Chapter 840: The Triple Red Showdown
On the fourth weekend of 2021, the FA Cup fourth round began across England. And within twelve days, the third "Northwest Derby" was set to kick off at the Millennium Stadium on the afternoon of January 24.
It was the 18th FA Cup meeting in history between Manchester United and Liverpool—and Bruno's first time featuring in an FA Cup installment of this fierce rivalry.
Since joining United in the summer of 2016, this was Bruno's 13th appearance in the "Northwest Derby," though all his previous 12 came in other competitions.
As the most successful club in FA Cup history, Manchester United continued to dominate the tournament in recent years. Since 2015, they had reached five consecutive finals, winning four straight trophies, only losing last season's final to Arsenal on penalties—which halted what could have been a historic fifth consecutive crown.
This season, United remained formidable, already holding a 13-point lead atop the Premier League and looking set for a fifth straight league title. Their performances in other competitions were equally impressive.
By contrast, Liverpool's league campaign had faltered. After two record-breaking seasons that still failed to deliver their first Premier League title, they were struggling for form—fourth in the table and a full sixteen points behind United, effectively out of the championship race.
In that context, they shifted focus to cup competition—hoping to beat United, advance further, maybe even claim silverware.
Liverpool lined up with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino starting, while Sadio Mané began on the bench. Mourinho rotated a few positions on his side, but Bruno wore the captain's armband once again.
...
Twenty-five minutes into the match, the score remained 0–0.
Despite the stalemate, the pace was relentless—fifteen shots combined already, eight by United and seven by Liverpool. Both sides were attacking full tilt.
Mourinho had demanded victory; the players were instructed to fight tooth and nail. Jürgen Klopp's men matched that intensity blow for blow.
"Twenty-five minutes gone, Manchester United have committed eleven fouls to Liverpool's nine—one yellow card each," commented Martin Tyler. "The numbers themselves tell you just how fierce this match has been."
Both sides packed midfield, battling ferociously for control. Bodies hit the ground constantly.
Before the game, Mourinho had sternly warned young Jude Bellingham that he must help N'Golo Kanté defensively at all costs—and the 17-year-old delivered. The crowd roared their approval when he even blocked a shot near the edge of the penalty area, pouring himself fully into the contest.
...
With the game so intense, it seemed neither side could find a breakthrough. Then, brilliance illuminated the chaos.
Bruno surged forward through the center, confronting Thiago Alcántara.
Just as Thiago prepared to intercept, Bruno disguised his movement and released the ball—toward Marcus Rashford.
Rashford controlled, then played back to Bellingham, before sprinting forward on the overlap.
To everyone's surprise, Bellingham flicked his ankle and sent the ball diagonally—not to Rashford, but across to Mason Greenwood on the right.
Greenwood cushioned it neatly, skipped past Andy Robertson's tackle with a burst of acceleration, chased down the ball, and—against expectation—cut inside instead of crossing, slicing between James Milner and Fabinho straight into the box.
The sudden shift caught Liverpool's defense off guard.
Klopp barked orders frantically from the sideline; Alisson shouted instructions, trying to direct his back line.
Greenwood drew three defenders, then abruptly stopped, feinting a pass to Bruno—who made a clever movement forward as if to receive.
That motion fooled Georginio Wijnaldum, who shifted position to block the passing lane.
...
In that split second, Greenwood glimpsed a narrow shooting window.
Instead of laying it off, he pulled the ball back, turned inside, and unleashed a rocket from the edge of the area.
Alisson, his sightlines clouded by bodies, barely saw the strike—a flash of white blurred past him.
"A long-range shot?!"
The Brazilian keeper reacted instantly, diving full stretch and even managed to get a hand to it—but the strike was too powerful, curling into the top corner despite his touch.
Flat on the ground, Alisson lifted his head just in time to see the ball rippling the net behind him.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"
Liverpool boss Klopp smacked his seat in frustration.
"Our players were fixated on Bruno," his assistant murmured beside him.
Klopp nodded grimly. United's captain was too dangerous to leave unchecked—but that attention had given Greenwood the space to strike.
Even so, Klopp had to admit—the goal was beautiful. A masterful carry, feint, and finish: seamless technique, stunning precision.
...
Down a goal, Liverpool didn't panic. The setback only inflamed their aggression.
"Liverpool are piling on the pressure now," murmured Rui Faria with concern.
Mourinho kept silent, observing intently. The Reds' immediate reaction impressed even him.
Their persistence paid off late in the first half.
In the 38th minute, a fast Liverpool counter saw Firmino slip a killer pass to Salah breaking down the right.
The Egyptian raced clear and lifted the ball over De Gea—1–1.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!"
"Salah! The Egyptian King pulls Liverpool level! 1–1!" Martin Tyler shouted. "Right before halftime, Liverpool's attack finally bears fruit!"
"Tuanzebe is still too inexperienced," Tyler analyzed. "He lost positioning against Salah—textbook."
"And De Gea should've done more," added Andy Gray. "His positioning was poor."
On the sideline, Mourinho erupted in anger—he'd expected a goal might come eventually but was furious that it came from disorganization.
Especially so close to halftime—it stung their momentum.
...
"The sly old fox," Mourinho muttered, glancing toward the Liverpool bench.
He recognized Klopp's tactical ploy. During the buildup, Curtis Jones had deliberately locked onto Lindelöf, freeing Salah to exploit Tuanzebe's zone.
It was clever—and effective. Mourinho knew Tuanzebe had talent, but center-backs mature through hard lessons, through mistakes. This was another one in his education.
De Gea, too, had erred notably, his poor positioning leaving him helpless.
Mourinho stepped to the touchline, shouting Bruno's name. When the captain looked back, he gestured downward: Defend!
Reinvigorated, United compacted their formation, weathering Liverpool's late pressure.
At halftime, the score stood 1–1.
Klopp was frustrated—his side had momentum, and he sensed more goals if only they'd had more time.
Mourinho, conversely, was relieved. The whistle had come at exactly the right moment, giving his exhausted players a breather.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Cortez10