Anfield under the night sky was a magnificent stadium, the most sacred place for Liverpool.
It had witnessed many miracles and given birth to numerous legends. And tonight was undoubtedly a night of miracles.
As dense raindrops fell from the dark sky and the cheers of the fans echoed incessantly, tens of thousands of Manchester United supporters celebrated their victory.
"Manchester United, march on—"
"Manchester United, march on—"
Ling lay quietly on the grass while listening to the loud cheers ringing in his ears and feeling the cold raindrops hitting his face.
The joy of victory went without saying, but what overwhelmed him more was the bone-deep exhaustion.
In a match that lasted a total of 95 minutes and 26 seconds, he had played from left midfielder to center forward, enduring prolonged high-intensity pressing, constant back-and-forth runs, sprints, and physical duels—all anaerobic exercises.
Even though his stamina ranked among the best in the Premier League, with his physical attribute value exceeding 90, he still felt as if his body had been completely drained.
"Last season, we had decent luck with the draws and stumbled our way to the final. It seems the debts we owed were bound to be repaid sooner or later," Ling muttered softly.
Before this season even began, he had thought Manchester United's Champions League journey would be relatively smooth.
After all, the squad's quality on paper was undeniable.
But who could have predicted that he would be suspended at the start of the season due to a brawl and then face a near-perfect Liverpool at the season's end?
Oh, and there was an even more formidable Manchester City.
After resting for a while, Ling slowly got up, wiped the rain from his face with his jersey, and walked toward the sideline.
"How many matches do we have left in total?" Ling asked.
Scott McTominay thought for a moment before replying, "Three. The final league match on May 12th, the FA Cup final on May 19th, and the Champions League final on June 2nd."
"So, only three matches left!" Ling sighed with emotion.
For professional footballers, time is measured by the fixture schedule.
From the start of the new season in August each year to the end of the season in June the following year, it feels like a brief lifetime.
You experience the full range of emotions within it.
"UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, English League Cup, Premier League Title, FA Cup, Champions League... The unprecedented sextuple in Premier League history, something only the legendary Barcelona team of 2009 has achieved," Maguire counted on his fingers, talking to himself.
"Hey, it's not wise to celebrate too early! How can you already count the Premier League Title, FA Cup, and Champions League as ours? Those three matches haven't even been played yet!" Mahrez gave Maguire a light punch, annoyed.
Confidence is one thing, but blind optimism is another!
Currently, Manchester United leads Manchester City by one point and Liverpool by three in the Premier League standings.
What if they lose to Cardiff City? Don't say it's impossible—after all, the ball is round.
"I was just looking ahead, that's all!" Maguire explained with a pained expression.
After all, during his time at Sheffield United, Hull City, Wigan Athletic, and Leicester City, he had never even come close to a trophy.
Now, with the chance to win so many titles, it was hard to contain his restless heart.
"Cardiff City are only two points above the relegation zone, which is Brighton, so they will definitely fight desperately in the final match. We must prepare in advance," Ling put away his smile and spoke in a serious tone.
In the football world, there are many clubs that get too carried away after a victory, leading to a drop in form.
Ultimately losing crucial matches.
Yes, I'm talking about you—Manchester City in 2024!
After clinching the Premier League Title early, the players attended the championship party, drinking until five in the morning.
They were utterly wasted!
As for why they were so wild, it was probably because they looked down on Manchester United, thinking they posed no threat.
Later, in the FA Cup final, they could barely walk straight.
Of course, Ling didn't know about this, but there are many similar incidents in football.
"Once everything is over, I'll treat everyone to a proper celebration!" Ling added.
After all, players are human too.
You can't keep the tension too high all the time—balancing intensity and relaxation is the key to winning.
While you shouldn't go overboard, celebrating is still necessary.
"In a while, I'll take everyone out for a meal at The Ivy," Ling draped his jersey over his shoulders.
The Ivy is Uncle Wen's newly opened restaurant.
In just a few months, it has become a must-visit spot in Manchester, where booking a private room is usually quite difficult.
Ling had spoken to Uncle Wen a few days earlier—if they lost the match, they definitely wouldn't go.
But tonight was the night of the Anfield miracle.
Not celebrating would be a disservice to everyone's hard work.
Maguire wiped the rainwater from the corner of his mouth. "I've been craving wood-fired roast duck lately, but that stuff is too high in fat, so I can't have it. Later, I'll have to eat a few extra pieces to make up for it!"
Big-head Maguire had previously been ordered by the boss to lose weight due to being overweight.
Those days were exceptionally tough.
Maguire didn't dare sneak any food, as he had to step on the scale every day to measure his body fat and other basic data.
Any abnormality would likely earn him a scolding.
"It's fine. Eat more tonight, run more tomorrow. I'll train with you," Ling said with a smile.
But in Maguire's eyes, Ling was a demon!
The ranking of the toughest trainers in Manchester United's fitness sessions: Jeremy Ling, Scott McTominay, Wan-Bissaka.
Especially Ling's terrifying training intensity—if Maguire had to endure it, he'd probably collapse within a week.
There were several times he nearly ran until he threw up.
"Then I'd better eat less," Maguire muttered.
...
Once the Manchester United players had gathered, Ling led the team toward the away stand to thank the fans who had come to support them.
"Manchester United—Manchester United—!!!"
Even though the Manchester United fans' voices were already hoarse, they still shouted at the top of their lungs, raising their arms in excitement.
After all, this match couldn't be fully described with words like passionate, unrestrained, dramatic, or goal-filled.
It deserved to be etched on the most glorious page of the Red Devils' history.
Ling raised his hand and applauded vigorously.
To be honest, football as a competitive sport can never be separated from the fans.
After losing to Liverpool in the first leg, he visited a die-hard fan bar and saw and heard many things firsthand.
Especially Mike's words: "As fans, the only thing we can do well is to steadfastly support the team."
Ling sincerely thanked these wonderful fans.
"Manchester United never gives up, the Red Devils charge forward!"
"Glory belongs to Manchester United!"
"Bring us the 22nd Premier League League Title, the 14th FA Cup, and the 5th Champions League trophy, and help Manchester United dominate Europe once again!"
Manchester United fans waved their scarves, expressing their affection for the players.
Although Manchester United's history is glorious, their number of Champions League titles isn't particularly high.
Ahead of them are Real Madrid with a staggering 12, followed by AC Milan with 7, Bayern Munich with 5, Liverpool with 5, and Barcelona with 5.
Manchester United, with 4 titles and 2 runner-up finishes, ranks 7th, behind Ajax and ahead of Inter Milan.
Ling smiled and nodded firmly, then tossed his jersey into the crowd.
Not only is his shooting accurate, but his aim when throwing things is also spot-on.
If he hadn't become a football player, he might have made a name for himself in basketball.
A young fan excitedly caught the jersey and let out a sharp, ecstatic scream on the spot.
A match-worn jersey from Jeremy Ling, the key player in Manchester United's memorable comeback against Liverpool!
Its value couldn't possibly be higher.
The young fan had already decided: he would frame the jersey and hang it in his bedroom to look at every day!
"Ling, not only is there a £200 fine, but you'll also have to pay for the jersey," Mahrez said with a playful wink.
Ling shrugged indifferently. "No problem."
If you say Manchester United is stingy... Your expenses at the hotel, like drinking Coke or other items, are charged to the player's account.
But Manchester United is very generous with player salaries.
Not to mention Ling's top-tier Premier League salary, De Gea, Pogba, Scott McTominay, and others also earn substantial wages.
Of course, it's possible they save money in these small ways to afford it.
...
While the Manchester United players were thanking the fans, the Liverpool players were still immersed in sorrow.
Alisson took off his stuffy gloves and flung them onto the pitch.
He couldn't accept it!
Van Dijk had no mind to comfort his teammates either.
His emotions were about to explode, but he couldn't vent in front of such a large audience. After all, he's a man who values his pride.
But the most devastated person in the Liverpool squad wasn't them—it was Arnold, who had been dribbled past so many times he was questioning his life.
"Highway 66, Highway 66..." Arnold couldn't get those words out of his head.
He didn't need anyone to tell him who the war criminal of the night was, who bore the biggest blame.
Being dribbled past 16 times in a single match... And this was the Champions League Semi-final, not some casual game on a random field!
Even players like Messi and Hazard, who excel at dribbling, rarely achieve such numbers in a match.
If Liverpool had a different full-back, like Wan-Bissaka or Kyle Walker, they probably wouldn't have conceded three goals.
To put it somewhat exaggeratedly, Liverpool's crown prince Arnold had his spirit shattered tonight.
In the end, it was Henderson who stepped up.
As the one who inherited the captain's armband and became Gerrard's successor, he couldn't afford to break down, no matter how tragic the situation.
He walked up to each player and gave their shoulders a firm pat.
At this moment, any words of comfort felt hollow.
Only time could heal their sorrow, because life, like a football match, has no pause button.
Whether you're happy or sad, tomorrow will still arrive on schedule.
...
The post-match MVP award went to Jeremy Ling without saying.
With two goals and an assist, there was no doubt about it. Ling stood in front of the interview board, holding the trophy.
Today's host was Henry.
After retiring as the King of Highbury, Henry chose not to become a football coach but instead became a sports commentator.
This earns more than many coaches!
Do you know how much Sky Sports pays Henry? Four million pounds per year!
Henry passed the microphone over and asked with a smile, "How does it feel to create a miracle with your own hands?"
"Very good," Ling winked at the camera.
"I have a question: Did you believe you could do it before the match started?" Henry's tone seemed to carry many memories.
Without hesitation, Ling replied with a light laugh, "Of course. I said in the pre-match interview that even if no one else believed, I would always believe in myself."
Henry let out a soft sigh.
After a moment, he continued, "Do you know what my biggest regret in life is?"
Upon hearing this, Ling fell into thought, wondering, 'Isn't this supposed to be an interview about me? Why has the role reversed?'
But if he had to guess Henry's biggest regret, it would undoubtedly be his time at Arsenal.
Back then, Arsenal had won almost every trophy—except the Champions League.
"The 2006 Champions League final?" Ling ventured a guess.
Henry nodded. "I had a chance to shoot but hesitated for a moment. Every time I think back on it, I deeply regret it... That's why I envy you."
He always felt he owed Arsenal and Wenger a Champions League trophy.
If only he hadn't hesitated on that shot... That's why, seeing Jeremy Ling today, seeing him firmly believe in himself, he couldn't help but feel envious.
"Once again, congratulations on advancing to the Champions League final!"
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