Jurgen Klopp has warned Flamengo that Liverpool will be “a different opponent” in the FIFA Club World Cup final.
The Reds needed an injury-time winner from substitute Roberto Firmino to earn a 2-1 triumph in their semi-final against Mexican side Monterrey here in Doha on Wednesday evening.
Klopp fielded an experimental side with Jordan Henderson deputising for the ill Virgil van Dijk at centre-back while Adam Lallana played in defensive midfield as Sadio Mane and Trent Alexander-Arnold joined Firmino on the bench.
Flamengo were similarly made to work hard for their final place, coming from behind to beat Al-Hilal 3-1 on Tuesday.
And of Saturday’s showdown, Klopp said: “Tough game, really tough game. We watched the game (semi-final) and we will watch more games.
“One game is important but it is not all about that. We will be a different opponent of course. That’s how it is.
“We will analyse them and then we will think about our next opponent. We don’t base things on one game, I don’t believe in that. We have to watch two or three games and that’s what I will do.
“We will have to be ready for a really tough game. Next to our hotel, before the game, the Flamengo fans celebrated already before their game, they had a proper party, so they have a couple of supporters here and so for them it is important, for us it’s important and we will have to see who deals with that situation better.”
Klopp added: “I don’t know who will be ready for the next game (for us). Flamengo’s season is over so they are here with pretty much a full squad.
“We have to recover as quick as possible and make ourselves ready. We saw Flamengo in the other semi-final and it was an open game for a long period so we will see.
“As a European manager (Flamengo boss Jorge Jesus) he has a European influence but if there was not a European coach it would still be difficult but he is very successful in Portugal and now in Brazil and we have a lot of respect for them. In the end we will try our best.”