It is fair to say that Liverpool have been like a juggernaut in the Premier League this season. The Reds have won 16 of their first 17 matches in the top-flight, while also winning four of their six matches in the Champions League group stages.
On Wednesday evening, they face a different challenge, as Jurgen Klopp’s team face Mexican team Monterrey in the FIFA Club World Cup. The Merseysider’s are massive favourites to beat their opponents at odds of 2/9.
A strange situation
Liverpool appearing at the FIFA Club World Cup in itself is not a strange situation. In fact, the Reds as European champions were obligated to take part in the competition as representatives of Europe. However, what is strange is the fact that Liverpool are also playing a League Cup quarter-final on Tuesday night.
While Klopp and his senior team are facing Monterrey, a Liverpool eleven made up of Neil Critchley’s under-23 team take on struggling Premier League outfit Aston Villa at Villa Park. There was talk of the Reds pulling out of the League Cup altogether but then settled on the under-23’s playing instead. The Reds do have a busy schedule as they are still fighting on every front.
Who are Monterrey?
The Mexican team made it through to the CLUB World Cup by winning the CONCACAF Champions League for the fourth time since first lifting the trophy back in 2011.
The Mexican team have some familiar names to Premier League fans in their ranks, including utility man Miguel Layun, who once played for Watford in the English top-flight. The experienced star also played for the likes of Porto, Sevilla and Villarreal.
In a strange twist of fate, Rogerio Funes Mori, twin brother of former Everton star Ramiro Funes Mori is also in the Monterrey squad. In fact, he scored in the 3-2 victory over Al Sadd to set up this meeting with the European champions.
Then there is former Tottenham striker Vincent Janssen, who has scored ten times in 20 appearances since joining the Mexican team from Spurs. The forward is odds of 11/4 to score at anytime against the Merseysider’s.
Wednesday’s clash will not be the first time that Monterrey has met a Premier League side in this competition, as they suffered a 3-1 loss against Chelsea in the 2012 edition. Unfortunately for Monterrey, they will head into their clash with the European champions hoping to avoid a similar defeat.
Liverpool big favourites to lift the trophy
The European champions tend to dominate this competition, as 11 of the last 12 editions of the competition have been won by the kings of Europe. In fact, Spanish giants Real Madrid have won it for the last three years. With Liverpool in fantastic form, it is unsurprising that the Reds are favourites to win lift the trophy at odds of 4/11, with the final of the competition on Saturday evening.
If Liverpool do triumph in Qatar, then it is unlikely to be the last piece of silverware that the Merseysider’s pick-up. Any piece of silverware is welcome and it seems that Liverpool and their boss Klopp are taking the competition seriously. It would be a major surprise if the Reds fail to emerge victorious on Wednesday and indeed on Saturday evening.
Will Liverpool dominate the FIFA Club World Cup?
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