Liverpool strike late to be crowned Club World Cup champions
Liverpool have won the Club World Cup title for the first time after Roberto Firmino scored in extra-time to secure a 1-0 win over Flamengo in Qatar.
Juergen Klopp's European champions prevailed over the South American titleholders on Saturday (Sunday morning AEDT) to crown a magical year for the Reds, who won their sixth continental title in June and sit 10 points clear at the top of the English Premier League.
Liverpool finally scored on 99 minutes after a quick breakaway to break the hearts of the Flamengo fans who dominated the 45,000crowd at Khalifa International
stadium.
Captain Jordan Henderson's defencesplitting pass picked out Sadio Mane who squared for Firmino to net in the Qatari capital for the second time in three days – after he grabbed their late winner in their semi-final win.
Firmino's second goal at the 2022 World Cup test venue ensured Liverpool become the first English side to win an unprecedented treble of Champions League, European Super Cup and Club World Cup.
Liverpool had never previously won the Club World Cup or its forerunner the Intercontinental Cup. They lost to Rio-based Flamengo in the final in 1981.
Henderson was thrilled to land another trophy but the major prizes this season remain the main targets.
"We could have scored a couple more. Overall delighted with the result and performance in difficult conditions," he said.
"We have found a now. Some late goals, we just want to keep going, keep improving.
"Keep working hard and putting in performances like that."
The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in normal time was when Firmino hit the post, two minutes after the break.
There was drama in stoppage time as Liverpool were awarded a penalty after the referee ruled that Mane had been brought down was over-ruled after a VAR review found the challenge was made outside the area.
Liverpool lost midfielder Alex Oxladechamberlain in the second half to a knee injury -- the England international limping off after landing badly and hurting the same right knee which he suffered ligament damage to in 2018 and sidelined him for a year.