20th December – Flamengo beckons for trophy hunting Reds

After squeaking past Monterrey on Wednesday, Copa Libertadores winners Flamengo are the only entity in the way of Liverpool lifting their first Club World Cup trophy.

Football isn’t romantic anymore, is it?

Well after Roberto Firmino’s late winner on Wednesday, Liverpool remain in Doha for their third Club World Cup Final. Their previous one, timely for the competitions’ return, saw Brazilian side Sao Paulo take a shock win back in 2005 after the Reds saw three goals chalked off questionably.

And their other time facing a South American side in this competition, romantically, came against Flamengo.

Lead by superstar Zico and balling on a dustbowl, Liverpool’s champions of Europe fell 3-0 to goals from Nunes and Adilio in a total dismantling of Bob Paisley’s men.

This Flamengo side is packed full of South American Samba magic much akin to their 1981 predecessors. Gabriel Barbosa, or Gabigol, had a failed stint in Europe with Inter Milan recently, but the former Footy Manager wonderkid has found his feet once again with Mengão.

34 goals in 41 games in 2019. Clinical.

Filipe Luis, Rafinha, Bruno Henrique and Diego Alves all boast European experience too, with that counting massively in their dominance of Brazil in recent years.

Team News

Flamengo will have a clean bill of health when they take on the Reds, with Barbosa the only slight doubt after picking up a knock against Al-Hilal.

The Reds in contrast are suffering hugely, with Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip, Fabinho, Nathaniel Clyne and Rhian Brewster all out for a little while before and after the new year.

Virgil van Dijk is set to return after illness ruled him out of the Monterrey clash, with Gini Wijnaldum another touch-and-go to be ready for Saturday’s fixture.

From the Dugout

Jurgen Klopp:

“The situation is different for Flamengo and us.

“Flamengo got sent here from their continent with a clear order to win it and to come back as heroes. We got told, ‘Stay at home and play the Carabao (League) Cup’. That’s a massive difference.

“We cannot change that. But we are here and we – my team – want to win the competition, even when we know it is very difficult because the other team is really, really good, but that’s how it is with the big competitions.”

Jorge Jesus:

“We cannot compare between two good teams easily. Yes, Liverpool has a distinct history in recent years: they have won many titles and they are one of the best clubs in the world.

“Jurgen Klopp has been with the team for many years and accomplished a lot with them, not only in the English League but Champions League. Liverpool have left their mark on world football.

“We know Flamengo are enjoying an excellent season, so there are similarities. We can say Liverpool and Flamengo may be at the best levels in their history.

“But we know the top clubs in Europe have the budgets to recruit the top players in Latin America and Europe.

“We don’t have the financial capabilities compared to European clubs so I am happy with the level we have reached despite the financial differences.”