Jurgen Klopp was forced to call on Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino as Liverpool laboured against Monterrey, with the latter winning the game.
Match Report
Roberto Firmino came off the bench and scored a 91st-minute goal to earn Liverpool a 2-1 win over Monterrey and a spot in the Club World Cup final.
Jurgen Klopp opted to name Firmino and Sadio Mane among the substitutes, while Jordan Henderson started at centre-back with Virgil van Dijk - one of the Reds' two first-team centre-backs in the squad - absent due to illness.
Liverpool looked like they would be able to cope without two of their electric front three when Naby Keita put them ahead in the 11th minute, but Rogelio Funes Mori – the twin brother of former Everton defender Ramiro – hit back three minutes later.
Klopp was forced to send on Mane and Firmino in a bid to avoid extra time and the Brazilian turned home fellow substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold's low cross six minutes after coming on to book a meeting with Flamengo on Saturday.
Match Events
11' GOAL! Monterrey 0-1 Liverpool (Keita)
The defender loses track of Keita as he runs around the back of him to get on the end of Salah's pass and fires his shot past Barovero from the middle of the box.
14' GOAL! Monterrey 1-1 Liverpool (Mori)
Liverpool are caught out from a set-piece as they don't clear their lines. It falls to Gallardo first and it's well-saved by Alisson, but the ball rebounds to Funes Mori and he takes a touch before finding the bottom corner.
37' Excellent save from Alisson!
50' SAVE! Fine stop from Alisson
62' OFFSIDE! Origi scores but goal is disallowed
74' WHAT A CHANCE missed by Origi!
91' GOAL! Monterrey 1-2 Liverpool (Firmino)
It's a wonderful cross from Alexander-Arnold and Firmino gets ahead of Sanchez in the six-yard box to get on the end of it. He sidefoots his effort on target and Barovero can't get his hand to it in time to stop it finding the back of the net.
Line-ups
Monterrey XI: L. Vangioni, M. Barovero, N. Sánchez, D. Pabón, C. Ortiz, S. Medina, R. Funes Mori, R. Pizarro, J. Gallardo, C. Montes, C. Rodríguez
Subs: J. Basanta, J. Urretaviscaya, M. Layún, A. González, M. Meza, E. Gutiérrez, E. Reséndez, Á. Zaldívar, L. Cárdenas, J. Gónzalez, J. Vásquez, W. Mejía
Liverpool XI: Milner, Lallana, Henderson, Shaqiri, Alisson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Origi, Robertson, Joe Gomez, Naby Keita
Subs: Lonergan, Adrian, Firmino, Mane, Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, N. Williams
JamesWalker
2431
Liverpool Schedule - Apply Klopp Tactics - Give fans heart attack - Later give the cure -Win a the Match in that order 😏🔥
Lil_malone
2107
I think it should be written in the history books whenever Liverpool win without a heart attack😂😂😂🔥😁😁
JohnWick7
566
Everything was going smoothly for both parties until corner taken quickly made a mind blowing late assist for firmino that left the Monterrey crying😎
FahimJakaria
532
Well we blv in Klopp,but i hv to say Klopp was totally wrong Tonight! our main man VVD wasn’t able to play so he played Henderson istead of him,But no Mane or Firmino or even Arnold didnt start the game,u see how we struggled Against them,Salah was well on a hard mark,but still he was better,if there was Mane or Firmino from the start things would have been different. also if it wasn’t bcz of Alison they could have scored more than 2 goal,BTW we've won the game and that's the matter now💓
Erickson1009
496
Easy win for Liverpool. They decided to score at the last minute just to make it looks more competitive. RIP in advance for Flamengo. Liverpool already won the trophy congratulations for become the world champions.
sehajbains_02
482
Tell me a better love story than Juve and Liverpool's 1 goal margin Victory ✌️
Fazenrs
450
We expected an easy game but Klopp made it tough for us.. He should have played the best eleven from the start and then substitute them when we start winning with three goals margin.. They wouldn't hv been any heart attack or high blood pressure..
cobimpr
288
Me think Klopp wanted to reserve Mane, TAA and Firmino for final, but have to field them in now if not no final!!! YNWA
alexddahn
287
Heavy rotation, injuries and shifting of positions make things complicated as mighty Firmino leaves it late thank you the no look hero
Bigmullar
283
Klopp turn a suppose easy to turf one. thank God for Kloppage time goal from Bobby. Si Señior.
Edithsim
261
GIF link Here: http://bit.ly/2ECkJVb
DaMhztourage
241
Liverpool survived the scare from Monterrey to brush them aside with yet another late goal from Mr. no-look Bobby Firmino
sehajbains_02
103
Heart patients please stop being Liverpool fans
lumaceiotz
88
If Liverpool were the captain of the titanic they would have saved it at the last minute👊