MX23RW : Monday, December 23 12:04:22| >> :600:150139:150139:
Dec 21, 2019 at 5.30pm UK at ​Anfield
Liverpool
1-0
FlamengoFlamengo
Firmino (99')
FT
(aet)

How Liverpool could line up against Flamengo

Sports Mole looks at how Liverpool could line up for Saturday's Club World Cup final against Flamengo, with Virgil van Dijk among the doubts for Jurgen Klopp's side.

The final of the 2019 Club World Cup pits the European champions against the kings of South America as Liverpool face Flamengo at the Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar.

Liverpool needed a late winner from substitute Roberto Firmino to overcome Mexican outfit Monterrey in the semi-final on Wednesday night, with Flamengo coming from behind to beat Al-Hilal a day earlier.

Neither side have won this trophy before, but both go into the contest in fine form and having dominated both domestically and continentally over the course of the year.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Jurgen Klopp could line his Liverpool side up for the contest.



Possible LIV XI vs. FLA

Out: Joel Matip (knee), Dejan Lovren (thigh), Fabinho (ankle), Nathaniel Clyne (knee)
Doubtful: Georginio Wijnaldum (muscle), Virgil van Dijk (illness)

> Click here for Liverpool's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Virgil van Dijk missed the semi-final win over Monterrey due to illness and will not be risked for this match unless he is 100%, although the fact that it is an illness rather than an injury is positive news for Liverpool.

Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip and Fabinho all stayed at home to nurse their injuries, meaning that Jordan Henderson was forced to fill in as an emergency centre-back on Wednesday, although Sepp van den Berg is one of three youngsters to have flown out ahead of the final just in case Van Dijk does not recover.

Klopp took the opportunity to rest Firmino, Sadio Mane and Trent Alexander-Arnold from the start in midweek and we could learn a lot about how important this trophy is to him by his team selection on Saturday.

All three could come into the starting XI, but it is unlikely to be a full-strength team with Andrew Robertson and potentially Mohamed Salah among those in line for a rest, although there will be a public demand for the latter to start given his appeal in Qatar.

Klopp could switch back to a 4-2-3-1 formation with Henderson in a more familiar midfield role and Naby Keita starting again, having broken the deadlock in midweek against Monterrey.

Georginio Wijnaldum remains a doubt with the muscle problem which forced him off against Watford, although the fact that he was part of the travelling party suggests that Liverpool are hopeful he could feature.

body check tags ::

Who will win the Club World Cup - Liverpool or Flamengo?

Liverpool
Flamengo
Liverpool
0.0%
Flamengo
0.0%
Share this article now:
Instagram - Follow Sports Mole
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp before the match on December 7, 2019
Read Next:
Liverpool boss Klopp expects "really tough game" against Flamengo
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.

Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool17161042142849
2Leicester CityLeicester18123341142739
3Manchester CityMan City18122450203038
4Chelsea1810263325832
5Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd187742216628
6Wolverhampton WanderersWolves186932622427
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs187563226626
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd186752622425
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle187471824-625
10Burnley187382329-624
11Arsenal185852427-323
12Crystal Palace186571520-523
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton185582126-520
14Bournemouth185491925-619
15Everton185492029-919
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham175481928-919
17Southampton1853102137-1618
18Aston Villa1843112433-915
19Norwich CityNorwich1833121937-1812
20Watford1826101132-2112

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!