Liverpool, one of football’s most historic and successful clubs, managed to be crowned as the best club in the world, after beating C.R Flamengo in the final for their first FIFA Club World Cup title at the Khalifa International Stadium.
An extra-time goal by RobertoFermino helped Liverpool to secure a 1-0 victory over Flamengo which saw Liverpool crowned FIFA Club World Cup winners for the first time.
They won it in the extensions and were crowned champions of Europe on June 1 and now, on Dec. 21, they’re champions of the world.
Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp was delighted with his team’s performance. But Klopp admits he was reassured he did not need to tell them just how important this trophy is for a club that has won every other major honor.
“It was incredible, we did so many good things, everyone was on the edge pretty much and there were so many sensational, good performances.”
Liverpool finally added the world title to their honors list after three previous failures in 1981 vs. Flamengo, 1984 vs. Independence and, back in 2005, vs. Sao Paulo. Previously, Manchester United had been the only English club to have earned the distinction of being crowned world champions, in 1999 and 2008, but Liverpool now has one of the trophies that has eluded them for so long.
Flamengo proved to be tricky opponents for Liverpool, as the Brazilian side shut down the Champions League winners fast-flowing football and presented lots of problems of their own in attack. It meant the match had a real tension to it as it remained goalless throughout 90 ever-more-anxious minutes for the Liverpool boss.
But while many detractors questioned the wisdom of Liverpool flying halfway around the world to play in the competition, Klopp said the upheaval was worth the effort as they prepared to head back to England as world champions.
Klopp had special words for his matchwinner, as Fermino, who has had to play second fiddle to in-form teammates Mo Salah and Sadio Mane at times this season, stepped up when his team needed him to net the decisive goal.
