Brazil set for 'biggest party in 25 years' as Flamengo hope to topple Liverpool

Liverpool stand on the cusp of writing history, with only Brazilian side Flamengo standing in the way of Jurgen Klopp's side becoming World Champions.

Saturday night's Club World Cup Final in Qatar sees a re-run of the 1981 Intercontinental Cup between the two sides in which the Brazilian side ran out 3-0 winners.

Ever since the side hailing from Rio de Janeiro have basked in that glory, with the Reds now hoping to right that wrong in Doha.

Ahead of the game, the Blood Red podcast's Behind Enemy Lines show spoke with Brazilian football expert Tim Vickery to gauge the sense of anticipation and excitement in Rio.

“As far as Rio is concerned this is bigger than a World Cup,” he said.

“I've never seen anything like it in 25 years here the way people are really, really excited for this game.

“There's a lot of speculation here about what might happen if Virgil van Dijk is not fit to face Flamengo.”

Domestically, this season has been one to remember for all-time for the Brazilian outfit winning two domestic titles as well as the Copa Libertadores against River Plate to make it to the FIFA Club World Cup.

The opportunity to win on Saturday, Vickery says, would eclipse anything they have previously achieved.

“It would be the greatest moment in their history, I think.

“1981, they all sing about 1981 and Liverpool, it's very important to them.

“Fast forward 38 years and even though Flamengo put a much higher priority on this competition than Liverpool do, I don't think the game is a 'friendly' as far as Liverpool are concerned.

“If they do win in the final, they've beaten a much more motivated, a much more prepared opposition than that great Flamengo side beat in 1981.”

Adding: “They're a massive club, a really, really huge club. They count their supporters in the tens of millions and it's a national club, even though it's from Rio, they have a support-base all over the country.

“They've assembled a good squad, a deep squad and they've really cleaned up domestically. They've won everything that they can, it's been an absolutely magical year for them and this really is the cherry on top if they can beat Liverpool.”

The impact on their success by coach Jorge Jesus, the former Benfica manager has been stark too, the man Vickery attributes their success too.

“Since the Portguese coach Jorge Jesus took over, he took over in the middle of the year, they had a couple of defeats early on but after that from the start of August they didn't lose.

“There's only been one defeat, which was in the last league game of the season, where they'd already won the league by nearly 20 points. That's the only time they've been beaten."

Speaking on the style of their play, Vickery says the Reds should expect something for familiar than perhaps they'd expect up against South American opposition.

“There's a very strong European influence on this side. It's a European method of play, with a higher defensive line.

“You've got a nucleus of players with a long European experience and then you've got some players, some younger players who have been to Europe but it didn't really come off.

“It doesn't mean they're bad players at all. The two upfront Gabriel Barbosa and for me the real dangerman Bruno Henrique, you've got the central midfielder Gerson - you've even got the centre-back Pablo Mari, the Spaniard, who's done so well since he came over.

“You've got to factor in this high line that Flamengo play.”

Continuing: “There is a risk you have with playing a high line, look at the way Liverpool defended with that improvised defence against Monterrey. The high line was all over the place at times.

“That's the worry for Flamengo as well and the higher defensive line they play.

“Even in this long winning run that Flamengo have had they've not come up against anything like the speed, intensity and quality that Liverpool can put up against them with the likes of Salah, Mane and Firmino.

“That, for me, is the key question can Flamengo defend against Liverpool. Will they keep their high line, or will they drop deeper. If they drop deeper they lose some of their essence as an attacking force.”

Finishing: “This is a new force, this is a new way of playing.

“There is a real hope that finally South America has a side that can rival the best Europe has to offer.”