This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Liverpool’s Champions League win last season means they will travel to Qatar in December to contest the Club World Cup.
Their participation in that tournament has thrown up some issues with their fixture list. They will play two games in 24 hours due to the fact they will also be appearing in the semi-finals of the League Cup as well.
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However, this is clearly a competition that Jurgen Klopp and Co want to win, as the former Borussia Dortmund manager told FIFA.com a few weeks ago. The Reds are directly in the semi-finals and will be hoping to win the tournament altogether. Whilst it is not yet known who they will face, there is a strong chance they could come up against Flamengo in the final after their Copa Libertadores win against River Plate.
Speaking after the match, 65-year-old Jorge Jesus aimed a dig at the Reds’ European victory last term, saying: “This final has been seen by 186 countries in the world, by millions and millions, and whoever saw it will realise the level it had. (Compared to) the last Champions League final between Liverpool and Tottenham, this one had more technical, tactical content, and a much more beautiful colour than this final in Madrid, where I saw it live.”
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Not only that, but he was bullish about his side’s chances in the Middle East, adding: “We will be in Qatar to play against Liverpool if they are a finalist. We have a team to win this trophy.”
As is always the case, Liverpool will be the favourites as the European champions, but the Brazilian outfit have plenty of talent to worry the English team. Not only did they lift the South America’s biggest club competition, but they have also won the league in their country as well.
In their first XI on Saturday, there were nine full internationals, whilst Diego Ribas, the former FC Porto and Atletico Madrid star, was on the bench. Not only that, there were 18 European trophies included in the starting side too, mainly thanks to full-backs Rafinha and Filipe Luis.
Gabriel Barbosa may have struggled at Internazionale, to whom he is still contracted, but he has rediscovered his form back in his homeland. In 80 matches across the last two seasons, he has 50 goals, of which 31 have come this campaign. Still just 23, he has plenty of time to prove his worth to the Italian club.
They are on a rather stunning run of form as well. Since losing against Bahia in August, they are unbeaten in 26 matches in all competitions. This has helped them to a crushing victory in the Brazilian Serie A, where they are 13 points ahead of Santos in second with four games left.
The Reds will be favourites to prevail, yes, but Flamengo have plenty of quality to cause them problems. Should they both make the final, it really could be anyone’s game.
Meanwhile, one former England boss has had his say on the Premier League title race.
