Liverpool qualified for the Club World Cup as champions of the UEFA Champions League, having defeated Tottenham Hotspur in the final. The club had previously played in the 2005 Club World Championship, finishing as runners-up to São Paulo. Due to their participation in the tournament, Liverpool were forced to field a squad of youth players for a EFL Cup tie against Aston Villa due to the proximity of the two games, with the senior squad heading to Qatar to prepare while the reserves played in the cup game managed by U-23's manager Neil Critchley. As a result, they were beaten 5–0. The clubs heaviest ever defeat in the competition