Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed that Liverpool are taking the FIFA Club World Championship seriously and will send a full-strength squad to the competition.
The tournament is taking place in Japan from December 11-18 and Liverpool and features the winners of each federations continental cup.
“We are delighted with this possibility,” Benitez told a news conference on Wednesday.
“We will try and do our best. People say we will be tired or will not go with the best team, but we will go with the best team and try and be as fit as possible because this is a great challenge for me.”
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is aware that there is a danger of playing too many matches, but is confident he will have plenty of energy left over when the World Cup cpmes around.
“I have played a lot of games already this season, but the manager says it all about the squad and every player will be given a break,” he said.
“So I’m sure I will get my breaks at the right time, and when it comes to the World Cup I will be fresh.
“There are two ways of looking at it. You can see it as a negative that comes at the wrong time in the season,” he added.
“Or you can look forward to it; use it as a positive, come back as a winner and use it as a confidence boost for the rest of the season. That’s how we see it.”
The other teams involved in the tournament are Sao Paolo, Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica, Australia’s Sydney FC, Asian Champions Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia and African champions Al Ahly Cairo of Egypt.
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