"Thanks to Leo Lin's goal, Liverpool lead 1–0. They're just 45 minutes away from their third straight Champions League group-stage win."
After Leo Lin found the net, there was little time left in the first half, and the whistle soon brought it to an end.
Klopp was very pleased with his team's first-half performance.
On the other side, Monaco were desperate for an equalizer. If they lost this match, their hopes of advancing from the group would all but disappear.
The second half restarted quickly. Monaco made no substitutions, but tactically pushed their entire shape higher up the pitch, trying to cope with Liverpool's ultra-high press.
This marked the first time Klopp's ultra-high pressing system was unveiled to the world, and Monaco were unlucky enough to be the first team to experience it—only to find just how sharp and punishing it really was.
After the restart, Liverpool continued to execute the ultra-high press, pushing up with full commitment.
The suffocating, all-encompassing pressure left Monaco in agony, with possession firmly controlled by Liverpool.
Henderson's form grew stronger by the minute. With Leo Lin alongside him, he looked completely at home in midfield.
57th minute!
"Monaco try to break through the middle—Tielemans drives forward with the ball."
"Driving forward is his strength, but against Liverpool's midfield lockdown today, that advantage has almost vanished."
Tielemans pushed forward, and this time it felt surprisingly smooth—Liverpool's midfield didn't immediately swarm him.
But after just two or three steps, Henderson suddenly charged in head-on, while Leo Lin and Emre Can closed from either side!
The three instantly tightened the net—another familiar trap-style press!
Tielemans had no time to turn back. Caught in the clamp, he couldn't escape, and the ball was stolen!
Liverpool immediately surged forward on the counter, the transition lightning-fast, giving Monaco no time to breathe.
"Liverpool have a counterattack!"
"Driving forward with the ball—Emre Can is charging ahead, Leo Lin sprinting up in support!"
"Big switch to the left—Robertson brings it down cleanly!"
After controlling the ball, Robertson glanced into the box. There was no good target, and forcing a cross would only waste the chance.
At that moment, Leo Lin galloped up from deep to offer support.
Robertson immediately laid it back. Leo Lin arrived without taking a touch—Pirlo's passing technique flashing brilliantly!
"Snap!"
With the outside of his foot, he sent a gorgeous curling ball arcing toward the far post!
Already locked in eye contact with Leo Lin, Salah burst forward, timing his run perfectly to beat the offside trap, and leapt high!
Heading wasn't his strongest suit, but this time he didn't waste Leo Lin's gift.
"Bang!"
The ball bounced hard off the turf!
The most difficult shot for a goalkeeper to deal with—a bouncing header!
Subašić was helpless!
Gerrard threw his arms into the air.
"GOOOOOOAL!!!"
"Another one, another one!"
"The Egyptian Pharaoh shows his power!"
"Leo Lin with a goal and an assist—he's on fire!"
As expected, Salah waved Leo Lin over and performed his trademark boot-cleaning celebration for him once again.
Live stream chat:
"Seeing Lin in this kind of form really puts my mind at ease."
"The first round of the U17 World Cup group stage has started—we're struggling against North Korea, still 0–0 after 60 minutes."
"Hurry up and finish this match so Lin can join the U17 national team!"
With a two-goal lead, Monaco's desire to fight was completely extinguished. After play resumed, they once again sank into that stifling darkness.
79th minute—Klopp made a substitution.
Leo Lin was taken off.
After leaving the pitch, he followed Krawietz straight back to the dressing room.
The club had already prepared a private jet for him, ready to fly immediately to the U17 World Cup host city to join the Spain U17 national team.
"Everyone's been waiting for you."
On the plane, Barnett accompanied Leo Lin.
In Barnett's eyes now, Leo Lin was pure treasure. He even felt like playing the role of a nanny, looking after him with extreme care.
"The U17 World Cup has just begun. In the first group match, Spain scraped past North Korea 1–0, with Ferran Torres scoring the winner."
Using the flight time, Barnett introduced Leo Lin to the key players in the Spain U17 squad.
"At the back, the key players are left back Victor and center back Eric García."
"Eric García is a center back highly rated by Manchester City."
"In midfield, there's Sergio Gómez, who was converted from left back to attacking midfielder, and Beitia, who's strong at interceptions. Up front, the most famous name is of course Ferran Torres on the wing—also from Manchester City's academy."
Leo Lin nodded, studying the squad list before asking,
"Who's the leader of this team?"
Every team needs a leader—the core that holds it together, the spiritual pillar.
Barnett smiled. "You are."
Leo Lin froze.
"Me?"
Barnett nodded.
"Your market value is forty million euros. All of them combined aren't worth as much as you alone."
"An 18-year-old starting in the Premier League and scoring a hat trick in the Champions League—players like that are incredibly rare."
"Head coach Denia told me a long time ago. He wants to build this Spain U17 midfield system around you."
Leo Lin never imagined that as a newcomer, he would become the player Denia valued the most.
That night, when he arrived at the U17 World Cup venue, the Spanish team's hotel was brightly lit.
Even though it was already 11 p.m., all the staff were waiting at the entrance, with head coach Denia and his assistants at the front.
As Leo Lin's car pulled up, Denia hurried forward to greet him, personally helping him out of the car as the staff burst into applause.
Denia had already laid down the law in a meeting:
"If I find out anyone here disrespects Lin—"
"You can pack your bags and go back to Spain. Don't ever come back to work!"
It was practically a military order.
Many of the Spain U17 players were waiting at the hotel entrance. Leo Lin greeted the staff, then went inside and exchanged high-fives with his teammates one by one.
Ferran Torres, Eric García, and the others all wore friendly smiles, clearly looking forward to Leo Lin's arrival.
Major media outlets snapped photos and posted them online, quickly sending the news to the top of the trending charts.
Word that Leo Lin had officially joined the Spain U17 national team spread across the internet like a virus.
From the moment he entered the hotel, Leo Lin's luggage vanished—spirited away by staff to be taken care of.
Denia led him upstairs to show him his room, with all the young players trailing behind.
Leo Lin suddenly felt a little dazed.
So that's how it is…
Turns out I'm the biggest star on the team.