A late extra-time goal by Roberto Firmino gave Liverpool a 1-0 victory over Brazil's Flamengo to win the Club World Cup at the Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar on Saturday.
Hometown boy Firmino scored the winner in the ninth minute of extra time to secure victory for Juergen Klopp's UEFA Champions League representative and Premier League leaders.
The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in normal time was when Firmino hit the post, two minutes after the break.
There was a lot of commotion at the closing minutes of the original time as Liverpool were awarded a penalty after the referee ruled that Sadio Mane had been brought down by Rafinha. Flamengo fans who dominated the 45,000-crowd at Khalifa Stadium were furious when the referee determined the incident had happened outside the penalty area, but the decision was over-ruled after a VAR review found the challenge was made outside the box.
Liverpool lost Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the second half to a knee injury the England international limping away from the field after landing badly and hurting the same right knee which he suffered ligament damage to in 2018 and caused him to miss the entirety of the season.
Liverpool added the world title to its sixth European Cup collected in June to qualify for the Club World Cup. At the same time, a continent away back in England, Liverpool's pursuit of the Premier League was aided by Leicester losing to Manchester City.
While Liverpool’s year is ending on a high, 2019 of tragedy and triumph ends on a low on the field for Flamengo.
A first Copa Libertadores title since 1981 followed a domestic title triumph for Brazil’s most successful club. But it came against the backdrop of grief and agony following the deaths of 10 academy players - all between 14 and 16 years old -- in a fire in a dormitory.
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