LFC Forever 2019/ 20

Club World Cup Final

We're Champions of the world!!!

Yesterday I realised just how spoiled we've been for finals since Klopp came with the league cup, europa league, two champions leagues, the super cup, a title race final day and now this. I'm glad I reminded myself of the league cup final to realise just how amazing we are now, it feels like we've always been this good but at the same time I still think of Liverpool becoming pre / early Klopp like at any moment.

I am so glad we won that because the ref was in the Flamenco team's pocket from word go.

Henderson has his shirt pulled and an arm round his neck, Flamenco free kick. Free kick to Flamenco when two Flamenco players collided. Mane tried to shake off the unwanted hugging from Rafinha, cautioned. Mane got a penalty, giving a yellow when it should've been red, he was supposed to decide whether it was in the box or not and decides no foul at all - Flamenco got another free kick! Rafinha was on the floor "fouled" so often I wondered if even I'd fouled him since I'm sure every other player did.

We started straight away with a  massive miss for Firmino! He gets in around the back of the Flamengo defence before putting it over the bar from around six yards out. They almost scored earlier than in Madrid!

Another big chance for the Reds, this time it's in-form Naby Keita. He blazes it over the bar inside the area. Liverpool should be 2-0 up!

Salah breaks free after a Flamengo corner and can't pick a pass, as his long ball is easily cut out. Keita then collects the rebound but can't do anything with it either. That was a great chance uncharacteristically wasted!

Henderson is dragged down inside the area after a free-kick was swung in from Andy Robertson but the referee gives a foul against the Reds' captain....

Salah is almost in as he makes a great run over the top, but he can't quite get a touch on the ball and it runs through to the goalkeeper, Alves.

At the end of the first half Mane gets booked as Liverpool counter-attack with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Ridiculous call, Mane was merely reacting to being held back by shoving Rafinha away.

Alisson gets down really well and saves to his right. Gabigol's drive was heading into the back of the net before the Brazilian dives across with a strong hand.

Gabigol attempted an overhead kick from about 15 yards out. Alisson does well to get behind it.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was down for a long time. He landed awkwardly but has now got up. It looks like it was his ankle. He had a protective boot on at the end. Lallana took his place.

Salah has the ball in the back of the net after a great pass from Alexander-Arnold, but the flag is up. I cheered it, knowing it was offside but hoping it'd give us the boost to score a legit one.

Salah is shown yellow for a late tackle. There wasn't much contact there.

Mane is in but he's brought down by Rafinha. Penalty given, VAR steps in, ref goes to watch again for ages and decides it was nothing. Why wasn't it a goal kick then?!

Normal time ends goalless somehow.

The deadlock is finally broken at 99 minutes in! That was brilliant composure from Mane, who turned the ball into the path of Firmino. He took his time in front of goal, composed himself, and then fired home, it came off a Flamenco foot. Off came his shirt! Best in the world is officially Bobby Firmino!

Milner is on for Keita.

James Milner is booked for preventing a counter-attack.

A huge chance is missed by Lincoln. He's blazed it well over the top of the crossbar from around 16 yards.

Salah is replaced by Xherdan Shaqiri.

Those extra time added minutes went so slow even if half of it was on the confusion of the graphic saying one and the commentators saying it's two. I hardly believed it was over when the whistle came.

Liverpool become the first team in English football to win the European Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup in the same year.

Mohamed Salah was awarded the Adidas 'Golden Ball' for the best player at the tournament.

The BBC is crap and didn't show the trophy or any part of the celebration whatsoever so I've  not really seen it yet! Hopefully Liverpool does a really good Inside CWC Final video. I haven't even heard We are the Champions by Queen yet!

Back to reality in the Premier League, Man City and Leicester played 3-1, keeping us 11 and 10 points away with a game in hand. I'm looking forward to Match of the Day to see the "normal" footie we've missed out on.

Next up Leicester Away, 26th December 2019, 20:00.

Leicester have to play the Champions of the World! Let's go enjoy Boxing Day as World Champions.