Liverpool left it late in Qatar with a Roberto Firmino goal in stoppage time giving them a 2-1 win over Mexican side Monterrey to book their place in the Club World Cup final on Saturday.
Naby Keita gave the Reds the lead after just 11 minutes, but Monterrey answered just three minutes later when Rogelio Funes Mori fired home after Liverpool's makeshift defence couldn't deal with a free kick.
With dreaded extra time looming, substitute Firmino produced a delicate finish to Trent Alexander-Arnold's wonderful ball into the box to win it for the European champions.
Liverpool will now face Brazilian side Flamengo in Saturday evening's final.
With James Milner at right back and Jordan Henderson at centre back due to an illness to Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool were given plenty of problems all night in defence.
The enterprising Mexicans gave them Liverpool they could handle - with Alisson Becker arguably Liverpool's man of the match as he made a number of top saves.
Divock Origi wasted a glorious chance late on to convert from close range, shortly before he was brought off for Firmino with five minutes remaining.
Mohamed Salah, who set up Keita's goal with an incisive pass, got in down the right and twisted and turned around two players before laying the ball off for substitute Alexander-Arnold to cross.
The Liverpool right back, instead of swinging in a high cross, picked out Firmino with a wonderful low cross that wrong-footed the defence and found the on-rushing Firmino, with the Brazilian producing a deft touch to set up a final clash with his compatriots.
Monterrey 1-2 Liverpool Opta stats
- Liverpool have reached their second FIFA Club World Cup final, becoming the first English team to reach the final of the competition twice.
- Monterrey have lost both of their FIFA Club World Cup semi-final matches, losing against English opposition both times (also vs Chelsea in 2012).
- Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold has registered 20 assists in all competitions during 2019, more than any other Premier League player.
- Since the start of the 2017/18 season, no player has more assists for Liverpool in all competitions than Mohamed Salah (31, level with Roberto Firmino).
- Liverpool became the first Premier League team to play matches on consecutive days since November 2001, when both Manchester United and Arsenal did so.
- Naby Keita has now scored as many goals in his last three Liverpool appearances in all competitions (three) as he managed in his first 41 matches for the club.