Tendou has the divine skill "Body of Steel," so he doesn't worry about injuries.
But playing in the Premier League, a league full of brutes, a dive is necessary when a dive is needed.
If you don't go down, the opponent will endlessly use all sorts of barbaric methods to stop you.
Before, Tendou's words carried little weight. He was a nobody in the football world and didn't get any favorable whistles.
After all, he was Asian.
But now, it was different.
He was a super rookie in the football world, a player that Florentino himself had personally named, and already a football star for Liverpool.
He now had a star's aura and could enjoy the same treatment as Salah.
Coupled with his tough-guy persona and his age, the moment the referees saw him go down so hard, they would have long since felt for him and were ready to curse Rose's ancestors.
In short, he wouldn't use the diving trick all the time, but in some key battles, a well-timed dive could have a miraculous effect.
The match continued.
Tendou took a quick free kick to Henderson.
The entire Tottenham team retreated to their own half to defend. Liverpool could only seek opportunities to penetrate bit by bit.
But Tottenham's defense was as solid as a rock. Liverpool simply couldn't get through.
Klopp is a typical German coach.
Pragmatic and efficient football is engraved in his DNA. Liverpool has never been like Manchester City. Once they have a chance, Liverpool will speed up.
Take now, for example.
Seeing that he couldn't penetrate Tottenham's defense, Tendou, after receiving the ball, immediately initiated a breakthrough in the center.
Sissoko immediately came over with a slide tackle, bringing him down again.
And this time, Tendou still went down decisively, but he immediately got back up to chase the ball.
The Liverpool fans who had traveled with the team, as expected, gave him a warm round of applause.
Even those who had initially suspected Tendou of diving now obediently shut their mouths.
TJ was still Liverpool's toughest man!
The head referee did not show a card, but seeing Liverpool's genius being so manly, 90% of his doubts were dispelled.
He gave a verbal warning to Sissoko and the other Tottenham players. He did not want this football match to turn into a WWE match. The Tottenham players had to control their actions.
Pochettino saw this and already felt that if they made a move on that young man again in this match, they would probably suffer a great loss.
This was where Tendou was clever.
In this aspect, the President himself was far behind him.
Constant diving can make the referee develop an "antibody."
A free kick opportunity for Liverpool.
The position was not too good.
Tendou stood at the spot. The Tottenham goalkeeper felt that he would most likely shoot himself.
Because in many past matches, as long as the position was not particularly bad, this Liverpool superstar would choose to shoot directly.
But then, Tendou chose to pass this time.
BANG!
He leaned his body and kicked the ball into the Tottenham penalty area.
The near post!
Firmino's direction.
The quality of his delivery was very high, but unfortunately, Sánchez had been marking Firmino all along. The latter was knocked off balance and could only watch as the opponent headed the ball out of the box.
Eriksen, who had won the first ball, booted it into Liverpool's half.
Tottenham had withstood Liverpool's attack.
This scene continued until the 38th minute of the first half.
Pochettino's three-at-the-back system, when defending, was actually a 5-4-1 formation.
Trippier and Rose would both drop back to the wing-back positions.
And Pochettino's goal for this match was also very simple.
A 1-0 win over Liverpool would be enough.
Even at their home ground, White Hart Lane, they did not dare to dream of a big victory over Liverpool.
If that didn't work, then they would settle for a draw.
Liverpool couldn't accept a draw, but they could!
"The pace of the match is very slow. The two teams have been conducting a 30-minute attacking and defensive drill!"
"Liverpool attacks, Tottenham defends!"
"Liverpool can't break through Tottenham's turtle shell. At the same time, on the premise of not daring to press high, Tottenham's attack is pitifully scarce."
"So far, Tottenham has only completed one shot in the past 30 minutes, and it flew into the stands!"
"Yes, both Tottenham and Liverpool have European commitments, and both sides need points to consolidate their positions."
"Tottenham needs to ensure they finish at least in the top four to secure a Champions League spot. Liverpool needs the points to compete with Manchester City for this season's title."
"However, from the current situation, it seems that Tottenham can accept a draw."
"Look! Liverpool's attack has started again! Still giving the ball to TJ! Alli is on him!"
In the 33rd minute of the match, as the commentator had said, after once again relying on Van Dijk's top-tier ability to end Tottenham's attack, Tendou advanced with the ball into Tottenham's territory.
Just as he crossed the halfway line, the first line of defense that Pochettino had arranged for him pressed up.
Facing Alli, Tendou blew past him with a burst of speed. When the second person came up, he decisively passed to Wijnaldum.
The latter played a one-two with him...
He couldn't solve the problem with his individual ability like in Blue Lock, because every player here was world-class.
By the time Tendou received the ball, he had already passed Tottenham's first line of defense.
At this time, Salah and Mané on the left and right wings had already started to pick up speed.
Firmino also strode into the Tottenham penalty area, once again getting entangled with Sánchez.
Tendou's eyes were fixed straight ahead, making it impossible for people to see his next move, but he had already simulated a rough idea in his mind.
Just when everyone thought that this attack would once again end in failure like the previous thirty minutes, Tendou gathered all his strength, used his body to hold off Sissoko, and looked as if he were about to single-handedly break into the dragon's den.
Seeing how powerful Tendou was, Vertonghen, who was originally in the box with Sánchez to double-team Firmino, had no choice but to quickly come up and intercept Tendou head-on.
In an instant, Vertonghen thought he saw Tendou's eyes move.
And then, almost at the instant he made his move, Tendou's right foot tapped the front of the ball, flicked it backward, and he himself shot through the middle of the two defenders.
"TJ!"
"A frontal double-team interception!"
"A pass behind him, he accelerates past the two defenders!"
"Back post! Arnold with a chipped pass into the box!"
"Beautiful..."
The official Liverpool commentator, who had been quiet for thirty minutes, suddenly perked up.
At the same time, in the Tottenham technical area, Pochettino, who had been as steady as a mountain, was frozen on the spot by this tacit cooperation between the two Liverpool youngsters.
"TJ!"
"Arnold's chipped pass lands perfectly in front of TJ!"
"Sánchez is coming over to cover!"
"He shoots... no, wait, he's feinted past Sánchez's slide tackle! His left foot follows through with a diagonal pass!"
"Firmino is unmarked!"
"Lloris is coming out! A long-range shot!"
"Firmino! He doesn't shoot! A horizontal pass back to TJ!"
"TJ!"
"A tap-in with his right foot! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!"
The ball went in.
After practicing attack and defense for over thirty minutes, Liverpool had finally cracked Tottenham's turtle shell.
TWEEET!
The referee unhesitatingly pointed both hands to the center circle.
After scoring, Tendou spread his arms and ran to the corner flag for a soul-stirring sliding kneel, conveniently leaving three stripes on the grass!
...
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