Why Liverpool must not underestimate the Club World Cup

The FIFA Club World Cup may not be the most illustrious tournament. It may not attract the hundreds of millions of fans around the world that FIFA’s international tournament of the same name does, and it may also coincide with one of Liverpool’s toughest periods of the season. Yet it is another trophy to be won by Jurgen Klopp’s side and the potential to add more silverware to Liverpool’s trophy cabinet at Anfield is always a tempting prospect. Especially one that the heavy laden cabinet does not already have.

On paper the FIFA Club World Cup may seem like a competition for the minnows of world football. Aside from the European champions who join the tournament at the semi-final stage the teams participating in the competition are probably little known to most European fans or soccer followers in North America. But the tournament is far from as straightforward as it sounds.

The Club World Cup has thrown up some major surprises in the past. This season especially it will host some strong sides with playing styles which will differ greatly to that of the teams in Europe that Liverpool are used to competing against. Liverpool will come up against Asian teams like Al-Hilal with added athleticism and energy and also a robust South American side with more tenacity and rhythm in Flamengo.

The Reds will also be competing in the stifling heat of Qatar and that heat will be unfamiliar to the vast majority of the side who are used to playing in more harsher and colder environments. The stifling heat gives a major advantage to the Asian and South American sides who will be accustomed to playing in such heat and know how to handle it and approach games in that environment.

History proves that often times underestimating the tournament has been the thorn in English team’s sides who remain the only teams in the tournament’s history who failed to win it as European Champions other than Barcelona in 2006.

Liverpool begun the trend in 2005 when after the miracle of Istanbul, Rafa Benitez’s side faltered to a 1-0 defeat to Sao Paolo in Japan in sweltering heat and amidst a massive culture shock as the Reds failed to adapt to the flair of their South American opponents.

Seven years later Chelsea became the next victims. Following their Champions League triumph in Munich they too faltered against Brazilian opponents coincidentally also in Japan. This time Corinthians were the side delivering Chelsea’s defeat frustrating the English side with their South American flamboyant and explosive style.

Fans around the globe, especially the South American fanbase, view the Club World Cup as the most prestigious tournament to be held every year. To fans and players alike it is their only chance to see their teams compete at the pinnacle of world football and their one opportunity to showcase their ability on a grand level and against a mighty European opponent.

Often in the Club World Cup final the reason why European teams fail is because they were flabbergasted by the quality and fighting spirit of their competition and underestimated the game at hand. The teams in the Club World Cup are far from poor in quality. Flamengo who will compete in this year’s competition hosts some great players including the likes of Gabigol, Diego, Reinier and Rodrigo Caio. Meanwhile Al-Hilal has Sebastian Giovinco, Bafetimbi Gomis and Andre Carrillo who have all competed in some of Europe’s top leagues in the past.

Despite those strong line-ups Liverpool will undoubtedly be considered as the favourites for the trophy but the Reds must not get carried away. Their underdog rivals will be desperate to cause an upset. Liverpool’s opponents will no doubt put blood, sweat and tears into their performance just like Sao Paulo did in 2005 against the Reds or Corinthians against Chelsea in 2012.

It is why Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp’s men must be vary of the opposition at hand to avoid the repeat of the past and they must approach the game with the same outlook as any other European knockout tie in the Champions League.

Klopp must play his best side to ensure the Reds come back with the long sought trophy in hand and lift one last silverware in the in the club’s illustrious 2019 campaign.