Liverpool v Monterrey | Preview | Club World Cup 2019

Date: DEC. 18th, 2019

Time: 12:30 PM ET | 19:30 Cairo Local Time

Venue: Education City Stadium, Qatar

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.

Related video: Liverpool against Watford

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.

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.

https://youtu.be/iTeARYSbT48

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.

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.