Match ends, Liverpool 1, Flamengo 0.
Roberto Firmino struck in extra time to hand Liverpool a first Fifa Club World Cup triumph as Jurgen Klopp's side eventually ended the resistance of Brazilian champions Flamengo in Qatar.
Firmino, who scored a dramatic injury-time winner against Monterrey to send Liverpool into the final, produced a composed finish in the 99th minute as the Reds became the second English side to win the tournament, after Manchester United in 2008.
In a dramatic conclusion to normal time, Liverpool had seen an injury-time penalty decision overturned after Sadio Mane went down under a challenge from Rafinha, with referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim reversing his initial verdict after checking the pitchside monitor following a consultation with the video assistant referee.
Brazil forward Firmino squandered the opportunity to put Liverpool ahead inside the opening minute at Khalifa International Stadium, blazing over the bar before Naby Keita and Trent Alexander-Arnold also spurned early chances as the Premier League leaders made a blistering start.
Firmino agonisingly hit the post and Mohamed Salah shot narrowly wide shortly after half-time, but Flamengo responded well to early pressure in both halves and posed Liverpool problems - striker Gabriel Barbosa's attempted bicycle-kick typifying the Brazilian side's steadily growing confidence.
Liverpool suffered an injury blow as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain appeared to fall awkwardly on his ankle, and with the prospect of extra time approaching Jordan Henderson's powerful, curled strike from the edge of the box was superbly tipped over by Flamengo goalkeeper Diego Alves.
Firmino's breakthrough in the first half of extra time delivered huge relief for Klopp's side, and while Salah was denied by Alves soon after, the Premier League side were able to see out the second period unharmed.
Mexican side Monterrey earlier defeated Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to claim third place.
- Oxlade-Chamberlain an injury worry for Reds
- Liverpool keep passing tests - Klopp
- Reaction to the Club World Cup final
Klopp's squad gamble pays off
Manager Klopp said he wanted to change perceptions of the Club World Cup in Europe as his Liverpool side prepared to face a Flamengo squad who had been given "a clear order to win it and come back home as heroes".
Having elected to focus on the Club World Cup, Liverpool fielded their youngest ever side as they exited the Carabao Cup on Tuesday in a 5-0 defeat by Aston Villa. Just 24 hours later, the Reds were busy securing their first appearance in a Club World Cup final since losing to Brazilian side Sao Paulo in 2005, eventually overcoming Monterrey 2-1 courtesy of Firmino's dramatic injury-time winner on Wednesday.
Despite taking his senior players, Klopp was forced to name a makeshift side against Monterrey due to injuries and illness, but he welcomed back defensive rock Virgil van Dijk, along with Alexander-Arnold, Firmino and Mane against Flamengo.
And how he needed his strongest side to navigate this difficult contest, in which it increasingly appeared it may not turn out to be Liverpool's day. After failing to capitalise on an excellent start, Liverpool came under pressure as tricky winger Bruno Henrique threatened down the right and Barbosa troubled the defence.
But Klopp's side dug deep, despite the frustration of Henderson's dismissed penalty appeal and Mane's overturned spot-kick at the death, and earned their reward as Firmino once again had the crucial say.
That 99th-minute winner vindicated Klopp's decision to pursue a first Club World Cup triumph over progress in the Carabao Cup, while delivering an entertaining final sure to have grabbed attention at home.
Man of the match - Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)
European sides dominating - the stats
- This was only the fourth Fifa Club World Cup final to go to extra time, after 2000, 2009 and 2016.
- European sides have won 12 of the last 13 Club World Cup tournaments, including the last seven.
- This was only the second time an English side has beaten Brazilian opposition in a competitive fixture, after Manchester United's 1-0 win over Palmeiras in the 1999 Inter-Continental Cup final.
- Only two of the last 10 Club World Cup finals have seen both teams score, with the winning finalist keeping a clean sheet on eight occasions in the past 10 years.
- Flamengo are the fourth Brazilian club to finish as Club World Cup runners-up. No other nation has had more second-place finishes.
- Sadio Mane has been directly involved in more goals in all competitions in 2019 than any other Liverpool player, scoring 30 goals and making eight assists. Only Raheem Sterling (44) and Sergio Aguero (39) boast a better record among Premier League players this calendar year.
What's next?
Liverpool return to Premier League action against second-placed Leicester City on Thursday (20:00 GMT).
Leicester lost 3-1 to reigning champions Manchester City on Saturday, to leave Liverpool 10 points clear with a game in hand on their closest challengers as they chase a first league title in 30 years.
Line-ups
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 12Gomez
- 4van Dijk
- 26Robertson
- 8KeitaSubstituted forMilnerat 100'minutesBooked at 105mins
- 14Henderson
- 15Oxlade-ChamberlainSubstituted forLallanaat 75'minutes
- 11SalahBooked at 81minsSubstituted forShaqiriat 120+1'minutes
- 9FirminoBooked at 100minsSubstituted forOrigiat 105'minutes
- 10ManéBooked at 45mins
Substitutes
- 5Wijnaldum
- 7Milner
- 13Adrián
- 20Lallana
- 22Lonergan
- 23Shaqiri
- 27Origi
- 48Jones
- 51Hoever
- 67Elliott
- 72van den Berg
- 76N Williams
Flamengo
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Alves Carreira
- 13Ferreira de Souza
- 3Coquette Russo
- 4Marí
- 16Filipe Luís
- 8Santos da SilvaSubstituted forCorrea dos Santosat 102'minutes
- 5Arao da SilvaSubstituted forBerríoat 120'minutes
- 14de ArrascaetaSubstituted forCoelho Santosat 77'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 7Éverton RibeiroSubstituted forRibas da Cunhaat 82'minutesBooked at 112mins
- 27Pinto
- 9Barbosa Almeida
Substitutes
- 2de Almeida
- 6Rodrigues Martins
- 10Ribas da Cunha
- 11Coelho Santos
- 19Carvalho
- 22Batista de Souza
- 25Piris da Motta
- 26Soares Thuler
- 28Berrío
- 29Correa dos Santos
- 37Dutra
- 44Dini Gaioto
- Referee:
- Abdulrahman Al Jassim
- Attendance:
- 45,416
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away3
- Corners
- Home5
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home22
- Away16
Live Text
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Post update
Second Half Extra Time ends, Liverpool 1, Flamengo 0.
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Xherdan Shaqiri replaces Mohamed Salah.
Substitution
Substitution, Flamengo. Orlando Berrío replaces Willian Arão.
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Attempt missed. Lincoln (Flamengo) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Vitinho.
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Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Filipe Luís.
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Foul by Filipe Luís (Flamengo).
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Divock Origi (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Foul by Rafinha (Flamengo).
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Adam Lallana (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Booking
Diego (Flamengo) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Offside, Liverpool. Andrew Robertson tries a through ball, but Sadio Mané is caught offside.
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Rafinha (Flamengo) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Divock Origi (Liverpool).
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Attempt missed. Gabriel Barbosa (Flamengo) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
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Attempt blocked. Diego (Flamengo) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Filipe Luís.
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Foul by Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool).
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Bruno Henrique (Flamengo) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Filipe Luís (Flamengo).
Comments
Join the conversation
Champions of England, champions of Europe, champions of the whole world.
Unbearable isn't it...
No one has the audacity to say that officiating was OK. Flamengo were a tad on the sneaky side, & if that's the standard of refereeing in Qatar, no UK team has a chance. Disgraceful!
We need Gini back, & Mini can't come in too soon, but played well & earned it. LFC: conquerors of the world!
RIP Martin Peters
Who are European Champions?
Who are top of the Premier League?
YNWA!
Still on our perch 😁🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
No-one else compares
Making history wherever they go!!!!
World champions, woo! 🎉
Huge congratulations from all fair minded English football fans.
X
Martin Peters RIP.
Mission accomplished. RIP Bill.
Merry Christmas. YNWA
Get in there you red men..
Best team in Europe.. Fact, official
Best team in the world.. Fact, official
LFC. the pride of English football..
Tiz why we are loved and adored worldwide..
🏆🏆🏆
That Liverpool are the best team in the world.....
Anyway, at least it is all confirmed now.
RIP Martin Peters