That’s all for now. Be sure to read the inestimable Andy Hunter’s full match report from the ground at Doha’s Khalifa International Stadium. Thanks as always for following along with us and be sure to check back Saturday for minute-by-minute coverage of Liverpool v Flamengo.
Full-time: Liverpool 2-1 Monterrey
There’s the whistle and Liverpool are through to the Club World Cup final for the first time since 2005 thanks to a late winner by the super sub Firmino! The European Champions advance to Saturday’s final against Flamengo, who rallied to defeat Saudi side Al-Hilal in yesterday’s first semi-final.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Monterrey (Firmino, 90+1min)
Salah beats two defenders down the right side, fends them off long enough to pick off the runner Alexander-Arnold, who finds Firmino practically on the goal line for the nifty finish. That should be the winner!
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90 min: The fourth official signals for three minutes of added time.
89 min: Jonathan Gonzalez comes on for Pizarro, Monterrey’s third sub.
87 min: Monterrey win their third corner. It’s played toward the near post and flicked toward the far before it’s cleared. Liverpool attempt to counter, but Sanchez tracks back and keeps it on the rails.
85 min: We’re back up and running and Klopp will make his final substitution, inserting Firmino for Origi.
84 min: Play has been stopped for over a minute as a Monterrey player is down at the halfway line for ... a cramp? Liverpool players do not appear happy with the referee.
82 min: A second change for Monterrey as Maximiliano Meza enters in place of Pabon, who’s been a thorn in Liverpool’s side all night.
80 min: Mane’s effort from distance is saved. We’re deadlocked with 10 minutes to go and the potential of extra time and penalties looming.
79 min: Moments after Gallardo is shown yellow for a tardy challenge, Miguel Layun enters for Montes, who was excellent today in the center back role. Looks as if Layun is playing right back while Medina shifts to the middle.
77 min: Monterrey manager Antonio Mohamed has been shown a yellow card after his shall we say overzealous appeal to the referee to get Joe Gomez sent off. And it looks like Klopp has been booked as well. Weird.
75 min: A good chance for Liverpool as Milner plays it in from the right side to Origi, but he’s swarmed by defenders can’t direct it squarely on target. The ball actually deflects off Mane in the end, but either way it’s out for a goal kick. Now Alexander-Arnold enters for Milner, Liverpool’s second change.
72 min: Gallardo gets it on his left foot and cracks a shot on goal from inside the area but Allison punches it away. Monterrey have been on the front foot since half-time and appear to have the edge with 20 minutes to go. Alexander-Arnold has been called over and it appears will come on imminently.
68 min: Another heart-stopping chance for Monterrey is turned away and finally Mane cames on for Shaqiri ahead of a corner for the Mexican side.
66 min: Monterrey carve the Liverpool back line to pieces (again) and very nearly take the lead, but chances by Funes Mori and Pabon are both turned away.
63 min: A wide-open contest with chances on both ends as we drift past the hour mark. Feels like Mane or Firmino could be due any moment. Meanwhile a Mexican wave has broken out in the crowd, lending to the big-game atmosphere of the occasion.
61 min: Liverpool win a corner. Very poor marking by Monterrey as it’s played to Lallana before falling to Origi, who pounds it into the back of the goal. Alas, the flag is up as the Belgian was about five yards offside.
58 min: Moments after Keita’s effort, Gomez is shown yellow for a late challenge on Funes Mori, who appeals to the referee that he was free on goal.
57 min: It’s another self-created chance for Keita, who’s been so close twice in addition to his early opener, but Barovero is there to make the save at point-blank range.
55 min: Another nifty backheel by Salah on the edge of the area to find Milner in stride, but it’s well-covered by the Monterrey defense and kicked out for a Liverpool corner, which quickly fizzles out to nothing.
52 min: Another shot by the industrious Pabon, another save by the in-form Allison. Monterrey rapping away on the door early in the second half, giving the European champions a headache at the back.
50 min: Monterrey win a free kick and Pabon’s thunderbolt from range demands yet another highlight-reel save by Allison, who’s been excellent today. Liverpool are quick on the counterattack, but imprecise in the final third before returning possession to Monterrey.
48 min: Origi darts down the left flank and finds Salah in the area, but the Liverpool star can’t get a shot off. The ball falls to Robertson, but his shot is blasted over the crossbar.
47 min: Vangioni is first into the book, shown yellow after catching Shaqiri late. He’d escaped punishment for an even harsher challenge on Salah in the opening minutes.
46 min: And we’re off in the second half with Liverpool kicking off attacking from left to right. No changes for either side, it appears, though Salah has shifted into the middle with Origi on the left and Shaqiri on the right.
A quick spot of half-time reading, with a nod to Liverpool’s visit to Qatar.
Half-time: Liverpool 1-1 Monterrey
An entertaining opening 45 minutes with brisk two-way action and plenty of chances on both ends. Liverpool are winning the possession battle while Monterrey have generated the better opportunities, showing they can take a punch with their rapid response to Keita’s early opening. Plenty more to come from Khalifa International Stadium!
45 min: The fourth official signals for one minute of added time.
43 min: Keita nearly makes it two on the day after he’s released by Oxlade-Chamberlain but Barovero is off his line in time for the easy save.
40 min: The European champions have dominated possession but Monterrey have created the better chances through high pressure and timely counterattacking against a somewhat patched-together Liverpool backline.
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37 min: Monterrey nearly take the lead (again) after a quick counterattack through the middle aided by a false step by Jordan Henderson into the midfield. Pabon surges down the right flank and plays it to the far post, but Allison darts off his line and makes a fingertip save with his outstretched right hand. Monterrey have been so very dangerous in transition today.
33 min: An awful giveaway by Sanchez, whose pocket is picked by Salah in Monterrey’s own half. But the Argentine center back recovers nicely and prevents a scoring chance with a clean last-ditch tackle.
30 min: Monterrey win a free kick after an overzealous challenge by Joe Gomez and they’ll look to build up from the back. Which they do, expeditiously. But Gallardo’s effort from a step outside the area soars over the crossbar.
27 min: Monterrey have been positive and inspired in attack tonight even if they don’t have the quantity of chances to show for it. Here Gallardo takes a touch too many before he’s dispossessed in the midfield. But moments later Keita gives it away carelessly and Pabon sends a cracking shot to the far post that’s diverted only by a fully extended Allison. A great save.
23 min: Salah with another sublime backheel on the right flank to free Milner in the area but a well-positioned Barovero is there to make the save.
20 min: Harsh assessment from the gallery.
@BryanAGraham I love my Reds but, to quote the NFL's Vince Lombardi, this is a rinky dinky game against a rinky dinky team in a rinky dinky city. Frankly I'd have sent the kids to play this one.
— Hubert O'Hearn (@BTBReviews) December 18, 2019
18 min: Milner is down after a fairly violent collision with Gallardo, who arrived late. But he’s up, walking around and it appears he will stay on. Play resumes with Monterrey still in their high press.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Monterrey (Funes Mori, 14 min)
And Monterrey have equalized! Alisson makes a hair-trigger save of a Gallardo shot after poor clearance of a free kick, but Funes Mori is perfectly positioned to tap in the rebound. Game on!
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12 min: The Liga MX standard-bearers are undeterred with Pabon nearly scoring mere seconds after the restart.
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GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Monterrey (Keita, 11 min)
Milner plays to Salah’s feet and the Liverpool star divides the defense with a gorgeous reverse pass behind Sanchez and Montes. An excellent finish by Keita makes it 1-0.
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9 min: The free kick is played short to Shaqiri but the possession fizzles out and Monterrey look to counter quickly with a ball over the top – not the first time the Mexican side have tried the direct route behind the Liverpool back line. Allison is there to clear it.
8 min: A very strong challenge from behind on Mo Salah by Leonel Vangioni and Liverpool will have a free kick from inside the Monterrey half.
4 min: Crisp two-way pace to start off. Henderson is playing the left center back position for Liverpool with Gomez on the right. Liverpool have the first decent chance of the night as Shaqiri cuts back just outside the area but sends a shot wide of the target.
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1 min: And we’re off! Liverpool attacking from right to left in all-red kits, Monterrey from left to right in white-and-blue striped shirts with blue shorts. Last night’s first semi-final between Flamengo and Al-Hilal drew an announced attendance of 21,588. A bit of a fuller crowd for tonight’s match but far from a sellout of the 48,000-seat Khalifa International Stadium, it appears.
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About 10 minutes from kickoff. A big ovation for crowd favorite Mo Salah when he emerged from the tunnel for warm-ups. A quick look at the inbox as the Khalifa International Stadium slowly fills. Here’s a question from Peter Oh.
Hi Bryan,
Is Monterrey’s Funes Mori the same Funes Mori formerly of Everton? (I’m trying to find any dash of spice to liven up my appetite for this match.)
Monterrey’s Rogelio Funes Mori is the twin brother of the departed Everton defender Ramiro, who did quite a number on Liverpool’s Divock Origi a few years back. Unless of course we’re getting Parent Trap’d.
Hoy cumplen años los mellizos Ramiro y Rogelio Funes Mori.
— Fiebre Futbolera (@FiebreFut) March 5, 2019
Ramiro, ganador de todo con River, actualmente en el Villarreal, con sus altos y bajos.
Rogelio, no tuvo tanta suerte y actualmente está en Rayados. Suma 88 goles en dicho club.
¡FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS, MELLIS! pic.twitter.com/1uHQChY8Sw
The teams!
Jürgen Klopp has made five changes from the side that beat Watford on Saturday to maintain their 10-point lead atop the Premier League table. The big change comes in the heart of the defense where skipper Jordan Henderson will pair with Joe Gomez. Adam Lallana, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will come into the midfield while James Milner takes over at right back with Robertson moving over to the left side.
Monterrey
XI: Barovero, Sanchez, Vangioni, Medina, Montes, Pabon, Ortiz, Pizarro, Gallardo, Carlos Rodriguez, Funes Mori
Subs: Cardenas, Resendez, Basanta, Layun, Gutierrez, Vasquez, Arturo Gonzalez, Meza, Jonathan Gonzalez, MejIa, Jonathan Urretaviscaya, Zaldivar
Liverpool
XI: Alisson, Milner, Henderson, Robertson, Gomez, Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Keita, Salah, Shaqiri, Origi
Subs: Lonergan, Adrian, Alexander-Arnold, Williams, Jones, Firmino, Mane
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Qatar for today’s second Club World Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Monterrey. The European champions are back in action for the second time in as many days after enlisting a youth team for yesterday’s 5-0 defeat to Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup, which dashed their quintuple hopes. But a far more familiar cast is on call today as the Reds enter directly into the semi-final stage to face the Concacaf Champions League winners, who advanced with a 3-2 win over host nation representatives Al Sadd on Saturday.
Should Liverpool survive today’s test as expected, they’ll advance to Saturday’s final against South American champions Flamengo, who came from behind to see off Saudi side Al-Hilal in yesterday’s first semi-final.
More to come directly, including the just-in team sheets, with kickoff roughly 45 minutes away.
Bryan will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s Jürgen Klopp’s thoughts on his team’s campaign:
Jürgen Klopp has said Fifa’s scheduling of the Club World Cup undermines respect for the competition but Liverpool did not “fly 3,000 miles not to show up” in Qatar.
Liverpool’s attempt to win the tournament for the first time begins with Wednesday’s semi-final in Doha against Monterrey, the Concacaf Champions League winners from Mexico. Whereas the Club World Cup has a passionate following in Latin and South America – as evidenced by the thousands of Flamengo fans who have travelled to the Gulf state from Brazil – it has struggled to generate the same esteem within European football.
Klopp believes the decision to stage the competition in the middle of the European season is one factor. He said proposals for an expanded 24-team Club World Cup from the summer of 2021 – days after the Champions League final and potentially clashing with the Nations League, Africa Cup of Nations and the Concacaf Gold Cup – would not help the competition’s prestige.
“I can’t talk about respect in England but we are here now and completely focused,” the Liverpool manager said. “If, however, you asked me if there should be a Club World Cup in the middle of our season, I would say no. We are here so, for us, it is the most important competition in the world. But can it be bigger? I don’t know. Fifa plans a team World Cup in the summer but it is the summer when the African competition is playing and others as well.”
You can read the full article here:
