Twenty-one years previously, Joe Fagan’s Reds had lost
1-0 to Independiente of Argentina, in a one-of match on a
brown, bumpy pitch in Tokyo.
After an 18-hour light from London followed a ive-hour
coach trip to the capital, the Reds lost Mark Lawrenson to
a hamstring injury in training. They fell behind after only six
minutes. Claudio Marangoni, once of Sunderland, crossing
for Jose Alberto Percudani to beat Bruce Grobbelaar.
Thereafter it was a story of Liverpool’s struggle to equalise
and the occasional Argentine counter-attack.
Fagan said: “Independiente are a good defensive,
tactical team and we could ind no way through. We were
disappointed with the result but I wasn’t disappointed with
the display.”
Back in 1981 came that heavy defeat to Flamengo.
Manager Bob Paisley was never a fan of the showpiece but
was persuaded to take his team to the Far East when the
Football League granted Liverpool special dispensation.
But the Reds arguably didn’t take it too seriously and
they were beaten by a Flamengo side that included the
legendary midielder Zico. Two goals from striker Nunes
and one from Adilio won it on a day when Liverpool wore
player names on the backs of their jerseys for the irst time.
In his book Behind the Shankly Gates, defender Phil
Thompson wrote: “The game was a shame because Bob
was concerned about us not getting involved in any
altercations with the opposition and not doing anything
wrong. He wanted to make sure we upheld the credentials
and good name not only of Liverpool, but England.
“We did that and in fairness to Bob, he held his hands up
afterwards and took responsibility for us not being ired-up
for the game. We went there and treated it too much as a
friendly, doing the right thing for the FA’s sake and our own.
“The game took place in December, right in the middle
of our season and, for once, our focus wasn’t right. Bob didn’t
want us lying into tackles because he was concerned about the
South American mentality and he didn’t want an incident.
“We probably went over that line and went too far the other
way, but it was all a good experience.”CLUB WORLD CUP 2019 SCHEDULE
n Match 1: Al-Sadd v Hienghene Sport Wed 11 Dec (5.30pm UK time).
n Match 2: Al-Hilal v Esperance de Tunis Sat 14 Dec (2pm UK time).
n Match 3: Monterrey v Winners of Match 1 Sat 14 Dec (5.30pm UK time).
n Semi-final 1: Flamengo v Winners of Match 2 Tues 17 Dec (5.30pm UK time).
n Semi-final 2: Liverpool v Winners of Match 3 Wed 18 Dec (5.30pm UK time).
n Third-place: Sat 21 Dec (2.30pm UK time).
n Final: Sat 21 Dec (5.30pm UK time).QATAR TREKCraig Johnston in action against Independiente in 1984A colourful welcome in 1981 but Terry McDermott (right)
and Liverpool come unstuck against Flamengo