After the match resumed, the tension had reached a point where the slightest spark could ignite an explosion.
Gary Neville: "A foul of this magnitude from Wijnaldum isn't a red card? I seriously doubt the referee's officiating standards today!"
Martin Tyler: "First of all, Gary, Wijnaldum didn't show his studs, and he even tried to pull his foot back at the last second!"
"Secondly, if a foul like that doesn't deserve a red card, player safety is at risk!"
The two debated endlessly in the commentary box, while the situation on the pitch continued to evolve.
65th minute.
Salah powered past Ashley Young again and delivered a dangerous cross to the back post.
Mane leaped with all his might but couldn't get a touch, as David Luiz heroically headed the ball clear out of the box.
Just how sharp is Manchester United's counterattack under Mourinho? In the blink of an eye, Liverpool fans saw the ball move rapidly from McTominay to Pogba near the center circle.
Every pass was one-touch, with no hesitation or delay!
"MARK NUMBER 7! MARK NUMBER 7!" Alisson shouted desperately from his penalty area, his voice nearly going hoarse.
Ling gestured to Pogba, then turned and sprinted toward Liverpool's half, carefully controlling his pace to stay exactly level with Van Dijk's shoulder.
There was no way to execute an offside trap.
Van Dijk had no choice but to retreat toward his own goal, but unlike before, he was being forced back against his will.
This feeling of helplessness infuriated the proud Dutchman, making him want to slide tackle Ling hard.
But he didn't dare—he was already on a yellow card, and Ling would love nothing more than for him to commit a foul and get Liverpool's defensive anchor sent off.
Van Dijk had learned his lesson in the first half and was determined not to make the same mistake again.
Ling's decoy movement created massive space on the right flank, specifically in the channel behind Fabinho's left side.
Martin Tyler: "Here it comes! Manchester United's forwards are swapping positions, perfectly timed during Liverpool's frantic defensive transition!"
Gary Neville: "Rashford has found the gap! Pogba's pass is precise and beautiful—this could be a one-on-one chance with the keeper!"
Matip, limited by his bulky frame and lack of pace, watched in horror as Rashford was about to blow past him onto the through ball.
Gritting his teeth, the defender made a desperate decision—he cynically grabbed Rashford's shirt and dragged him down just outside the box!
BEEP!!!
Before any conflict could erupt between the enraged players, the referee immediately sprinted over and pulled out a straight red card!
The referee was thoroughly annoyed by the constant fouls. And purely from Matip's action—denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity as the last man—a red card was absolutely justified!
"Everyone, get back! Walk away!" Ling yelled, looking at Pogba, who seemed eager to push Matip and stir up trouble.
Right now, United clearly had the advantage, but if they picked up a retaliatory yellow card, it would play right into Liverpool's hands.
From then on, they would be playing 11 against 10.
Moreover, Liverpool was losing a starting center-back. Klopp would have to pull a forward to fill the defensive gap or bring on a sub.
At that point, Manchester United's defensive pressure would lessen, and with steady play, they could definitely secure the win!
So staying calm was the most crucial thing now.
Over on Liverpool's side, the players were still pleading with the referee, but his mind was made up—there was no chance of reversing the decision.
Klopp looked at the players on the bench, his face darker than a burnt pot.
Two forwards, two midfielders, one goalkeeper, one defender... The only defender was a young full-back—Trent Alexander-Arnold.
How was he supposed to make this substitution work?
Gary Neville: "Klopp has brought on Alexander-Arnold and moved James Milner to center-back. They've really been backed into a corner here."
Martin Tyler: "It's a desperate move. After all, Milner is only 175cm tall—his aerial ability is practically negligible against United's giants. Van Dijk is going to be under immense pressure from now on to win every header."
Neville: "Manchester United has also made an attacking substitution—Luke Shaw comes on for Ashley Young. They're clearly targeting Alexander-Arnold's defensive side!"
A set-piece from 26 meters out—a direct shot opportunity for United.
But Ling found Pogba, covered his mouth with his hand to hide his words from the cameras, and whispered, "Don't shoot. In a second, I'll make a run to the near post. Play it toward the back post instead..."
After that, he glanced meaningfully at Harry Maguire.
"I got it!" Maguire slapped his big head firmly, his eyes filled with confidence.
He believed that if Jeremy Ling was number one in headers at Manchester United, then he was definitely number two!
Ling ignored the joker and gave a few more instructions to his teammates before running into Liverpool's crowded penalty area. Inside Liverpool's box now were Ling, McTominay, Nemanja Matic, and Maguire—all burly men over 180cm tall.
A perfect, terrifying illustration of what it means to be the "Manchester Air Force."
BEEP!!!
The moment the referee's whistle sounded, Pogba clipped the ball toward the Liverpool penalty area.
"WATCH NUMBER 7!"
Before Alisson could finish his sentence, Van Dijk had already closed in tightly on Jeremy, denying him any space to jump!
But then... the Liverpool players realized Ling was running aggressively to the right (near post), dragging Van Dijk with him, while the ball was actually floating toward the left (back post).
Under the tense gaze of the entire stadium, Maguire, like a runaway tank, bulldozed straight through James Milner. A
fter all, there was a full 30-kilogram difference in their weight!
However, Maguire quickly realized the ball was slightly too high, and his jump wasn't enough—the ball skimmed right over his large head.
Before he could even feel regret or disappointment, another red figure surged forward from deep!
Scott McTominay came charging in with a powerful, unstoppable diving header!
Thump!
The ball crashed violently into the left side of the goal!
At this moment, Liverpool fans in the away end couldn't help but cover their faces, knowing their hopes were fading fast.
Meanwhile, Manchester United fans erupted into wild cheers, turning the stands into a bouncing sea of red.
McTominay celebrated passionately with a long knee slide toward the corner flag.
He had realized his ultimate boyhood dream at the Theatre of Dreams—to score the winning goal for the Red Devils against their bitter arch-rivals has come true!
Moreover, he had proven one thing to the world: raw talent isn't everything; persistence and hard work matter most.
Even if he could never become a superstar like Ling, he could still become a legend for Manchester United!
"Scott, how does it feel?! Remember this feeling—when you're tired in the future, it'll keep you going!" Ling shouted joyfully directly into McTominay's ear as they hugged.
"Yeah!" McTominay nodded vigorously, his eyes shining brightly with unshed tears.
Just as intense as the passion on the green pitch, the Sky Sports studio also erupted into frenzy.
Gary Neville: "The boy who walked out of the Carrington Training Ground has staged a stunning comeback at Old Trafford! This is why the Red Devils will always be strong! Looking at Ling and Scott, I'm reminded of the Class of '92—we were exactly like that, marching forward shoulder to shoulder!"
Martin Tyler: "A massive moment in the title race!"
In the center of the Directors' Box, Sir Alex Ferguson, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, and others sat, seemingly reminiscing about the old days.
"If we'd had Ling as our striker back then, could we have won a few more Champions Leagues?" Beckham asked with a smile.
"Probably," Sir Alex adjusted his glasses, a proud, faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
When he left the red empire he had built with his own hands and watched Manchester United gradually decline under several managers, it truly pained him deeply.
But fortunately, things took a turn. Manchester United didn't continue to sink, and the negative, toxic atmosphere was forcefully eradicated.
Given Manchester United's profit-driven, corporate management structure, this shouldn't have happened so quickly.
However, Jeremy Ling became the key figure balancing all sides—a product of Manchester United's youth academy, well-liked by the players, and Mourinho's trusted protégé. N
o one else could have pulled it off.
"Let's keep watching the match. The outcome isn't completely decided yet," Sir Alex crossed his legs, his thermos cup steady in his hand, not a single tremor.
Liverpool, having been overturned, wanted to fight back.
But with one man down, their high press couldn't physically organize, and their makeshift defense kept making mistakes under pressure.
The more fatal problem was the players' severe drop in stamina.
At this moment, Salah was standing near the halfway line with his hands on his hips, taking advantage of the dead ball time to rest.
He felt as if his body had been filled with lead, and the lactic acid buildup made every movement painful.
The exhilaration of the high pressing in the first 70 minutes had now turned into sheer exhaustion.
Klopp had no choice but to make substitutions, bringing on Daniel Sturridge for Firmino and Xherdan Shaqiri for Henderson.
As for Salah, he could only tough it out.
This directly led to the collapse of Liverpool's right flank, with the newly substituted Alexander-Arnold being repeatedly tormented by the fresh legs of Rashford and Luke Shaw!
After all, his defensive one-on-one skills were never his strongest attribute to begin with.
In the 83rd minute of the match, another slick wall-pass combination on the left flank saw Luke Shaw sprinting down the sideline at full speed.
After a sudden stop to shake off Arnold, he delivered a curling cross.
The ball traced a perfect diagonal arc to the near post.
This time, in his duel with Van Dijk, Ling gained the absolute upper hand.
He timed his jump perfectly, outmuscling the exhausted Dutchman in the air to head the ball powerfully into the net.
3-1!
Liverpool's goal was breached once again!
This goal effectively extinguished any remaining hope for Klopp's men.
Even Van Dijk, the most spirited of them all, looked dazed—not because his confidence had been entirely shattered by Jeremy Ling, but purely out of physical exhaustion.
Milner might have been passable as a full-back, but as a center-back marking United's giants, he was simply unbearable to watch.
Van Dijk had been scrambling back and forth to cover the gaps, nearly running his legs off, leaving him with no energy left to deal with Ling.
The remainder of the match passed quickly and uneventfully amidst the roaring cheers of the Manchester United fans.
This was because Manchester United abandoned their old tactics—defending solidly and waiting for counterattacks—and instead launched relentless, arrogant assaults down the left flank to punish their rivals.
Alexander-Arnold was nearly traumatized by the constant onslaught.
Liverpool poured all their remaining, depleted energy into defense, barely managing to prevent Manchester United from adding to the humiliating scoreline.
Beep—beep—BEEP!
Finally, the referee blew the whistle, signaling the end of the North West Derby!
Manchester United had conquered Liverpool once again!