Topic: League Cup and Club World Cup.

[Fordy]

i thought i read that EFL has rules about fielding a 'competitive' team with first team players and that LFC were reminded of this when the game was scheduled.  Could that mean the likes of a Lovren or a Shaqiri are left home to start with 9 other youngsters to make it look better? 

No the rules are you have to play the kind of team you played in the last round ..so if you played 5 1st team squad players and 6 youth players the that has to be the make up of your team.

However, doubt that rule applies to us for this considering our situation.

[SteveZissou]

In the interview Klopp mentioned he will meet the rules by using many of the same players from the previous 2 games, that means the kids, so not Origi, Ox, Lovren and Milner. Gomez will probably also go to Qatar, along with Shaqiri who played the first game.

[Too early for flapjacks?]

The likes of Kelleher, Williams, VDB, Hoever, Chirivella, Kane, Elliott, Jones and Brewster have already featured in the competition so don't think that rule is an issue.

[kavah]

Villa changed 9 players for the last round. While they might not make that many changes for the QF but I don’t think they will go full strength. ...

They have a demanding run of games coming up, the manager will target the home game against Southampton as a must win - so that might help us.

2nd Man U (A)
5th Chelsea (A)
8th Leicester
14th Sheffield U (A)
17th League cup v LFC
21st Southampton

[Bobinhood]

So why not we go win the world championship and the kids can continue on winning the league cup.  im good with that.

[GinKop]

Lets assume we get the South Americans in the final. I think a big difference vs 2005 is that we have Allison, Fabinho and Firmino in the squad who will really want to perform and make a statement in front of their home country TV audience.

I think it makes a big difference and just adds that extra impetus.

My friend who is a Flamengo fan just sent me the words for their new song;

Foi em Novembro la no Peru
Botou O River na roda
Gabigol, aos 91
Ficou marcado na historia
E no Rio nao tem outro igual
Liverpool, te espero na final

His rough translation;

In November in Peru
We battered River
Gabigol in the 91st minute
Will be remembered in history
And in Rio we have no equal
Liverpool, I hope it's you in the final

[Dave D]

There's a trophy missing from The Champions Wall and the Walk of Champions. We need to win it, something the great Liverpool sides of the past were never able to achieve.

Plus we get to wear this badge for at least a year and piss everyone off. It would go straight on to our CL kit wouldn't it?

[CraigDS]

Sleeves are gonna look kinda crowded with all these badges 

Would it replace the '6' CL one or the '2019' one?

[dudleyred]

Sleeves are gonna look kinda crowded with all these badges 

Would it replace the '6' CL one or the '2019' one?

Goes front and centre I think

[GinKop]

Goes front and centre I think

Yep normally worn slap bang in the middle.

Nike will be creaming themselves at the prospect of marketing with this accolade.

[GeorgiaRed]

Our Brazilian players will definitely care. Also Fabinho started off at Fluminese arch rivals of Flamengo. Allisson spoke about wanting to always play in the club world cup. Bobby will feel the same. I remember when Chelsea lost to Corinthians in 2012 final and David Luiz was crying his eyes out as he saw it as huge trophy to miss out on.

I know many won't like this comment, but I think there is some truth in it. This also pits Nike vs Adidas on the world stage as Flamengo is sponsored by Adidas. Yes, I know we are currently in New Balance, but Nike is waiting in the wings. From a financial aspect for the club I believe this to be a massive trophy to win from a marketing standpoint.

[GeorgiaRed]

I hope the weather at the Club World Cup allows us to play our normal game of high intensity if the coaching staff wants too. Is there any Middle Eastern reds that can give a weather update for that time of year. 

From highlights that I have seen if we are able to press I think we can cause them some problems. They do seem to have some quality going forward. 

Not bothered about the League Cup at all I want to have payback for '81.   

[Buck Pete]

I've not read through thread so not sure of the RAWK consensus but I for one am really looking forward to the Club World Cup

Actually just being in it should be a source of immense pride for club, players and fans alike.  Its not going to do our already mega profile any harm either.

Hopefully, all being well we will be playing one of the most famous South American clubs of them all.

Its going to be great IMO.

[newterp]

I think it’s cool.

Too many are freaking out that it will mess up the league - but I don’t think it will especially now that we are tanking the League Cup and if we win tomorrow we can rotate for the final CL game.

[Aziziya Vin]

I hope the weather at the Club World Cup allows us to play our normal game of high intensity if the coaching staff wants too. Is there any Middle Eastern reds that can give a weather update for that time of year. 

From highlights that I have seen if we are able to press I think we can cause them some problems. They do seem to have some quality going forward. 

Not bothered about the League Cup at all I want to have payback for '81.   

The weather will be perfect - probably around 65˚F at 8.30pm, when the games kick off

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

I've not read through thread so not sure of the RAWK consensus but I for one am really looking forward to the Club World Cup

Actually just being in it should be a source of immense pride for club, players and fans alike.  Its not going to do our already mega profile any harm either.

Hopefully, all being well we will be playing one of the most famous South American clubs of them all.

Its going to be great IMO.

I'm just looking forward to having a couple of relatively stress free games (not saying that they'll be easy, I just won't care as much about the result).

[emitime]

The weather will be perfect - probably around 65˚F at 8.30pm, when the games kick off

18 degrees if anyone was wondering.

[farawayred]

I think it’s cool.

Too many are freaking out that it will mess up the league - but I don’t think it will especially now that we are tanking the League Cup and if we win tomorrow we can rotate for the final CL game.

Are we? Just watch the kids run Villa ragged...

[jepovic]

I've not read through thread so not sure of the RAWK consensus but I for one am really looking forward to the Club World Cup

Actually just being in it should be a source of immense pride for club, players and fans alike.  Its not going to do our already mega profile any harm either.

Hopefully, all being well we will be playing one of the most famous South American clubs of them all.

Its going to be great IMO.

I hate it. Another gimmick tournament, that is so lame that it's about to be ended. The last thing football needs is more half-assed games.
Playing on a blood-soiled stadium in Qatar is also a disgrace to the history of the club. All for a few quid. Sickening.

[dudleyred]

I hate it. Another gimmick tournament, that is so lame that it's about to be ended. The last thing football needs is more half-assed games.
Playing on a blood-soiled stadium in Qatar is also a disgrace to the history of the club. All for a few quid. Sickening.

There’s a lot to discuss here!!

Firstly the club World Cup isn’t ending. It’s growing and will be a summer tournament. I don’t like that but that’s the truth.

Far from a gimmick for every confederation outside of Europe. In fact most of Europe rate it highly. In South America it’s the pinnacle.

Judging by the chat from flamengo it’s going to be anything but half assed. If you believe Maddock in the mirror our players have emphasised to the boss how much it means to them to try win it too

This final bit about Qatar - the club doesn’t pick the venue. I also think not going would be an insult to the people in Qatar. It’s the regime the issues are with not the workers so I think we should be going for them as much as anything

[classycarra]

I hate it. Another gimmick tournament, that is so lame that it's about to be ended. The last thing football needs is more half-assed games.
Playing on a blood-soiled stadium in Qatar is also a disgrace to the history of the club. All for a few quid. Sickening.

It'll be a strong mix of our first team and squad players across the two games, with maybe Allison and VVD playing both and potentially the likes of TAA and Robertson playing one each, but I don't think we'll be half arsed at all.

Personally think our squad are more motivated to win it than to earn our owners a few quid.

[GeorgiaRed]

The weather will be perfect - probably around 65˚F at 8.30pm, when the games kick off

. Thank you for the reply.

[him_15]

I want us to win the Club World Cup so badly.

[stoopid yank]

 It’s growing and will be a summer tournament. I don’t like that but that’s the truth.

Funny that but obvious why. The big European clubs have been making a truckload of cash doing summer tours in USA and far east this past decade.  Fifa's thinking is "fuck that" we want control as well as a big cut.  South American, African, and Asian clubs want in also for the $.

Last I read the European Club Association has threatened to boycott any summer club world cup.

[Statto Red]

All World Club matches on BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50581762

[SteveZissou]

I'm going to spoil the party by saying the Club World Cup is still a shit trophy. We previously won the European Cup 5 times and didn't win this Cup. If Team X elbows Virgil in the stomach, VAR thinks it's not clear and obvious, then goes on to score, while the ref doesn't spot their wild tackling, they pull us to a penalty shootout and edge us... well, what kind of two-match event is a proper world title?

Now, back to reality: The Champions League is the only competition with the world's best teams in it. The winner of this competition is the rightful holder of the world title. End of. We don't need to play in this thing in Qatar to justify the title. Nothing has changed... and if you just act like sheep and celebrate this trophy, then no worries, Fifa's getting ready a big tourno for another world title in a few years, soon after winning the UCL.

[nico 8]

i thought i read that EFL has rules about fielding a 'competitive' team with first team players and that LFC were reminded of this when the game was scheduled.  Could that mean the likes of a Lovren or a Shaqiri are left home to start with 9 other youngsters to make it look better? 

Why would you leave Lovren behind? Who do you suggest plays ahead of him??

[disgraced cake]

I'm going to spoil the party by saying the Club World Cup is still a shit trophy. We previously won the European Cup 5 times and didn't win this Cup. If Team X elbows Virgil in the stomach, VAR thinks it's not clear and obvious, then goes on to score, while the ref doesn't spot their wild tackling, they pull us to a penalty shootout and edge us... well, what kind of two-match event is a proper world title?

Now, back to reality: The Champions League is the only competition with the world's best teams in it. The winner of this competition is the rightful holder of the world title. End of. We don't need to play in this thing in Qatar to justify the title. Nothing has changed... and if you just act like sheep and celebrate this trophy, then no worries, Fifa's getting ready a big tourno for another world title in a few years, soon after winning the UCL.

Yeah, it's nothing we've took too seriously in the past. Flamengo could beat us 3-0 again in the final, it means everything to them but wouldn't mean anything to me. We won the European Cup and proved we were the best team in the world. Flamengo have never been better than us, Sao Paolo were never better than us, I'm not even sure of the other team who beat us, I think it was either Estudiantes or Independiente. That's how shit it is. Whoever it was have never been better than us.

If you offered me a tonking in the final for that point in Salzburg, I'd bite your hand off now. But if we're going over there, we might as well win it.

[Mighty_Red]

what kind of two-match event is a proper world title?

Or you could look at it the other and think that those 2 matches are a culmination of 13 that were played last season. Who else plays in it? Only the champions.

Will this make or break our season? No way, but I think this is a box that needs ticking, esp after 2005.

It's essentially 1 match, let's keep that trophy winning feeling going!

[sirKennyDaggers]

World cup would be great to win, and as long as we are fit and ready for Leicester all good.

[Bobinhood]

what kind of two-match event is a proper world title?

Now, back to reality: The Champions League is the only competition with the world's best teams in it.

1 You missed that part where you need to qualify by finishing in the top 4 in the Prem and possibly play a qualifier and then come out of a 4 team group round robin and then win 3 consecutive two legged ties against avg say top ten in the world quality teams and then win a final. You need to do all that just to punch your ticket to the dance. Then youve got to beat a regional champion who did the same thing to get to the final against usually the south american champions.

2 Europe has the best depth by far but the history of the various club tournaments is about a 50-50 split including we have lost twice. the South American Champ can give anyone a game on a one off.

Damn straight we want this. winning it will catapult us to the title not interfere.  the boys will walk 3 inches taller for months.

[farawayred]

The CWC, as its Toyota Cup predecessor, were always far more important to the South Americans than the Europeans, not even close. No idea why, but the same is with the Olympic football games. It's nice to win the CWC, we have done the more difficult part already by qualifying as European Champ[ions. But if that compromises our title challenge, then screw it. There is no crystal ball to tell which way it will go, but we should approach the tournament with caution; I don't want to see loosing another player to injury...

[CraigDS]

https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/376344-liverpool-fifa-club-world-cup-squad-confirmed

 Liverpool have confirmed their 23-man squad for the forthcoming FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar later this month.

The Reds are set to play two matches in the tournament, with games scheduled for Wednesday December 18 and Saturday December 21.

Joel Matip and Fabinho are not included in Jürgen Klopp’s selection as they continue their recovery from respective injuries.

Players suffering from illness or injury prior to Liverpool’s first match in the competition can be replaced in the squad up to 24 hours before kick-off.

Liverpool FIFA Club World Cup squad: Alisson, Van Dijk, Wijnaldum, Lovren, Milner, Keita, Firmino, Mane, Salah, Gomez, Adrian, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana, Lonergan, Shaqiri, Brewster, Robertson, Origi, Jones, Alexander-Arnold, Elliott, Williams.

[Chris~]

U23s not even going to have their best players vs Villa. Unless they're going to play might have been better letting them play vs Villa and taking some other u23s as squad fillers.

[Snusmumriken]

I think Klopp will play quite a lot of the reserves in the semis and use the Qatar trip as half a break for the team. Shrewd 

[killer-heels]

I think Klopp will play quite a lot of the reserves in the semis and use the Qatar trip as half a break for the team. Shrewd 

I think there is an 11 day gap between the Salzburg game and the Final of the Club World Cup. Granted, we have Watford and the Semi final between that time so its very possible that some players needing rests get that whole period off.

[gerrardisgod]

Seems feasible that the youngsters named will play against Villa and then travel, maybe with a couple others.

[Sudden Death Draft Loser]

Seems feasible that the youngsters named will play against Villa and then travel, maybe with a couple others.

Inexperienced youngsters such as Harvey Elliott, Rhian Brewster, Curtis Jones and Neco Williams were expected to stay at home to play a leading role in Liverpool's side for their League Cup quarter-final with Aston Villa but they too will be travelling to Qatar.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/50668923

[CraigDS]

Seems feasible that the youngsters named will play against Villa and then travel, maybe with a couple others.

Hasn't Klopp said this isn't feasible?

[gerrardisgod]

That’s me told.

Ah well, they get more experience in and around the first team, in a different environment. Feel really sorry for the kids that go out against Villa.