Not quite going so smoothly in Doha, however. Flamengo are controlling the game at the moment, although they can't make it count.

In case you're wondering what's happening back home Liverpool fans... your Premier League rivals Manchester City are 3-1 up against Leicester - another side trying to chase the Reds. Going your way there...

Not quite Ronaldo-esque. Gabriel Barbosa - who you wonder on this evidence whether has a future at Inter - meets a ball into the Liverpool box with a bicycle kick. But it lacks power and Alisson gathers with a degree of comfort.

For all their possession, Flamengo haven't opened up Liverpool time and time again. Their best chance about 10 minutes ago and this is what happened...

Flamengo patiently pass the ball around the halfway, trying to move Liverpool around before picking a gap. One appears and is quickly filled by Gabriel Barbosa, who shot is blocked by Virgil van Dijk. The on-loan Inter Milan man has been a real handful.

Settled down a touch after that frantic start to the second half. The Flamengo fans haven't though. Creating a real racket.

Strong confident run out of defence by Joe Gomez gets Liverpool moving again. Like Hansen in his pomp.

The closest we've been to a goal is Roberto Firmino pinging the post. Here's what happened...

Another ball over top proves a successful tactic for Liverpool, Mo Salah is away! Offside? The flag stays down... the Reds forward has one shot blocked and fires the rebound over the bar. Then the flag goes up...

Very watchable.

Image source, Getty Images

A few moments ago Roberto Firmino was well placed in his box to block a cross, now he's in the thick of the action at the other end. Liverpool break quickly, going left where they have spare bodies.

Andrew Robertson shoots low, the ball landing at Firmino's feet to his surprise and pinging off into the keeper's hands. Reckon the flag would have gone up if he had buried it.

Get rid! Alisson dithers on the ball as he is charged down by Gabriel Barbosa... the Flamengo forward gets something on it and Liverpool have to defend again...

What a save! Alisson stops his side going behind with a smart stop from Gabriel Barbosa's drive. That was nestling in the far corner. Liverpool looking a touch shaky again...

Liverpool win a free-kick on the edge of their area, moving the ball quickly upfield as they look to catch Flamengo on the hop. Diego Alves races off his line blocking the ball before a quick juggle to get his hands off it as he slides out of his box.

Then the South American champions break...

That's helped quieten the Samba drum. Well, a little. Liverpool dancing to their own beat at the moment. Need to capitalise on this.

Another positive start to the half by Liverpool. Trent Alexander-Arnold, not allowed to scamper forward as much as he usually does in the first half, gets beyond the Flamengo defence on the right and pulls back to Mohamed Salah. A first-time shot flashes past the post. The wrong side of the post from a Reds perspective.

That's a golden opportunity at the start of either half now for Bobby Firmino.

How did this not go in?! Roberto Firmino latches on to a pass from Jordan Henderson, sending a Flamengo defender dizzy with a deft lob over his head, then slightly scuffing against the inside of the left-hand post.

Nine times out of 10 that dings into the net. Physics not on Liverpool's side there.

No changes from either gaffer by the way. Here's a reminder of the two teams...

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane, Salah, Firmino

Flamengo XI: Alves, Caio, Mari, Arao, Ribeiro, Gerson, Barbosa, Rafinha, De Arrascaeta, Luis, Henrique

Jurgen Klopp rallies his players one final time as they head out of the tunnel. Liverpool have been far from their best but we know that just keep on going.

Flamengo, after a false start, get the ball rolling again.