DOHA (Qatar): Substitute Roberto Firmino helped Liverpool overcome Mexico’s Monterrey 2-1 in the semifinal of the FIFA Club World Cup here on Wednesday night.
In front of a vociferous crowd that constituted majority of their fans, but mostly Mohammed Salah followers in the Qatari capital, the Premier League side overcame a gritty challenge from the CONCACAF winners, who cancelled out Naby Keita’s 12th-minute goal through Rogelio Funes Mori two minutes later.
“Our opponents fought really hard. We had problems before the game. We knew that we will have some problems as well, it was clear. But I really think the boys did exceptionally well because we had so many strange things,” said Klopp after the match.
The Reds will meet Brazilian outfit Flamengo in Saturday’s showpiece at the 2022 FIFA World Cup venue.
But the match was evenly fought and, in fact, saw the CONCACAF winners match the European champions blow by blow.
I was actually afraid of the extra-time: Klopp
“I was actually afraid of the extra-time, to be honest. I was more than happy when Bobby scored that goal,” added the German. “We had to do a few changes because we had no other options. We wanted some other changes for the line-up. It means we left Trent out, Bobby out and Sadio out, so that gives us then the opportunity when the game is not decided to make a decision.”
Liverpool’s star striker Mohammed Salah didn’t score as he was heavily marked by Monterrey defenders, yet he contributed in his team’s first goal.
“The pass for Naby’s goal was from Mo, he had a lot of final balls. The Milner chance, the ball was from Mo as well. I thought he played a sensationally good game for all that happened around. Look, we are all human beings and the attention on Mo Salah in this part of the world is obviously massive,” Klopp said of the Egyptian.
Asked about his opponents, Klopp, said, “I was never in doubt about that. Why should we think that European football stands over all or whatever? But still, one game is not enough to judge a player or team. But they are good, I saw in the game against Al Sadd already good players.”
