Roberto Firmino's extra time strike sinks Flamengo and seals Liverpool's first Club World Cup
For the first time in their history, Liverpool are Club World Cup champions
Jordan Henderson is becoming so accustomed to trophy lifts he will need a full-time masseur for those overworked arms. His third in six months ended 37 years of hurt for Liverpool, the club finally claiming the title of world champions.
Now the silverware that eluded Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Rafa Benitez sits comfortably in Jurgen Klopp’s arms. They always said the first would yield more when Klopp’s side became European Champions in June. No-one expects this to be the last. They are becoming accustomed to leaving cup final arenas showered in ticker tape.
As so often in the club’s history, they had to fight like it was their last game to start the party, Flamengo playing for a nation and continent and pushing Liverpool to their limits. It was one of their compatriots, Roberto Firmino, who left the Brazilians crestfallen, his winner coming in the first half of extra-time in Qatar’s Khalifa International Stadium.
After a rapid counter-attack led by Sadio Mane, the Liverpool striker dropped his shoulder to send keeper Diego Alves back to Rio, finding the net and lifting his jersey to signify the title of the world’s best is now Liverpool’s.
As much as avenging Liverpool’s 1981 defeat to the Zico-inspired Flamengo, Firmino’s contribution ensured the final avoided the indignity of being contaminated by another VAR controversy. Liverpool thought they were going to win it in normal time - the 91st minute to be precise - when Rafinha was adjudged to have tripped Mane. Referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim decided it was a professional foul and a penalty.
Mohamed Salah carried the burden of the Arab nation of his shoulders as he stepped forward. Then the comedy TV crew and earpiece double act intervened. Al Jassim not only cancelled the penalty, he far more contentiously claimed there was no foul at all and play continued.
“Foul outside the box,” said the giant screen. Not so insisted the referee. A shambles, certain to dominate the conversation had Liverpool not won Thankfully for Klopp, that and other more curious refereeing did not matter as his side ended strongly, Flamengo visibly wilting once Firmino had struck.
It ensured we can instead focus on the heroic performances such as that of Liverpool’s captain, who without his usual chief lieutenants Fabinho and Gini Wijnaldum, stepped up to give the finest example of on-field leadership in that red jersey since Steven Gerrard.
In the second half especially Henderson dictated the tempo of the game, playing with a maturity that put one in mind of peak time Xabi Alonso. It was essential as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita were playing a more advanced role. Chamberlain’s night ended with an ankle injury, the luckless midfielder now sweating on the results of a scan.
“Mentality again shone through,” said Henderson. “The lads kept going until the end. It's nice to win a trophy, that’s what we want. Keep going and win as many trophies as possible. We’ve found a way for a long time now.”
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The opponents were left in tears. Flamengo’s fanaticism was more akin to a nation’s World Cup bid, the pressure on the Brazilian players to deliver comparable only to those on Liverpool in those recent Champions League finals. Even accounting for the home support for Salah, it felt like an away tie. “Make history,” was the order to Jorge Jesus’ side.
Klopp’s pre-match declaration made his intentions clear and his line-up confirmed it, as strong as it could be. Virgil Van Dijk recovered from illness and the famed front three was reunited. The Flamengo players watched the Liverpool semi-final in their hotel, concluding they are not as impressive as they imagined. They would have been reconsidering that opinion had Klopp’s side taken early chances. Liverpool could have been three-up within six minutes.
Flamengo pressed high, seeking to force a mistake, but playing into Liverpool’s hands. A few one-touch passes were all that were required to bypass the Brazilian forwards and midfield. Alexander-Arnold picked out Firmino in 41 seconds, the striker fluffing his first line with a wayward attempt over the crossbar.
Keita did likewise when Henderson sent Salah clear, the Egyptian picking out the advancing midfielder who lacked the composure of recent weeks. Then Alexander-Arnold was an inch wide from distance. It seemed like Liverpool would dominate. Instead, they almost paid for failing to take advantage of their opponent’s early nerves.
It was the same at the start of the second half. Liverpool’s last world club cup final was a story of missed opportunities against Sao Paulo so when Firmino’s trickery straight immediately after the interval ended with his bouncing shot rebounding off the post and across the goalline to safety, veteran spectators of that fixture feared a replay of 2005.
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