Pep Guardiola and Manchester City may need a heroic performance from the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold to overcome Liverpool’s seemingly simple scheduling problems.
Manchester City will try to emulate Liverpool by winning the Club World CupLiverpool’s 4-0 thrashing of Leicester City on Boxing Day 2019 still remains one of the greatest achievements of the Jurgen Klopp era four years on.
Even though the teams were in first and second place, it was a 4-0 win as the Reds had the advantage over the group they were chasing that year.This match will be remembered as a masterclass from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Trent Alexander-Arnold scored twice, five days after scoring twice from right-back, as his team-mates took part in the 120-minute Club World Cup. They will face Brazilian side Flamengo in the final, held thousands of kilometers away in Qatar.
Given the rigors of the game at the King Power Stadium and Liverpool’s commitments in the Middle East, many feared Klopp’s side would suffer their first defeat of the season, but they overcame the ordeal with deceptive ease.
Reds completed an international treble by beating Flamengo 1-0 and beating Tottenham in the Champions League final thanks to Roberto Firmino’s extra-goal and UEFA Super Cup win against Chelsea earlier in 2019.
Now, four years on, Manchester City will look to match that feat by defeating Inter in June’s continental clash and Europa League winners Sevilla in August.A City game will take place in Saudi Arabia as Liverpool prepare to face West Ham in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
The semi-finals (against one of the winners from the second round) are scheduled for Tuesday evening UK time. And next Friday, a day before title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal meet at Anfield, Pep Guardiola’s men will be involved in a play-off for third place or possibly the final.
If the competition goes as expected, they will face South American champions Fluminense for the prize money.
