BLESSED RELIEF
Sub Firmino strikes late to calm Klopp and put Reds in final
JURGEN KLOPP was a relieved man after Roberto Firmino’s late strike banished the one thing he feared above all: extra time.
After scoring, Firmino lifted his shirt to reveal his ‘Blessed’ tattoo and his timely winner was just what the Liverpool manager yearned for.
The Brazil forward, who came on as
a substitute in the Club World Cup semi-final against Monterrey in the 85th minute, pounced in the dying moments to secure a 2-1 win and set up a clash with Flamengo on Saturday. His team had made heavy weather of dealing with Monterrey and for long periods of the second half it appeared as though they would have needed another 30 minutes to break the stalemate but Firmino arrived at the right moment. Klopp named a much-changed team — part influenced by rotation, part out of necessity — and the last thing he wanted them to endure was another huge physical effort. He felt Firmino’s goal epitomised Liverpool’s desire to keep pushing right until the end. ‘I was actually afraid of extra time so I was more than happy that Bobby scored that goal,’ said Klopp. ‘Staying on track is part of our game so I don’t think we can plan it but we should not think it is impossible. It was a super goal. ‘I didn’t see it go in because there were so many players in front of me but I saw the reaction of the goalkeeper, who didn’t look too happy, so I could start celebrating. We had problems before the game and we knew we would have problems in the game as well.’ Virgil van Dijk missed the game through illness and Klopp was non-committal about whether the defender would be fit to face Flamengo as he has not trained at all since Liverpool arrived in Qatar on Sunday. It meant Liverpool fielded an auxiliary defence of Joe Gomez and Jordan Henderson. Gomez was booked in the second half after hauling down Monterrey striker Rogelio Funes Mori and their head coach Antonio Mohamed felt Chilean referee Roberto Tobar should have shown a red card. Mohamed and Klopp were both cautioned after a frank exchange of views. ‘Maybe the Liverpool shirt has more weight and therefore the Liverpool player was not sent off,’ said Mohamed. Liverpool have a number of injury concerns ahead of the clash with Flamengo and have summoned Harvey Elliott, the 16-year-old forward, to join them. There is no doubt Klopp would have been thrilled if Takumi Minamino, who is in the process of completing his £7.25million move from Red Bull Salzburg, was available. The Japan international had a medical on Merseyside yesterday and will become a Liverpool player on January 1.