses they endured in the match:

• I was very skeptical when I saw the starting line-up and unfortunately this was one of those times where Hansi Flick did not push all of the right buttons — but it probably had more to do with what buttons were available than anything else.
• Alphonso Davies was very good. On a day where his fellow defenders were not good, Davies stood out (even if he was part of the reason Arminia Bielefeld scored its third goal).
• Also, Davies’ goal was straight fire.
• Bouna Sarr was awful and Niklas Süle was not much better. Michel Vlap’s goal in the 9th minute was extremely well-done, but Sarr and Süle left him a huge, gaping hole for Vlap.
• I don’t want to overreact to one game, but Sarr might be the worst signing in recent memory.
• Süle and David Alaba just cannot have the type of miscommunication they had on Amos Pieper’s goal, which put Arminia Bielefeld up 2-0.
• Once again, Kingsley Coman brought some electricity to the contest and put forth a solid effort even in a defeat.
• Robert Lewandowski’s goal was sensational.
• Not to be out-done, Arminia Bielefeld’s third goal by Christian Gebauer was equally strong. Andreas Voglsammer made a tremendous run and perfect cross to Gebauer, who split Lucas Hernandez and Davies on a play that both players would probably like to have back.
• Leroy Sane was not great on the night, but his assist to Corentin Tolisso was superb.
• Seeing how the ball left a trail in the snow reminded me of the old “FoxTrax” puck from Fox’s time broadcasting the NHL.
• In the end, Bayern Munich needs rest and Flick knows it. His team is heavily injured and fatigued and there is nothing he can do about it, but try to mitigate all of that the best he can over the next few weeks. It won’t be easy and ultimately, it might not be successful. Even as hammered as Bayern Munich has been in recent years with injuries, this season just feel like a whole different level.

If you missed our Match Awards, Observations, or Postgame Podcast, give them a look or a listen:

Crowded house for M’Gladbach star transfer pursuit (Daily Mail)

Well...you can add Liverpool, Manchester City, and Juventus to the list of teams that are hot in pursuit of Borussia Mönchengladbach star midfielder Florian Neuhaus:

Liverpool FC are ready to rival Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Dortmund for the signing of Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Florian Neuhaus. According to reports, the reigning Premier League champions, Liverpool, are leading the transfer race to sign the 23-year-old at the end of the 2020-21 season.

Liverpool will, however, have to activate Neuhaus’ £35million release clause as he is under contract at Monchengladbach until 2024. Jurgen Klopp will have to fight off interest from the likes of Borussia Dortmund - who have shown their interest in the Germany international, according to Kicker. Serie A champions Juventus and Champions League holders Bayern Munich are also said to be monitoring the situation with Neuhaus. While Manchester City are reportedly keeping tabs on the 23-year-old ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.

According to Kicker, Neuhaus feels ‘at home in Monchengladbach’ and has a strong relationship with the sporting director Max Eberl, but could depart the Bundesliga side in the summer. Liverpool have highlighted Neuhaus as a potential replacement for Georginio Wijnaldum - should he leave Anfield for Barcelona on a free transfer this year.

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are both vying for Neuhaus as well, so if the youngster does want to leave Die Fohlen, he will have plenty of options.

Report: What Los Blancos would offer for Haaland (@bvbnewsblog)

Citing a report from @ABCDeportes, Real Madrid is allegedly ready to make an offer to Borussia Dortmund for Erling Haaland, which would include a €90 million fee, €20 million in potential bonuses, and either Luka Jovic or Mariano Diaz:

That seems...unlikely?

More Thiago-bashing at LFC (The Independent)

If there was ever a player being scapegoated for a team’s failures, it is Thiago Alcantara with Liverpool.

As things under Jurgen Klopp appear to be unravelling, the media’s collective fingers are pointing directly at Thiago as the primary reason that the Reds have faltered a bit this season:

Foul. Another one. Signed to be Liverpool’s playmaker, Thiago has instead emerged as the foulmaker. It is an indication of how Klopp’s best-laid plans have gone awry. Bought to unlock defences, he has instead put his own under greater pressure by conceding free kicks.

Only Sadio Mane has been penalised more often, and the Senegalese has played more than twice as many minutes. In the division as a whole, no footballer who has been on the pitch for as few minutes has conceded more free kicks. All of which feels a little out of character – Thiago never fouled at such a rate for Barcelona or Bayern Munich – for a passer hired more for his constructive than destructive abilities.

I’m not saying Thiago has been great and certainly he is not at his best as of yet, but man, the English media is having a field day in teeing off on ex-Bundesliga players.

#TimoTime (@timowerner)

Speaking of much-maligned ex-Bundesliga players, Timo Werner scored for Chelsea yesterday in its 2-0 victory over Newcastle United. As baseball Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt once said, “Philadelphia is the only city, where you can experience the thrill of victory and the agony of reading about it the next day.”

As for players like Thiago and Werner...the English media could certainly wrangle that same type of feeling from numerous footballers.