Monterrey v Liverpool CWC Semi-Final Weds 18th Dec 17:30KO

After spending a while doing the Villa pre match thread, I thought I’d also tackle this one to give us plenty to think about.

We are taking a squad of 20 to Qatar, as just confirmed by the LFC website.

Alisson
Adrian
Lonergan
Alexander-Arnold
Williams
Van Dijk
Gomez
Robertson
Henderson
Milner
Keita
Oxlade-Chamberlain
Keita
Wijnaldum
Lallana
Jones
Salah
Mane
Firmino
Shaqiri

So Wijnaldum makes the squad, but I wouldn’t expect to see him in the semi-final.

Judging by how Klopp has been rotating lately, I can see this side playing on Wednesday, he will want to win:

Alisson

Alexander-Arnold
Gomez
Van Dijk (c)
Robertson

Oxlade-Chamberlain
Lallana
Keita

Salah
Mane
Origi

Subs:

Adrian
Lonergan
Williams
Henderson
Milner
Wijnaldum
Jones
Firmino
Shaqiri

Our opponents beat Al-Sadd 3-2 on Saturday, I don’t know much at all about them, apart from they have ex Everton centre back Funes Mori’s twin brother who plays up front for them, as well former Tottenham striker Vincent Janssen, although he didn’t feature in the win over Al-Sadd.

LFC win ⚽️

NB: Team no longer available

I would rest Robertson, Trent, all front three and Alisson. I would play Jones if Lallana is not 100%.

Dejan is out injured … Timely event for our players who are injured to get themselves ready for Boxing day game 2 weeks away

I know it's another trophy, but does anyone care about this Qatar trip?

World Club champions sounds nice, but doesn't do anything for me tbh.

I know it's another trophy, but does anyone care about this Qatar trip?

World Club champions sounds nice, but doesn't do anything for me tbh.

I agree bmck, especially with our fixture list going into overdrive. Id rather we concentrated on the domestics and C L to be honest. I think the mantra is, we haven't won this one before, so lets get it under our belt.

I know it's another trophy, but does anyone care about this Qatar trip?

World Club champions sounds nice, but doesn't do anything for me tbh.

Literally means nothing to me. It’s a distraction from the main goal this season

Literally means nothing to me. It’s a distraction from the main goal this season

F**k that, the club hasn't managed to win nearly enough trophies in the last 10 years to be turning them down.

Get it up on the wall!

F**k that, the club hasn't managed to win nearly enough trophies in the last 10 years to be turning them down.

Get it up on the wall!

100% agree with this, this is effectively just one match against a championship quality team to be able to win a very exclusive trophy. Other than that it's a nice break for the lads, some warm weather training etc.

F**k that, the club hasn't managed to win nearly enough trophies in the last 10 years to be turning them down.

Get it up on the wall!

Totally agree and we never have won it so let brings it home. I would rotate for the first game as I posted earlier in this thread.

Good news with Wijnaldum looks like the injury was not serious

F**k that, the club hasn't managed to win nearly enough trophies in the last 10 years to be turning them down.

Get it up on the wall!

I just see it as European charity shield but I get where you’re coming from

Surely Gini fit for at least one appearance or he wouldnt have travelled so that is positive  news

Win it and we'll have the official title as the best club in the world for season 18/19. That will stay with us forever.

I'm sure the lads will be professional in going about the tournament.

Win it and we'll have the official title as the best club in the world for season 18/19. That will stay with us forever.

I'm sure the lads will be professional in going about the tournament.

Queue scenes of Trent and Gini running away from the Qatari police at 3 in the morning

Queue scenes of Trent and Gini running away from the Qatari police at 3 in the morning

And Bobby manning the getaway car!

F**k that, the club hasn't managed to win nearly enough trophies in the last 10 years to be turning them down.

Get it up on the wall!

This.

And the World Club is a Major trophy that has eluded us over the years.

Were in it so lets win it

And Bobby manning the getaway car!

Should that not be getaway Camel  ...




...I'll fetch my coat(camel hair) of course  😁


YNWA

F**k that, the club hasn't managed to win nearly enough trophies in the last 10 years to be turning them down.

Get it up on the wall!

That's the F***ing Spirit. 🙏🏾

We have long unfinished business in this tournament after that 2005 debacle.

Let's win this.

I just see it as European charity shield but I get where you’re coming from

Fair do's I think we're in it, might as well win it.

i'm sure we would of won it in the 70s if we had not refused to enter it

Literally means nothing to me. It’s a distraction from the main goal this season

Just want to avoid any major injuries and after effects from jet lag what they get back.
Apart from that, hope they enjoy it, get some sun, see the sights...

Apparently Brewster and Elliott no longer in the squad for this, based on a list at the official site.

Lovren and Fabinho also stayed back, but Gini flew out with the group.

Apparently Brewster and Elliott no longer in the squad for this, based on a list at the official site.

Lovren and Fabinho also stayed back, but Gini flew out with the group.

hopefully no knocks for the lads, but think gini, will take some part, otherwise why take him if unfit?

https://twitter.com/skysports_bryan/status/1206261406238216201?s=20

I imagine we will see several changes in our typical starting 11 after seeing who all flew out.  Why else handicap the Caraboa squad if not to get several of the lads a rest before the final three matches in December? 

hopefully no knocks for the lads, but think gini, will take some part, otherwise why take him if unfit?

Hope so mate.

I mean, they could just take him for the warm weather experience but they don't need to list him in the squad for that.

Another thing this updated squad list could mean is that, with Gini and Lovren injured, Jürgen needed another midfielder and defender available on the bench for the match on Wednesday (like Williams was on Saturday). He's not going to have those guys play Tuesday if he needs them on the bench the next day a few thousand miles away.

Elliott and Brewster might still fly out later, but the other two probably will not be in the League Cup lineup.

This.

And the World Club is a Major trophy that has eluded us over the years.

It is and one of the finals we played in I'm sure the ref was bribed. Was it the Sao Paulo game? 2005 ?

Three disallowed goals   and a corner count of 17 - 0 to us.  Twas a joke.

Morientes up from with Harry the Oz and Stevie supporting the attack.


The Scum have won this one once so yes to me it is very important.

WORLD CLUB CHAMPIONS

 

Thats some title.

This is the 1st of the 2 trophys that have eluded us.

Lets do this.

It'll be a tough game, but what an accolade if we go on to win this trophy!

updated squad....

Goalkeepers: Alisson, Adrian, Andy Lonergan.

Defenders: Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Andy Robertson, Ki-Jana Hoever, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sepp van den Berg, Neco Williams.

Midfielders: Gini Wijnaldum, James Milner, Naby Keita, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, Curtis Jones.

Forwards: Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Xherdan Shaqiri, Divock Origi, Harvey Elliott.

Literally means nothing to me. It’s a distraction from the main goal this season

I think the boys are anything but distracted. Besides, Klopp obviously sees it as more important than the League Cup so there's that.

Just go win it.

I would expect a mixture of first team regulars and a few squad players get minutes in this one, I think we play up to our potential we should ease by this side though I expect a lot of shithousery from the Mexicans, especially if they nick a goal early.

--------------------Adrian------------------
Milner-----Gomez--------VvD------Robbo
-------Lallana----Hendo------Ketia--------
-----Ox-----------Salah------------Origi---

https://youtu.be/L857KaOKoD4

We're better than the Mexicans

Anybody know what time the final is supposed to kick off? (GMT)

Anybody know what time the final is supposed to kick off? (GMT)

2pm pal if I remember correctly.

2pm pal if I remember correctly.

Cheers mate

A lot earlier than I expected! Being dragged on a night out Saturday that I really can't be arsed going to, so was hoping a later kick off would help me wriggle out of it. Will have to find another excuse now ha

Anybody know what time the final is supposed to kick off? (GMT)

1730 if we get to the final, 1430 if we're in the 3rd place play off.

Cheers mate

A lot earlier than I expected! Being dragged on a night out Saturday that I really can't be arsed going to, so was hoping a later kick off would help me wriggle out of it. Will have to find another excuse now ha

1730 if we get to the final, 1430 if we're in the 3rd place play off.

Whoops.

Chats is right.

Hopefully the later kick off time sorts you out then 😂

Whoops.

Chats is right.

Hopefully the later kick off time sorts you out then 😂

Might just do the trick! 

https://youtu.be/L857KaOKoD4

We're better than the Mexicans

We will be playing 4......4.......f###ing 2!!

Literally means nothing to me. It’s a distraction from the main goal this season

Imagine this is Jürgen’s pre-match team talk. Who secretly hopes for this? 

I just see it as European charity shield but I get where you’re coming from

I bet if the lads win the final you will be just as happy as the rest of us when they raise that trophy . It sends a message out about us being a winning machine.

I bet if the lads win the final you will be just as happy as the rest of us when they raise that trophy . It sends a message out about us being a winning machine.

I want it, and I assume most fans & players want it.

Shaq summed it up perfectly, you have to win 2 finals to get to this this comp. Its not an easy thing to win.

And for me, its another trophy the mancs have over us, we need to put that right.

Pretty sure we win this were ahead of them on Major honors again.   

I know it's another trophy, but does anyone care about this Qatar trip?

Not one bit. A gimmick for the sponsors and the bodies to make money, that's all. Should have sent our C team.

Not one bit. A gimmick for the sponsors and the bodies to make money, that's all. Should have sent our C team.

Would much prefer to keep the focus on the PL with another game at the weekend. But it is what it is.
Don't think I'll be tuning into these classics today either
Al Sadd : ES Tunis
Flamengo : Al-Hilal

Not one bit. A gimmick for the sponsors and the bodies to make money, that's all. Should have sent our C team.

On your own then lad aren't yer, cos there are F***ing loads of reds who want this f**ker won, loads who have gone to Qatar to support them too. Winning this means something to the whole club, that's how serious we are taking it.

Man Utd have won it, about time we did too and get a bit of revenge on Flamengo in the process

Not one bit. A gimmick for the sponsors and the bodies to make money, that's all. Should have sent our C team.

I just see it as European charity shield but I get where you’re coming from

We welcome all to celebrate with us when we win the damn thing. For now, we may not enjoy the benefit of your full support, and the rest of us will have to go it by ourselves.

Since the team is already out there (which not every team can be there every year), we may as well care and give it a good go. Dangerous position to be in because if the staff fail to deliver the league title, we know where the conversations are headed.

A lot of things are out of our control. May as well enjoy the ride. What a great competition to be in that not everyone can participate.

Champions league winners.
European Super Cup winners..

Just add that CWC trophy and it’s been a good 6 months.. 😎

Not one bit. A gimmick for the sponsors and the bodies to make money, that's all. Should have sent our C team.

Ah, yes. A competition that is ongoing since the 1960s and that means so much to so many people around the world is only a gimmick for sponsors. Gotta love little England.

It's no surprise that the English were the idiots who stayed out of the World Cup for the first couple of decades, only to find out later that the competition was actually quite important - because, you know, the world does move on without them. It also took a Scottish manager to win the European Cup and change British clubs perceptions of the competition. Perhaps if English clubs didn't have their heads so much into their own arses, Real Madrid wouldn't have won like 6 European Cups in the initial years and now wouldn't have over double of our cups.

Good luck to the team, and hope all the fans out there have a great time, watching the Reds, lift another trophy.

I watched bits of Monterrey's first game and found that their midfield was so open in the central areas, I just can't see LFC not winning this one comfortably. But then again, they'll probably try to raise their game for that one, so need to take this seriously.

Ah, yes. A competition that is ongoing since the 1960s and that means so much to so many people around the world is only a gimmick for sponsors. Gotta love little England.

It's no surprise that the English were the idiots who stayed out of the World Cup for the first couple of decades, only to find out later that the competition was actually quite important - because, you know, the world does move on without them. It also took a Scottish manager to win the European Cup and change British clubs perceptions of the competition. Perhaps if English clubs didn't have their heads so much into their own arses, Real Madrid wouldn't have won like 6 European Cups in the initial years and now wouldn't have over double of our cups.

Let see how your Flamengo does against OUR Liverpool on Saturday, I imagine there will be far more sorrow in Brasil than there will be joy in England

I want it, and I assume most fans & players want it.


And for me, its another trophy the mancs have over us, we need to put that right.

Pretty sure we win this were ahead of them on Major honors again.   

Oh yes indeed.

looking forward to this have to remember though kick off is 5.30pm. BBC really pisses me off these days having a go at the club for going to Qatar because of human rights etc but they are happy to send out teams of people to cover it. I thought Jürgen handled these questions perfectly pretty much like he does everything else.

looking forward to this have to remember though kick off is 5.30pm. BBC really pisses me off these days having a go at the club for going to Qatar because of human rights etc but they are happy to send out teams of people to cover it. I thought Jürgen handled these questions perfectly pretty much like he does everything else.

Hate BBC. may well mute the commentary.

I watched bits of Monterrey's first game and found that their midfield was so open in the central areas, I just can't see LFC not winning this one comfortably. But then again, they'll probably try to raise their game for that one, so need to take this seriously.

Pinging the ball around nicely and moving industriously without the ball will give us a lot of chances. I mentioned before they have a few players who are very good with the ball at their feet so we want to be careful about conceding free kicks while also closing down spaces in our defensive third.

My fear is the type of challenges that are made (typically) in the Mexican League. I don't know if Monterrey fit this bill but pretty much every Mexican League game I match there are more than a few hard fouls and a couple of large group mosh pits. Hopefully we can steer clear of that.

Looking forward to the game.

Let see how your Flamengo does against OUR Liverpool on Saturday, I imagine there will be far more sorrow in Brasil than there will be joy in England

Whatever Tory boy. The fans of YOUR Liverpool do not despise me.

Just read this on This is Anfield:

This is not the first time the two teams have crossed paths. In May 1964, the two clubs contested a friendly at Chicago’s Soldier Field in front of 12,000 people.

Bill Shankly led his side, who had just won the club’s first league title since 1946/47, on a tour of America and Canada.

And the Reds emerged victorious with Ian St. John notching a hat-trick.

Preseason tours are a little different nowadays. I've been looking for a lineup for that match but usual go-tos for Reds history don't seem to have it since it was a friendly. But I know our old-timers here have fond memories of Ian St. John.

Whatever Tory boy. The fans of YOUR Liverpool do not despise me.

You seem to have an issue with England though, did your Visa get rejected or something?

Just read this on This is Anfield:

This is not the first time the two teams have crossed paths. In May 1964, the two clubs contested a friendly at Chicago’s Soldier Field in front of 12,000 people.

Bill Shankly led his side, who had just won the club’s first league title since 1946/47, on a tour of America and Canada.

And the Reds emerged victorious with Ian St. John notching a hat-trick.

Preseason tours are a little different nowadays. I've been looking for a lineup for that match but usual go-tos for Reds history don't seem to have it since it was a friendly. But I know our old-timers here have fond memories of Ian St. John.

I think it's here mate: https://www.lfchistory.net/SeasonArchive/FriendlyGame/8019

Lawrence, Lawler, Byrne, Moran, Smith, Stevenson, Wallace (Chisnall), Callaghan, Arrowsmith, St John, A'Court (Graham).

You seem to have an issue with England though, did your Visa get rejected or something?

I don't understand why you feel the need to be such a snide c**t all the time. If you disagree with what I said then counter-argument, but it seems every time I criticise English football, you need to get back at me either with personal sh*t or stupid generalisations about my country or South America,  as you did during the World Cup. Try not to be such a snide c**t unnecessarily and perhaps eventually people may event start liking you,  just a bit.

I think you'll find a lot of English people in this forum have a problem with England at the moment. Personally, I have an issue with the little England attitude towards football and the arrogance that comes with it. It was the same with virtually every international competition, including the one that we now brag about having won 6 times.

I don't understand why you feel the need to be such a snide c**t all the time. If you disagree with what I said then counter-argument, but it seems every time I criticise English football, you need to get back at me either with personal sh*t or stupid generalisations about my country or South America,  as you did during the World Cup. Try not to be such a snide c**t unnecessarily and perhaps eventually people may event start liking you,  just a bit.

I think you'll find a lot of English people in this forum have a problem with England at the moment. Personally, I have an issue with the little England attitude towards football and the arrogance that comes with it. It was the same with virtually every international competition, including the one that we now brag about having won 6 times.

Your earlier rant seemed more directed at England in general, and that's what I took offense at, apologies if I misunderstood that. I know that I can be a bit snide at times but if you suffered the amount of sh*t that I do on here I guess you'd be a bit defensive as well. My major crime at the moment seems to be that I'm a Conservative Liverpool fan, something you alluded to yourself by calling me "Tory boy", so perhaps you are a bit snide yourself and should be careful about throwing those stones.

For the record I like Brasil a lot, I lived and worked in Recife for a couple of months in 99.