Sports News of Friday, 20 December 2019

Source: DailyMail

Klopp believes Flamengo have

Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, has revealed that their club world cup final match opponent, Flamengo, here with the main aim of winning the tournament based on order.

The German believes that Flamengo will be 'treated as heroes' and enjoy 'a proper party' if they lift the trophy, while Liverpool have to return home and play Leicester City on Boxing Day.

South American clubs have always placed greater significance in winning global club tournaments as opposed to an attitude of iindifference in Europe, something Klopp acknowledged on the eve of the game.

He said: 'The situation is different for them and us. They got sent with the clear order to win it and come back as heroes.

'We got told, stay at home and play the Carabao Cup [quarter-final against Aston Villa on Tuesday, which a young Liverpool side lost 5-0]. That is a massive difference and we cannot change that.

'My teams want to win the competition, even if we know it is very difficult. The view on it in Europe is different to that in South America. We want to change that view, we feel it has changed a little bit.

'Of course, Liverpool fans want us to win but lots of the other fans in Europe don't care about the competition. You saw how much Monterrey fought in their two games here and it will be the same with Flamengo.'

Liverpool face Leicester, their closest challengers at the moment for the Premier League title, at the King Power Stadium, on Boxing Day.

They then face two further home matches in the league against Wolves and Sheffield United over New Year before playing Everton in the third round of the FA Cup.

Klopp confirmed that defender Virgil van Dijk and midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum trained on Friday after illness and injury respectively but didn't definitely confirm they would play in the final.