Liverpool FC crest
Liverpool FC

Firmino (99)

FT
1 - 0 AET
FIFA Club World Cup
17:30 Sat 21st Dec 2019
Location: Khalifa International Stadium
Flamengo crest
Flamengo

17:30 Sat 21st Dec 2019
17:30 Sat 21st Dec 2019 Khalifa International Stadium

Liverpool v Flamengo: FIFA Club World Cup final live blog

Liverpool won the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup final as Roberto Firmino's extra-time goal earned a 1-0 win against Flamengo in Qatar - the Reds' first ever triumph in the tournament.

Post-match

FIFA Champions Badge

So, about that gold badge... we've got all the details for you here.

Post-match

Jordan Henderson reaction

"Very nice," the captain said of Liverpool's new 'world champions' title.

"I'm delighted that we've come here and done what we wanted to do and that's win. We've had two tough games with extra-time but I thought the lads kept going and showed a great mentality again to find the winner.

"We had some great chances in the game but always kept going and always kept fighting and tried to find the breakthrough, so I'm delighted that we've managed to do that and keep the clean sheet."

Full Time

LIVERPOOL WIN THE CLUB WORLD CUP

Liverpool win the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time in their history courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Flamengo in the final in Qatar.

It needed extra-time, but Roberto Firmino's strike in the 109th minute was the difference and the trophy will head to Anfield for the first time ever.

It's also the third prize the Reds have lifted this year after the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup.

Get in!

120

Two minutes of additional time to be played...

120

Substitution

Willian Arao off, Orlando Berrio on for Flamengo.

Liverpool replace Mohamed Salah with Xherdan Shaqiri.

119

Chance

The ball drops for Lincoln inside the box, but he scoops well over the bar.

115

Alexander-Arnold has a free-kick palmed away by Diego Alves.

112

Yellow Card

Diego sees yellow for a challenge on Milner.

108

Barbosa's snap-shot flies wide of the near post.

Kick-Off

Back under way...

Liverpool start the second half of extra-time.

Substitution

Divock Origi is on for Roberto Firmino for the second half of extra-time.

Half Time

Liverpool 1-0 Flamengo

The Reds have the lead at half-time in extra-time courtesy of Roberto Firmino's breakthrough.

105

Yellow Card

Milner booked for a challenge on Henrique.

100

Salah's powerful drive is beaten away spectacularly by Diego Alves.

100

Substitution

Milner on for Keita for the Reds.

99

Goal

GOAL! ROBERTO FIRMINO!!!!!

Liverpool have the lead in Qatar!

Henderson springs Mane through the middle, he holds the ball up and squares for Firmino, who side-steps the goalkeeper, steadies himself before drilling into the net.

He's booked for taking his shirt off in celebration, but the Reds lead!

97

Keita has a shot blocked on the edge of the area.

Kick-Off

Off we go again...

Flamengo start the period of extra-time.

Opta's numbers from the 90 minutes...

Full Time

Liverpool 0-0- Flamengo

It's goalless at the end of 90 minutes, with the Reds denied a stoppage-time penalty after a VAR check overruled an initial decision to award the a penalty following Rafinha's challenge on Mane.

Both sides have also created chances, but it's over to extra-time.

90+5

PENALTY OVERRULED

The VAR check sees the decision overturned and Rafinha's yellow chalked off.

And Flamengo get a drop ball

90+2

The decision is undergoing a VAR check and the referee is consulting his pitchside monitor...

90+1

Mane is sent bounding through on goal and is brought down by Rafinha's challenge. The referee points to the spot, but it's subject to a VAR check.

The Flamengo man is also booked.

90

Five minutes of added time to be played... 

90

Yellow Card

Vitinho booked for pulling back Keita.

86

Chance!

Henderson's curler from Salah's lay-off is tipped over the crossbar by Diego Alves.

84

Salah has a shot blocked by Pablo Mari after being picked out by Keita's pass into the box.

82

Substitution

Everton Ribeiro goes off, Diego comes on for the Brazilian side.

81

Yellow Card

Mo Salah is booked following a challenge on Vitinho.

78

Robertson's low delivery just evades Salah in the centre.

77

Substitution

Flamengo make a change - De Arrascaeta comes off, Vitinho comes on.

75

Substitution

Ox gets to his feet and hobbles off with the club's medical staff.

He's replaced by Adam Lallana.

73

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is down and in a lot of discomfort.

It doesn't look like he'll be able to continue.

69

Spectacular overhead kick from Barbosa... fairly routine take for Alisson.

67

Van Dijk blocks Barbosa's shot inside the box.

59

Now Salah smacks a half-volley over the bar at the second attempt, but he is deemed offside.

57

Robertson's shot-turned-cross can't be controlled by the unmarked Firmino.

We suspect he may have been flagged offside anyway.

54

Henrique blocks Alisson's attempted kick and the ball loops into the air before Liverpool scramble it away.

53

Barbosa spins and shoots low across goal, but Alisson keeps it out with a strong right-handed save.

53

Diego Alves has to race from his line to just about beat Mane to Roberson's pass.

49

Chance

Liverpool carve open Flamengo down the right through Keita and Alexander-Arnold, before the latter's low cross is drilled wide of the near post by Salah.

47

Off the post!

Liverpool start strongly once more - and they should be ahead.

Firmino hooks Henderson's pass over the head of Rodrigo Caio and shoots... but the ball hits the post and bounces back out across the line and away.

Unlucky. Very unlucky.

Kick-Off

Off we go again...

Flamengo re-start the game.

Here's how Opta detail the first half at the Khalifa International Stadium...

Half Time

Liverpool 0-0 Flamengo

It's goalless at the break in Qatar. The Reds started strongly and created several clear openings; however, the Brazilian side came back into it and caused some problems of their own.

45

One minute of added time to be played...

45

Yellow Card

Sadio Mane goes into the book.

44

Alisson beats Barbosa to a ball over the top and nudges it out for a throw in.

43

Salah almost, almost, gets to a ball forward ahead of Diego Alves.

39

Keita and Salah play a one-two on the edge of the Flamengo area, but the former is sent to the turf by Filipe Luis as he goes to reach the return.

No free-kick.

33

A cross into the Reds' box ricochets off a few before it's cleared. Flamengo want a handball, but they're not going to get it.

28

Action shots

26

Henrique makes a nusiance of himself again down the right, this time having a shot deflected behind at the near post by Gomez's challenge.

23

Bruno Henrique dances his way down the outside of Alexander-Arnold and drills a low ball into the six-yard box.

Thankfully, Van Dijk is on hand to hammer it to safety.

The game has settled a little now.

18

Barbosa has a whack with a half-volley from range that clatters against Van Dijk inside the box.

6

Chance!

Alexander-Arnold takes aim from 25 yards with a crisp drive that skims across the turf and an inch or two wide of the post.

5

Chance!

Another opening for the Reds, but they can't make the most of it.

Salah scampers into space from Henderson's long pass before rolling it back to the unmarked Keita, who side-foots over.

1

Chance!

Liverpool have a golden chance to take the lead inside 40 seconds as Alexander-Arnold pings a pass into the path of Firmino's run. He holds off Rodrigo Caio, but hooks over the crossbar under pressure.

Kick-Off

And we're off...

Mohamed Salah starts the game in Qatar.

Come on you Reds!

Pre-match

Here come the teams...

Pre-match

Monterrey beat Al Hilal 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes to finish third in the competition.

The main event is up next...

Pre-match

Here's Flamengo's starting XI... 

Flamengo: Alves, Caio, Mari, Arao, Ribeiro, Gerson, Barbosa, Rafinha, De Arrascaeta, Luis, Henrique.

Pre-match

TEAM NEWS

Virgil van Dijk returns as Liverpool make four changes for the FIFA Club World Cup final against Flamengo in Qatar. Georginio Wijnaldum is named among the substitutes.

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane, Salah, Firmino.

Subs: Adrian, Lonergan, Wijnaldum, Milner, Lallana, Shaqiri, Origi, Jones, Hoever, Elliott, Van den Berg, Williams.

Pre-match

The stage is set...

The third/fourth place play-off is currently taking place ahead of tonight's final - Al-Hilal are leading Monterrey 1-0.

Pre-match

'Taking advantage of the opponent's mistakes is fundamental'

That's what Flamengo boss Jorge Jesus will tell his players ahead of kick-off tonight.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the former Benfica coach said: "The final for us will be faced without fear of anyone. I don't care whether we play Liverpool or the Mexican side.

"We didn't think about Liverpool before playing Al-Hilal but I am always impressed with European football and I believe they are the favourites.

"When we came here to Qatar, we wanted to win the Club World Cup, and now we want it even more...

"This will be the most important final of my career. This Club World championship is becoming more and more important...

"Liverpool will not have the upside for 90 minutes. There will be moments. Taking advantage of the opponent's mistakes is fundamental."

Pre-match

Rule reminder

Extra-time will be required this evening if the scores are level after 90 minutes, with two 15-minute periods to played. A penalty shootout may then be required if it's still tied.

Pre-match

Continental champions

A reminder of how Liverpool and Flamengo qualified for the Club World Cup by conquering their continent...

Pre-match

Squad update

Harvey Elliott, Ki-Jana Hoever, Caoimhin Kelleher and Sepp van den Berg joined up with the squad in Doha after featuring in the Carabao Cup defeat at Aston Villa earlier this week.

The Reds can name up to 12 substitutes on the bench this evening.

Pre-match

Inside Qatar

Relive the tension and drama of Wednesday's win over Monterrey with our behind-the-scenes coverage of the semi-final against the CONCACAF Champions League holders...

Pre-match

'It's Mo mania!'

We sat down with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain yesterday to preview the final and the midfielder also revealed his pleasure at seeing the fanfare for teammate Mo Salah in Qatar.

"It is incredible... it's well deserved obviously," said Oxlade-Chamberlain.

"As a Muslim, he's a really big person to look up to for millions and millions and millions of people around the world - not just Muslims, everyone, but especially in Muslim countries. In places like this, he's going to get a massive reception and it's quite exciting.

"It's nice to see every time they call his name. I have a little cheeky look over and see what he's doing. He's trying to keep a little smile in, but I can see inside it makes him really happy and proud.

"He deserves it, he's come from Egypt and worked his way up to the top. He's a humble guy, a very good teammate and such a top professional. The numbers that he's doing on the pitch week in, week out for years now is incredible. He deserves everything he's getting at the minute.

"I hope he can put on a good show for them and the Mo mania can continue because that'll be a good thing for all of us."

Pre-match

Missing Men

Liverpool's last appearance in the Club World Cup showpiece was in December 2005, when they were beaten 1-0 by Sao Paulo. Can you remember the starting XI from that final? Click the graphic to reveal the answers...

Pre-match

While the leaders are away...

... the Premier League continues, including a second-v-third showdown as Leicester City travel to Manchester City in a match that kicks off at the same time as the Club World Cup final.

Here are today's fixtures and how it stands at the summit...

Pre-match

U23s complete PSG comeback

At the Academy yesterday, Liverpool U23s got their Premier League International Cup campaign off to a brilliant, dramatic start.

Goals from Tom Hill and Yasser Larouci in the 88th and 93rd minutes respectively clinched a 3-2 win against Paris Saint-Germain.

Pre-match

Takumi Minamino signs

On Thursday it was announced Takumi Minamino will join the club on January 1 after a deal was agreed with Red Bull Salzburg and the Japan international completed a medical.

Take a look at his first day at Melwood in our exclusive video...

Pre-match

Back home

There has been plenty happening back in Liverpool as well during the past few days, as the first-team squad go for global glory in Qatar.

Pre-match

Stat attack

  • European teams have won each of the past six Club World Cup finals - and 11 of the previous 12
  • Naby Keita has scored six goals in his last 13 starts for the Reds

  • Liverpool are four goals short of recording 500 under Klopp, having played 237 games so far
  • In 2019, the Reds have scored 25 times from the 80th minute onwards
Pre-match

'They always have plenty of swagger'

To find out a little more about Flamengo - the Copa Libertadores winners and Brazilian champions - we spoke to South American football expert Tim Vickery.

Read our Q&A on what to expect from Jorge Jesus' side here.

Pre-match

The manager's message

Klopp spoke to the media at a press conference on Friday and reiterated his respect for Flamengo while insisting the Reds are hungry to lift the trophy in Doha.

"We are here as Liverpool FC and we want to win a football game, that's all," said the boss.

"You only can be in this final if you have a really strong team and obviously Flamengo has that and we are not too bad as well, so nothing is decided before the game. Good, that's how football should be.

"It means we both have the same chances, it's about who has better solutions for the different moments, not who has better players or whatever.

"It's about finding solutions in the game, using your own patterns, which we usually do, and then play the best football you are able to play."

Pre-match

Did you know?

Only four of the last 14 FIFA Club World Cup finals have seen both teams score.

Pre-match

Finishing touches

The Reds trained on Friday morning in Qatar as they continued the final preparations for facing Flamengo. Our photographers were there, too, to provide a gallery from the session...

Pre-match

Important information

Supporters are reminded that a thorough search process will be in operation on the approach to Khalifa International Stadium ahead of tonight's match.

As a result, entrance to the stadium is expected to take longer than usual, with an early arrival being advisable.

Additional staff will be on duty in order to direct supporters to one of the four search tents - A, B, C and D - which will all be available to obtain access to the stadium.

Pre-match

A rematch

These two teams have met once before to battle to be world champions.

They faced off in Tokyo on December 13, 1981 and it was Flamengo's day, the Brazilians securing a 3-0 win against Bob Paisley's Reds.

Pre-match

Team news

Virgil van Dijk trained with the squad on Friday after missing Wednesday's match with illness - and the boss later confirmed the Reds must check on the No.4 and Georginio Wijnaldum (muscle) before kick-off.

Liverpool have no other new injury concerns.

Pre-match

Last time out

The Reds left it late but they booked their place in the final with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Mexican side Monterrey on Wednesday night.

Roberto Firmino came off the bench to nudge in the last-minute winner from Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross and set up a date with Flamengo.

Pre-match

The final

This is it, then - Liverpool are one match away from being crowned world champions, with the Reds set to face Flamengo in the FIFA Club World Cup final today.

Victory in Qatar would make history as the first time the club has ever won the trophy.

Can Jürgen Klopp's boys do it? Stick with us for all of the build-up, action and reaction to find out.