Jurgen Klopp sends on his cavalry for Roberto Firmino to seal victory and put Liverpool in Club World Cup final
There was a moment in the Khalifa Stadium last night when Jurgen Klopp probably wished he had gone to Villa Park instead.
Liverpool were struggling, his line-up was unrecognisable from European champions, and the Monterrey coach, Antonio Mohamed – calling for Joe Gomez to be sent off – decided to mimic a gangster from Narcos, gesticulating to the Liverpool manager to compare the size of cojones.
Klopp, increasingly frustrated by the combination of time-wasting, play-acting and all-around disruption from a Mexican side more competitive than imagined, was happy to accept the challenge. The referee saw fit to book both managers to ensure no peace envoy would be required in the Middle East.
So Klopp used the most meaningful retaliation available. He sent on his cavalry: Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Trent Alexander-Arnold; and the latter duo combined for the Brazilian’s added-time winner. Liverpool are in the Fifa World Club Cup final again.
They will face South Americans Flamengo in the final, although they had their other Brazilian, Alisson, to thank for avoiding the indignity of going out of two competitions within 24 hours – the goalkeeper busier than anticipated but underlining his world class status.
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