Ending this match in one chapter, enjoy!
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Alisson was usually good-tempered and rarely scolded his teammates in public.
But Liverpool's defense during this period was so frustrating that it was hard to suppress his temper.
How many effective shots had Manchester United already taken?
Alisson punched the goalpost. "If you can't stop them, commit a tactical foul! Don't let them shoot so easily!"
He felt there was something truly wrong with Liverpool today, and it seemed to have started when they decided to play defensively.
Every team has its own style.
Deliberately trying to imitate others could have a negative effect, jus like Liverpool, a team built on the high press, insisting on defending from the back.
Wasn't that putting the cart before the horse?
Henderson wiped the rain from his face. "My fault. I was too focused on Manchester United's number 7 and didn't notice the other players making forward runs."
Manchester United's 4-2-3-1 formation had only seen Rashford replaced, but the result was a complete turnaround.
The multi-pronged forward runs were overwhelming Liverpool's defense.
"And the defensive line shouldn't be too deep. Manchester United's striker now isn't Ling, it's that number 10, Lukaku." Van Dijk rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Having faced Manchester United so many times, he had grown accustomed to marking Ling.
Suddenly switching to Lukaku felt quite strange.
"What kind of threat can he be!?" Alisson was clearly on edge.
After all, he had faced so many shots.
He pointed at Lukaku and said irritably, "You need two or three men to mark him, and he almost missed that last shot! Just set the offside trap properly and leave the rest to me!"
Alisson wasn't De Gea, who was accustomed to staying near his goal line.
His timing and judgment for rushing out were top three in the Premier League—no, in all of Europe!
He decided whether to rush out, how far to rush out, or whether to make a short-range advance based on the positioning of his own defenders.
Moreover, he was highly proficient in both the "side-diving block" and the "K-block." Liverpool's successful high press was inseparable from Alisson's one-on-one skills.
"Everyone, watch my position from now on. Set the offside trap early, and then you don't have to worry about Manchester United's number 9." Van Dijk nodded.
He also felt that dedicating too many defensive resources to Lukaku was a waste.
It wasn't that Lukaku couldn't understand English, but he just stood there silently, thinking it was best if no one paid attention to him.
So what if they set an offside trap? Who didn't know how to beat one?
He just looked a bit clumsy.
He was worth sixty million euros, and people with big heads were generally very smart.
If only Ling knew, he would have given Lukaku and Maguire a big thumbs-up and nicknamed them the "Sleeping Dragon."
Both had very large heads, and of course, both were very smart.
Liverpool's on-the-fly adjustments were very strong.
Once the tactic was decided, there was no hesitation, and every player's execution was at its peak.
Otherwise, how could they have won the Champions League in the original timeline?
"Liverpool is changing their direction of attack, letting Mane break through on the left to utilize his individual skill."
"But won't that be a bit too draining on his stamina?"
There were some things Carragher didn't say out loud.
Liverpool's midfield lacked creativity and struggled to deliver passes that were full of threat, the kind that De Bruyne used to slice through defenses.
So, they had to rely on the forwards to create for themselves.
The consequence of this was that if a player was in poor form, Liverpool's attack would get bogged down in a swamp.
Wan-Bissaka hadn't slept well last night and faced Mane with trepidation.
But it turned out Mane wasn't in much better shape.
The Senegalese had been constantly charging and charging this season, a style of play that took a heavy toll on the body.
And since he didn't have an injury immunity module, muscle strain was inevitable.
Even if he felt he was in good shape, his sprinting speed and physical resistance were declining, and it was getting more severe as the league season neared its end.
Without much effort, Wan-Bissaka seized an opportunity to clear the ball out of bounds.
"Huh, Manchester United's defense is doing pretty well today, aren't they?"
"There isn't that same pressure as the first leg. They all look very relaxed."
Neville thought for a moment and offered an answer: "It's probably related to the weekend's league match. Manchester United played against Huddersfield and established an early lead. Liverpool, on the other hand, played Newcastle United, and if it weren't for Origi's goal in the 86th minute, they might not have gotten the three points."
"Liverpool went all out in that match. Even Salah took a blow to the head and was diagnosed with a mild concussion. It's quite surprising that he's able to play today."
Three matches in a single week would severely affect the form of most players.
Logically, Klopp should have rotated his squad, but he hadn't expected Newcastle to be so tenacious.
They had already secured their place in the league and had no hope of European competition.
Newcastle United's manager was still Benítez, who had once coached Liverpool for a full six years!
The man who led Liverpool to the Miracle of Istanbul!
Shouldn't he have gone easy on them?
But what kind of person was Benítez? A "junkie" of the football world, as someone once described the master tactician.
Even if you locked Master Benítez in a room with a Kardashian for a night, the next day the Kardashian would know how to beat an offside trap.
You expect a man like that to go easy?
Besides, Benítez's departure from Liverpool had not been a pleasant one.
...
Liverpool's attack wasn't over yet.
After a series of passes, the ball arrived at the feet of captain Henderson.
Henderson shielded the ball with his back to goal, preparing to turn, but collided squarely with Herrera.
The referee blew his whistle, signaling a foul by Manchester United.
It was thought to be a simple obstruction, but Henderson lay on the ground, clutching his knee in apparent agony.
"This is bad. Henderson has had problems with his cruciate ligament before. With the recent intensity and frequency of matches, it's very likely to have relapsed."
The ominous feeling in Carragher's heart grew stronger.
Liverpool was supposed to be cruising into the final with a three-goal lead, but everything that had happened recently seemed to be telling him otherwise.
There was a twist!
Henderson limped off the field for an examination.
The match on the pitch continued.
Manchester United didn't show sportsmanship by easing their attack just because Liverpool was a man down.
Because this too was part of a football match.
However, Liverpool's counter-press was resolute, especially their pressure in the midfield and attack.
They might not have a creative midfield, but their workhorse-type players were not afraid of running!
Also, Salah actively dropped back to defend.
Liverpool held on like this for five minutes, waiting for Henderson to return. Wijnaldum had already changed into his kit, but Henderson said he could still carry on.
For Henderson, he had once liked Manchester United, but after coming to Liverpool, he had fallen in love with this club.
He recalled the 2013-14 season, Gerrard's slip and mistake.
The lonely figure of Liverpool's number 8 left behind. He wanted to protect Liverpool like Gerrard did, but he didn't want his life to be shrouded in regret.
So he had to persevere.
"I'm sure I'm fine!"
Henderson left those words behind and returned to the green pitch.
Although he could still feel the pain, it wouldn't affect his competitive state; otherwise, he wouldn't have insisted on playing.
He always put the team's interests first. In this regard, he was the same as Gerrard.
The situation returned to a stalemate.
Liverpool's attack wasn't very effective, but their high press also disrupted Manchester United's rhythm, preventing them from organizing any effective offense.
"Liverpool has weathered a difficult five minutes, but they've held their ground, not allowing Manchester United to create any easy threats!"
"Manchester United may have experienced many miracles, but hasn't Liverpool?"
"The comeback from the brink in the 2005 Champions League final, that's what you call an impossible turnaround. 'Give up' is not in Liverpool's dictionary."
Carragher was proud to have once played for Liverpool.
But three matches in a week took too great a toll on the players, a fact that couldn't be overcome by willpower alone.
As time went on, Manchester United gradually took control of the rhythm.
The combination of the three central midfielders was working very well.
While dropping back to support their teammates and increase control in the midfield, they were also making well-timed forward runs to create threats.
Arnold was having a miserable time.
He thought Ling would try to take him on with individual skill. Even if Ling got the better of him, he could use a tactical foul to break the rhythm.
But Ling was playing tactically against him.
That kind of macro-level positional play required determining the optimal running route in the shortest possible time based on the positions of both attacking and defending players.
Ling could certainly do it, but he couldn't! Arnold had strength but no way to use it.
Liverpool could only continue to intensify their press in the midfield and attack, forcing Manchester United to struggle to advance the ball.
Under the incredibly intense physical confrontation, both teams' stamina was rapidly depleting, until the 31st minute of the first half. Liverpool's pressing intensity dropped.
This led to a weakening of Liverpool's midfield interception ability.
Fabinho could strengthen the frontal interceptions, but the role of a single defensive midfielder was limited.
Manchester United began to continuously launch attacks from near the center circle.
"It's Ling again, dropping back to support his teammate, then laying it off horizontally to Pogba!"
"He turns and makes a direct run behind Matip!"
"Why isn't Arnold following? Was his attention drawn by Pogba?"
Pogba didn't pass directly. Instead, he played the ball back, completing a one-two with Nemanja Matic.
It was this simple change of pace that caught the Liverpool defense off guard.
Arnold was still trying to figure out Manchester United's attacking intent.
"Look behind you!"
Matip was so annoyed he was speechless.
Arnold's attacking ability was undeniable, but his defensive skills were painful to watch.
Arnold belatedly turned his head.
Ling was already sprinting at high speed into the open space, and Pogba, having received the pass from Nemanja Matic, sent a through ball past Fabinho!
A precise through ball!
The ball skimmed past Henderson.
If it had been just a few centimeters further back, Henderson would have intercepted it.
And Ling was hiding behind Henderson, accelerating to easily catch up to the ball.
Because Liverpool's entire defensive line was pushed up, Ling could directly threaten the penalty area.
His dribbling speed soared, instantly creating distance between himself and Matip.
From the left side of the box, he shot with his left foot towards the far corner!
Watching the ball get pushed out for a corner by Alisson, Ling couldn't help but feel a little annoyed.
'What a great chance!'
If he had cut the ball back, the chance of scoring might have been higher.
But Alisson was truly strong. If it had been Karius, that ball probably would have gone in.
Ling shook his head hard, trying not to dwell on what-ifs.
He gave Pogba a thumbs-up in praise, "The weight on that pass was just right!"
Pogba grinned in response.
He felt more comfortable partnering with Ling. Their tacit understanding in passing and movement could create infinite possibilities in midfield.
In fact, Manchester United's midfield configuration was not weak.
Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera, and Pogba were all outstanding players, adept in both attack and defense.
The match continued.
As the tide on the pitch gradually turned in Manchester United's favor, the conversation on the sidelines became more intense.
"We can't maintain the high press indefinitely; the players' stamina can't take it. But as soon as we reduce the intensity of our press, Manchester United will ramp up their attack." The assistant coach was deeply worried.
Liverpool's problem now was the lack of creativity in midfield, which led to a one-dimensional attack lacking sufficient depth.
And the "Red Arrows" trio wasn't in great form today, unable to put enough pressure on Manchester United's midfield and defense.
A substitution was imperative!
Klopp pointed at Origi. "Hurry and warm up!"
The Belgian, Origi, had regained Klopp's trust in the latter half of the season.
His shooting technique was superb. Not only could he participate in fast breaks, but he could also pin down the opponent's defensive line, creating opportunities for Salah and Mane.
This was something the "playmaking center-forward" Firmino couldn't do.
Moreover, Firmino was also injured, an old groin injury.
Under the current high-frequency pressing, no matter how well it was treated, it would flare up again.
After all, this was the injury professional players feared most.
Klopp rubbed his temples, feeling a deep sense of powerlessness.
It seemed heaven never favored Liverpool.
There was an old joke in football: Think you have it tough? Think of the Reds, Liverpool. Think you're tragic? Look at Bayern Munich.
Klopp felt he had it pretty tough too.
In his coaching career, he had led his teams to five finals, but lost every single one.
A stark contrast to Mourinho.
And Liverpool's internal recruitment system, which relied entirely on a software called "Moneyball."
Every potential signing was put into a model for testing, and if the test results didn't meet the analysis team's requirements... The result was the deal being canceled.
Did a bunch of keyboard warriors really understand football? If that were the case... There would be no need to play matches, you could just simulate them with data.
Klopp always believed—What decided the outcome of a match was the wisdom, courage, perseverance of the players and coaches, and a little bit of inexplicable luck.
"When you get a chance, try some long shots. Move behind Manchester United's defensive line, try to pull their formation out of shape as much as possible," Klopp earnestly instructed Origi.
As long as Manchester United's formation became disjointed, Salah and Mane would have space, and the difficulty of attacking would decrease significantly.
Origi replied excitedly, "Yes, boss! I won't let you down!"
After the substitution was made, the match resumed.
Origi's introduction had a good effect.
At the very least, Maguire didn't dare to push up too far, and Liverpool also gained a certain aerial threat.
After all, Firmino's ability to get on the end of crosses was truly no match for Origi's.
Liverpool also slowly stabilized their defense. To counter Ling playing as a left midfielder, Liverpool adjusted their defensive focus when retreating.
They would deliberately leave the channel open for him to go down the byline, concentrating their forces on cutting off his path to cut inside.
This was because Liverpool's defense, led by Van Dijk, could handle crosses from the flanks relatively well, whereas Henderson and Fabinho often lost control of the area at the top of the penalty box during a quick retreat.
And maintaining defensive density in front of the goal was essential.
Unconsciously, the match reached the 40th minute, and the first half was drawing to a close.
Manchester United wanted to score another goal before halftime, so the pressure on them in the second half wouldn't be too great, preventing them from becoming too anxious and losing their composure.
It was the passing and movement combination on the strong side again!
Arnold was no longer distracted, following Ling step for step, not letting him out of his sight.
Ling paid him no mind.
He deliberately ran behind Fabinho and Henderson, with the aim of pulling open space on the flank.
Luke Shaw!
Do you know the little guy nickname? Shawberto Carlos!
Perfectly timed forward run, a positional switch after crossing paths with Ling, and Mahrez immediately launched a long pass.
The ball spun as it descended towards the left flank.
Luke Shaw had broken his leg, and his speed was not what it used to be.
But the situation Ling had created for him was just too comfortable. Receving the ball, taking a touch, heading for the byline...
While Luke Shaw was in motion, his Manchester United teammates weren't idle either.
Ling made a quick, direct run into the box, found Lukaku, and the two of them stood together.
Pogba also charged towards the near post. Mahrez, meanwhile, waited outside the box, ready to pounce on any potential second ball.
Liverpool had the strongest aerial duo.
But they still didn't dare to be careless when facing Ling. Van Dijk quickly closed in, not allowing Ling to jump easily for a header.
But what happened next took him by surprise. Ling had no intention of contesting the header at all. He simply let the ball go past him.
It was Lukaku again!
With both Matip and Van Dijk drawn away, the young Belgian got a golden opportunity.
The man challenging him, Robertson, was only 178cm tall.
Manchester United fans held their breath nervously, afraid of affecting Lukaku's movement.
A classic Belgian power header!
The ball changed direction and flew towards the goal.
But Alisson raised both hands and blocked it. The ball spun in the air and fell in front of Ling.
Van Dijk also reacted instantly.
The two of them touched the ball almost simultaneously.
With two "thuds," the ball hit the crossbar, bounced towards the goal line, and was smothered by the fallen Alisson.
"Hey, that ball should have gone in, right?"
"From my angle, the whole ball crossed the line!" Neville shouted.
Carragher retorted irritably, "How is that possible? It was a long way from the line. Even a blind man could see it didn't go in!"
Ling also looked at the referee.
After all, with controversial goals like this, different personal standpoints naturally led to different views.
And the Champions League had goal-line technology, so it was best to let the facts speak for themselves.
The Turkish referee, Cakir, crossed his hands, signaling that the ball had not entirely crossed the line.
Ling could only shrug helplessly. He was starting to realize that Anfield was cursed—it was either the post or the crossbar.
Extremely unfriendly to him.
"It's fine, the tactic is working. We'll score sooner or later!" Ling wasn't too disheartened. He loudly encouraged his teammates.
Luck was also part of the game.
According to the law of large numbers... As the number of attacks increased, bad luck would be offset by unexpected good luck. Maybe next time, the ball would hit the crossbar and then bounce into the goal.
One couldn't be too negative.
This was a lesson Ling had learned from experience since his rebirth.
Alisson had no desire to reprimand his teammates either. He knew they had all given their best, but there was nothing to be done about their current form.
Now, they could only hope that Liverpool could hold on until the end.
...
With Manchester United's attack over, the first half neared its end.
After the regular time was up, the referee gave three minutes of stoppage time, which also passed quickly.
Beep-beep!
After two short whistles, the halftime break began.
"Good thing we scored one in the first half, otherwise there'd be no hope," Mahrez rinsed his mouth.
"Romelu, you're so tall, but your heading is not that great," Maguire joked. "Otherwise, we'd be two goals ahead."
Hearing this, Lukaku also tapped his head.
He felt his technical characteristics were similar to Ibrahimovic's, with delicate footwork but not being good at heading.
But that last chance was indeed a big problem.
For a professional player, heading the ball into a corner shouldn't be too difficult, right? But he had headed it straight at Alisson...
"Alisson is in really good form today, which I didn't expect," Ling stepped in to defend Lukaku.
"David, you need to step up your game, or someone else is going to snatch the Golden Glove!"
De Gea actually nodded. "Alisson is indeed very good. His goal-line technique is just a little worse than mine, but his ability to rush out and distribute the ball is better than mine. But Alisson isn't without weaknesses. If you observe carefully, you'll find he holds onto the ball for a relatively long time and is prone to making mistakes when under pressure."
Perhaps because of his origins in Serie A, Alisson's rhythm in handling the ball was a bit slow.
To put it bluntly, it was sloppy.
If he could seize an opportunity to tackle him... Ling decided to give it a try in the second half.
Perhaps he could fight for a chance!
Back in the dressing room.
Mourinho stood in front of the tactics board, a smile on his face. "Everyone's performance in the first half was very good. Although we only scored one goal, the pre-match tactical plan was basically achieved. Next, let's talk about how to play in the second half."
"Don't confront Liverpool in the midfield. Shift the direction of attack to the flanks, spread Liverpool out, and challenge them with individual ability."
"We will use a strong offense to completely crush Liverpool!"
"..."
Ling and his teammates listened silently, feeling their hopes of advancing grow stronger.
It was only because they had run into a Liverpool team in explosive form and Klopp's highly targeted tactics in the first leg that Manchester United had lost by three goals at home.
But today, Liverpool had no cosmos to burn.
The front three, led by Firmino, could no longer rely on their outstanding running and coverage to create deterrence and interference, limiting the connections between Manchester United's midfield and defense and pinning their build-up play in their own half.
Instead, Manchester United could use their midfield advantage to suppress them.
Moreover, the no-fly zone woven by Van Dijk could no longer block Manchester United's aerial support channels.
Manchester United held the advantage in both tactics and personnel.
...
At this moment, in the home team's dressing room.
"The high press must be maintained, the defensive line must also push up, and the intensity of the press needs to be increased. Also, we don't need to deliberately go down the wings. We should also try over-the-top long passes occasionally."
"Manchester United's formation is quite advanced, leaving a lot of space behind them. As long as we can win the ball back, we can set up a second wave of attack. Don't worry about the yellow cards you've picked up. If we fall before the final, yellow cards, red cards... none of it will matter. You only need one thought—to give everything you have to defeat Manchester United!"
Klopp took off his cap and placed it on the table, then slowly walked to the door of the locker room.
He opened it and pointed to a small room on the right.
It held a unique significance for Liverpool.
The Boot Room.
From Shankly to Paisley, to Fagan, and then to Dalglish, Liverpool's precious traditions and winning philosophy were passed down through generations.
The Boot Room was the embodiment of Liverpool's heritage.
"We've already talked enough about tactics. Now, I want to speak with you about something else. Bill Shankly once said many things, such as, 'Football is not a matter of life and death; it is more important than that,' and 'First is first, second is nothing.'"
"When I first took over at Liverpool, I had to face the club's glorious past, and it felt overwhelming at times. But I was still able to draw inspiration from it. Do you know what my biggest goal is?"
Klopp closed the locker room door and looked at the Liverpool players.
Then, he gave the answer: "To turn the doubters into the most loyal believers, to rewrite all the hardships into a fairy tale, and to leave Liverpool with unforgettable memories."
"But I can't step onto the pitch myself, so all I can do is inspire you." Klopp took off his glasses and placed a hand beside his ear.
"Remember, when you feel tired, listen to the songs of the fans. In the second half, I want to see 60,000 Liverpool fans celebrating wildly for you. Next season, I hope you can touch that sign with your own hands!"
Klopp's moving speech fired up the Liverpool players.
...
Soon after, halftime ended, and the players from both teams returned to the tunnel.
This is Anfield!
Ling looked up at the famous sign. It was said that the original sign was no longer there, having been bought by a pub owner and taken far away.
Later, it was even temporarily stored in a utility room until it was reinstalled in 2013.
According to Shankly, the meaning of the sign was: "To remind our own players that they are playing for Liverpool, and to remind the opponents that they are playing against Liverpool."
One of the first things Klopp did after taking charge was to forbid the players from touching the sign unless they could bring a trophy back to Liverpool.
"I hate managers who can fire up their players like that!" Ling muttered under his breath.
When the Liverpool players came out, he could clearly sense something was off.
They had almost broken Liverpool's spirit in the first half, but Klopp had managed to inspire them back to life.
The second half was likely going to be another tough battle.
But if victory came too easily, perhaps Ling would feel uncomfortable too.
Because he respected Liverpool's strength.
"Walk on, through the wind, walk on, through the rain, though your dreams be tossed and blown! Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart! And you'll never walk alone!"
As the players from both teams walked out of the tunnel, the familiar melody began to play once more.
This is Liverpool's anthem, "You'll Never Walk Alone."
Whether Liverpool is leading, trailing, or drawing on the field, whether the match has just begun or is nearing its end, this song always echoes in every corner of the stadium.
For fans of other clubs, it seems difficult to understand how a single song could hold so much special meaning.
During Liverpool's glorious moments of dominating England and conquering Europe, this song was the best channel for fans to express their inner pride.
In the dark years following the Heysel and Hillsborough tragedies, this song also provided the best comfort to those wounded hearts.
It has become an inseparable part of Liverpool.
Ling faced the away stand, vigorously waving his arms, urging the Manchester United fans to step up their game!
How could they let their arch-rivals overpower them?
But with just over two thousand Manchester United fans, how could they compete against sixty thousand?
Their voices were like stones dropped into the sea, failing to create even a ripple.
The Liverpool players' eyes burned with determination, their chests seemingly ablaze with fire, burning fiercely against the wind.
Heightened emotions often lead to better performances.
Yet the Manchester United players did not back down either.
They huddled together, placing their hands on each other's shoulders, and roared a resounding "Come on!"
...
The second half began with the teams switching sides!
BEEP!!!
A sharp whistle blew, and Liverpool kicked off, passing the ball backward.
Liverpool had no intention of testing the waters.
Fabinho launched a long pass into the Manchester United defensive third.
Maguire seemed momentarily distracted, allowing Origi to get a touch and flick the ball onward.
The ball flew toward the advancing Salah.
He had long shed the nickname "Egyptian Messi" and was now widely known as the "Egyptian Pharaoh."
Using his explosive speed to gain position, he met the ball in mid-air and unleashed a powerful volley!
The ball whistled toward the bottom right corner of the goal.
A shot of this caliber posed no threat to De Gea. The Spaniard lowered his center of gravity and securely caught the ball with both hands, then hurled a powerful throw toward Nemanja Matic on the right flank.
Liverpool's attack hadn't produced a result, but it was explosive in its execution, drawing cheers from the Liverpool fans.
However, before they could fully savor the moment, Manchester United's swift counterattack arrived.
Nemanja Matic was a favorite of Mourinho, not only for his excellent defensive abilities but also for his superb control over the tempo of transitions between attack and defense.
During his peak in the 2014-15 season, he even had a chance to compete for the title of the world's best defensive midfielder.
Although he was now past his prime, he had grown more mature as a result.
He didn't seek a killer pass right away. The ball rolled toward Mahrez, who held off Robertson and laid it back to Nemanja Matic.
The Serbian then switched play to the opposite side, right into Ling's path.
Two simple, consecutive passes had lured Liverpool into shifting their defensive shape.
Upon receiving the ball, Ling only had to face Arnold.
He quickly dribbled toward the Liverpool right-back, who instinctively stretched out a leg to tackle.
Tap, tap!
Ling knocked the ball with his right foot, then nudged it with his left.
With an incredibly smooth "La Croqueta," he left Arnold completely in his dust.
"How do you defend against that?" Arnold felt utterly helpless.
He had read Ling's intention, but his body simply couldn't keep up!
Flexibility, explosive power, touch—everything was at its peak. A forward like this was impossible to predict!
Arnold could only grit his teeth and chase back, but in doing so, he overlooked Ling's greatest strength.
Speed!
In the entire Premier League, and even Europe, there are probably no more than a handful of players who can match Ling in short-distance explosiveness.
Or perhaps Ling is simply the strongest now.
There used to be the soaring Gareth Bale, but after suffering from a soleus muscle injury, he no longer possesses that formidable explosiveness.
As the camera panned, Arnold moved away from the frame, gradually disappearing from the edge.
"Ling! Look at that speed, even Owen didn't have it!"
"Giggs couldn't match it either!"
"He's going to tear through Liverpool's flank!" Neville shouted excitedly.
Liverpool fans stared open-mouthed, unable to believe what they were seeing on the pitch.
Arnold isn't slow either, so why was he left behind? And that dribble just now was far too effortless.
To put it bluntly, it was like crossing an empty street.
Ling has played as a center forward for most of this season, but modern football isn't like the '90s or 2000s, where attacking players had ample space to charge forward.
Thus, Ling's speed advantage hasn't been fully showcased.
Now, playing on the wing, it's completely on display—the true value of the Premier League's fastest man over 100 meters!
Matip had to step up again to cover for Arnold.
After an explosive burst followed by a sudden stop, it's hard for defenders to react in time, and Matip was left stranded ahead.
The Cameroonian lad was on the verge of tears.
Truth be told, his explosiveness is also quite strong, thanks to his Cameroonian genes, much like his predecessor.
The cheetah—Samuel Eto'o.
The only player to win the treble with two different clubs in consecutive years.
Yet, Matip still couldn't keep up with Ling's rhythm. As soon as Ling created a shooting angle, he didn't hesitate—he fired away!
A clever technique: aiming far but striking near!
But the next second, Ling's eyes widened in disbelief as Alisson accurately judged the shot and gathered the ball into his arms.
'Is Alisson on some kind of cheat mode today?' Ling thought his feint was convincing enough, yet Alisson still anticipated it.
"Step up the pressure in the attacking third, force Liverpool's players to pass back," he instructed his teammates, then turned to Lukaku and said.
"Romelu, you take the right side later, leave the left for me."
Ling wanted to try and sneak one in.
If he could really pull it off, Alisson would surely be shattered, and the rest of the game would be easier.
And according to Klopp's adjustments, the defensive line was indeed pushed higher, with Alisson tasked with distributing the ball to relieve pressure from the back.
Things often happen just that coincidentally.
As Liverpool built from the back, Ling made a gesture and charged forward, with Manchester United players following him in a frenzied press.
It was the same old issue—Liverpool's midfielders are all workhorses.
Fabinho couldn't find a passing lane, so he had to turn and pass back to Van Dijk.
And Lukaku was like a charging rhinoceros. Constantly bumping into Van Dijk, not letting him distribute the ball easily.
"To me!"
Alisson ran forward a few steps to receive the ball, and Van Dijk didn't hesitate for a second.
Seeing this, Lukaku immediately shifted his pressing target.
Faced with Lukaku's pressure, Alisson remained calm and composed, pulling the ball back to evade him.
After all, he's Brazilian—his footwork isn't weak.
But Van Dijk shouted sharply, "Get rid of the ball—"
Alisson didn't catch the words, but he saw it clearly—Ling was charging in from the left!
It seemed like he could reach him in the blink of an eye.
Only then did Alisson realize he had underestimated the situation!
Should he hoof it clear or try to control it? The former risked the ball hitting Ling and bouncing into the net.
The Brazilian goalkeeper decided to keep control of the ball!
He made a show of preparing for a big kick, but in reality, he was ready to cut the ball back.
But who is Ling?
With just one glance at Alisson's shifting center of gravity, he knew exactly what the Brazilian was thinking.
After all, these were tricks he had long since mastered!
Ling deliberately held back a fraction of his strength, and at the very moment Alisson tried to cut the ball back, his right foot shot out like a dagger!
Thwack!
Hearing that crisp, satisfying sound of contact, Alisson's heart instantly sank to the pit of his stomach.
Anfield seemed to fall silent as well.
Because the ball had been poked into the net by Ling!
And after a brief moment of quiet, the Manchester United fans in the away section erupted into thunderous cheers!
Unable to contain their emotions, they leaped to their feet, wildly waving their scarves!
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!"
"In the 59th minute, Manchester United scores again, and the goal comes from—Ling!!!"
"This was a chance that wasn't really a chance!"
"You could also call it a mistake by Alisson. He held onto the ball for too long near the goal, and under relentless pressure and pressing from Manchester United, he ultimately made an error!"
"His passing numbers and success rate are indeed among the best, but that also planted the seeds for a fatal mistake. Liverpool had been in a similar situation before, and back then, they were lucky—the ball bounced out of play. But today, Lady Luck isn't on Liverpool's side!"
Neville roared with a flushed face, while Carragher covered his face beside him.
Why did such a basic mistake happen?
All Liverpool fans were left bewildered—why not just clear the ball earlier?
But in truth, this was also a tactical requirement.
When opponents press the goalkeeper, they inevitably leave gaps. If the goalkeeper can then distribute the ball, their team gains an advantage.
At its core, it's a matter of risk versus reward. Even the "sweeper-keeper" Neuer has made mistakes in the past.
...
On the green pitch.
Ling cradled the ball as he ran back toward the center circle, holding up one finger to the cameras!
'One more goal to go!'
'You all said Manchester United had no hope, that no team in the Champions League could overturn a 1-3 home deficit with a big away win to advance.'
'Well, we'll create that miracle for you to see!'
"Manchester United!!! Manchester United!!! Manchester United!!!"
At that moment, many pubs across Manchester erupted with deafening cheers!
Mike sat in the corner of a pub, in the very seat Ling had once occupied.
He breathed in the familiar smell of smoke, alcohol, and sweat, watching the bare-armed, red-faced fans shouting with flying spittle.
"Back in 1999, we were just like this." Mike lifted his beer mug, took a big gulp, and grinned.
Outside Anfield, things nearly spiraled out of control.
Manchester United fans who had traveled from Manchester formed a massive block.
Protected by riot police, they taunted the Liverpool fans with wild abandon, venting all the frustration they had bottled up earlier.
"Our Manchester United No. 7 went invisible? True, but he only needs a few seconds to tear Anfield apart!"
"Ten years ago, you mocked us, telling us to come back when we had 18 League Titles. Then in 2013, we did it. Now, are you going to brag about those five Champions League trophies? Well, we can wait another ten years to see whose trophy cabinet shines brighter!"
"You think you can trample over us to reach the Champions League final? If you lose tonight, don't you dare cry—just like when the Manchester Canal was dug! Victory is ours!"
Manchester United fans taunted, Liverpool fans retaliated, and conflict was inevitable.
...
While things were heating up outside the stadium, the same was happening on the pitch.
Ling helped Liverpool set the ball, tightened his captain's armband, and took his position.
Having pulled back two goals, was a third far away?
At least Ling saw growing hope and believed his teammates shared the same mindset.
"Tonight, we will become Manchester United's heroes, creating a record never seen before. These lads will leave their own indelible mark in the history of the Red Devils!"
"Our team never gives up, our glory will continue—this is the legacy of Manchester United!"
"I'm proud to have once been a part of Manchester United!" Neville declared loudly.
Carragher fell into a long silence, knowing Liverpool's fate was sealed.
But he still spoke up: "There are thirty minutes left in the match. Whether Liverpool can hold on till the end, I hope the lads won't be crushed."
"Coach Shankly once said: 'The greatest achievement of a winner is not that they were born a winner, but their unwillingness to accept fate, their refusal to compromise, and their courage to fight regardless of the consequences!' The Liverpool lads should, and must, have that courage."
Perhaps it was a prayer, perhaps a hope.
Carragher didn't want to see the Liverpool players lose their fighting spirit—that would hurt him more than seeing Liverpool lose.
On the pitch, the Liverpool players were affected by the goal, with Alisson hanging his head in silence.
He blamed himself.
He had performed well for the first 59 minutes, but a mistake in just those few seconds—brief enough to be negligible—could destroy all of Liverpool's efforts.
"No other honors, traditions... bullshit reasons! I just don't want to lose to Manchester United. Why should they succeed while we become the backdrop? I don't want to be a loser anymore. I want to play in the Champions League final!"
Van Dijk's emotions erupted at this moment, as he gestured wildly to vent his thoughts.
"Give it everything for the last thirty minutes. I don't care about the process, just give me a good result!"
Arnold gritted his teeth.
He was furious at being dribbled past by Ling and had been holding back his frustration.
"Let's fight Manchester United with everything we've got!" Arnold roared hysterically.
As the match entered its third phase, neither team held back any longer.
Manchester United made substitutions.
Lukaku was replaced by Rashford, Luke Shaw by Ashley Young, and Herrera by McTominay.
All three substitutions were used at once.
Mourinho glanced at Klopp and confidently said, "When Liverpool gets used to defending the wings tightly, I'll move Ling to the center. What effect do you think that will have?"
Faria shook his head.
If he could guess, would he still be an assistant coach?
"Let's wait and see. Ling also needs to adjust well, otherwise it won't make much difference." Mourinho didn't elaborate.
On the Liverpool bench next door, Shaqiri and Wijnaldum replaced Robertson and Salah.
Both sides had revealed their final cards, but what would the outcome be?
Klopp opened a bottle of water, gulped it all down, and said hoarsely, "Manchester United maintained high pressure for 40 minutes. Our stamina has dropped severely, and they're not much better off! Remember, don't defend passively, keep the attack going! Tonight's winner can only be us!"
Wijnaldum nodded solemnly.
Meanwhile, after being substituted off, Salah seemed to still be dissatisfied, feeling he could have continued playing.
At the very least, he shouldn't have been substituted off now.
Klopp had no mood to console him either, his gaze fixed firmly on the pitch.
BEEP!!!
The third whistle sounded, announcing the restart of the match and the beginning of the final showdown!
Ling immediately rushed forward to press.
Although he was also extremely exhausted at this moment, under the influence of adrenaline, he was in a state of high excitement!
The rest of the Manchester United players felt the same, all thinking they were just one goal away from reaching the Champions League final and creating new history!
Liverpool's midfield was already struggling to move the ball forward, and under the pressing, it became even more difficult.
Finally managing to pass the ball out, Mane cushioned it on the volley to Origi.
The Belgian striker had big ambitions—to defeat Lukaku and secure the starting spot for the national team.
This match was the perfect stage.
Origi held off Maguire's challenge, brought the ball down in front of him, and unleashed a powerful shot!
But while Liverpool had an excellent goalkeeper, Manchester United's keeper was no less impressive—De Gea had won the Premier League Golden Glove last season.
De Gea leaped lightly and firmly caught the ball!
As the pace of attack and defense quickened, the intensity of the physical battles also increased. In less than fifteen minutes, three yellow cards were shown.
Manchester United's Nemanja Matic, and Liverpool's Fabinho and Milner.
Liverpool was still at a disadvantage, but there was something even more troubling—Ling's return to the center-forward position.
This made things very difficult for Arnold.
He kept instinctively watching Ling and always wanted to follow him defensively.
That left Rashford with plenty of freedom!
Ling had already tormented Arnold to the brink of madness—couldn't he just breeze past him now?
The reality proved his thoughts right.
Arnold received a pass from Alisson but made a basic mistake, passing with too little power, allowing Scott McTominay to intercept.
McTominay followed up with a through pass!
Rashford freely expended his energy, shielding Arnold behind him and easily controlling the ball before bursting forward at full speed toward the Liverpool penalty area.
"Manchester United's left flank is still as sharp as ever!"
"Beautiful!" Neville stood on his chair, trying to get a clearer view.
Arnold chased back with all his might, finally catching up to Rashford, only for Rashford to suddenly come to an abrupt stop.
Matip instinctively moved to cover, but Van Dijk's voice suddenly rang out.
"Watch your back!!!"
After returning to the center-forward position, Ling had been lurking near Matip.
He knew that compared to Van Dijk, the Cameroonian was more prone to making mistakes.
Sure enough, he found his opportunity!
Rashford chipped the ball, and Ling moved forward to meet it.
Van Dijk knew Matip wouldn't recover in time, so he rushed toward Ling at full speed—he couldn't give him any space to take a shot!
Ling quickly glanced around. Wijnaldum was marking Mahrez, Fabinho was marking Pogba—Manchester United's attacking players were all accounted for.
He had to do it himself!
Leaning back against Van Dijk, he deftly controlled the ball with his left foot.
Then, using his core strength, he swung his left foot back! Everyone knew Ling's shots were ferocious.
Van Dijk quickly shifted sideways to block. The camera also panned at that moment, seemingly expecting Ling to shoot.
However.
At the very edge of the frame, his left foot dragged the ball 180 degrees as he turned, and his right foot took another step sideways to control it!
Even the best close marking can be fooled by a feint. Van Dijk, as strong as he is, is no exception.
Cruyff Turn!
A perfect blend of feint, speed, and flexibility.
So fast that the fans couldn't even see clearly, but Alisson, from a distance, saw every move Ling made.
Van Dijk tried to twist his body and challenge again.
But Ling's first touch after turning completely extinguished his hope.
In the end, Van Dijk fell powerlessly to the ground.
Under the dazzling floodlights of Anfield, Manchester United's number 7 seemed to be dancing in the penalty area.
The fans instantly felt it.
This was the kind of football only Ling could play!
Adjust, swing, shoot.
Alisson went down quickly, but his hand was still far from the ball.
The ball grazed the right post and rolled into the net!
0:3!!!
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