"If they can play like this, if their recent form really has sunk all the way to rock bottom, and they just happen to bounce back in a direct clash with a title rival…"
"In situations like this, we usually call it…"
In the commentary booth, Scholes did not say the word out loud. But he understood. The fans who knew, knew. He simply did not want to be accused of jinxing them.
"For the entire first half, it was hard to see Liverpool directly threaten Manchester City's goal. They did not even have a shot on target."
"Ederson had gone a long time without being tested. But the first time he was tested, Manchester City conceded!"
"Young man, you couldn't handle the test, Ederson!"
In the live chat, fans flooded the screen with comments, especially Manchester City fans.
"Honestly, do you think this scoreline is fair?"
"If we lose like this, I can't accept it. We should have won. That's the truth!"
"Now I finally understand what people mean when they say luck matters more than strength!"
"Are there really people who think this was luck? Did you not understand Liverpool's sudden tactical change at all? This was a result Liverpool earned through their own ability and tactical adjustment!"
Some fans even thought Liverpool had scored through luck, but as a top manager, Guardiola naturally did not see it that way.
He discussed the goal they had just conceded with his coaching staff and quickly found where his side had gone wrong defensively.
"When you defend, you need to keep your positioning in sync with Liverpool's players. Don't lose your defensive shape, and don't rush into challenges. From now on, set the defensive line slightly behind the halfway line!"
Guardiola began changing his tactics. He stopped using the high press, but in attack, Manchester City still relied on possession.
Possession football has always occupied a special place in the game. Those who loved it were obsessed with it, treating it as the greatest tactical system in the football world. Those who hated it despised it, calling it the most sleep inducing tactic in football.
Guardiola was one of the defining figures of that style. He did not create it, but he refined it, developed it, and pushed possession football to a completely new level.
After play resumed, Manchester City continued with their familiar possession tactics.
Liverpool also kept their original approach. They continued with layered attacks, pushing forward little by little and looking for transition opportunities.
As soon as any one of Manchester City's defensive lines failed to drop quickly enough, Liverpool could instantly create a numerical advantage.
In the 60th minute.
"Manchester City are controlling the ball. De Bruyne is warming up on the touchline, and so is Jesus. Guardiola is probably preparing to make a change!"
"David Silva drives forward with the ball. Wijnaldum steps up against him. David Silva's rhythm is very quick, and he breaks toward the right."
"He stops suddenly, then cuts left and gets past Wijnaldum!"
"Leo Lin tracks back, but David Silva still keeps the ball under control."
"Through ball! Agüero beats the offside trap!"
"But Van Dijk is tracking him closely. He stretches a leg out from the side and blocks Agüero!"
Van Dijk stuck out his leg from the side and forcibly pushed Agüero away. A fierce physical battle broke out in that instant. Van Dijk won the duel and played the ball back to Mignolet.
Mignolet launched it long and started a counterattack. Liverpool's attack was coming again.
Fernandinho sprinted back desperately.
Leo Lin and Rodri both burst forward.
Rodri went left, while Leo Lin went right.
Shaqiri controlled the ball on the wing and cut inside from the right.
Once he got closer to the middle, he played a short pass to Firmino. Once again, Liverpool had created a numerical advantage in the final third.
As Firmino received the ball, he gave it a light touch toward the flank. It should have been a beautiful passing move, but Firmino's pass was just a little underhit.
Kyle Walker reacted early, shook off Mané, and successfully intercepted it.
Then Walker showed his terrifying straight line speed down the right flank. He knocked the ball forward, burst into a sprint, and charged along the touchline in a race with Robertson.
Robertson was not slow, but it depended on who he was being compared with.
Kyle Walker was simply too fast. He soon forced his way past Robertson, then continued carrying the ball at full speed toward Liverpool's back line.
In the blink of an eye, Manchester City had another counterattacking chance. Four against three in the final third.
Agüero made a clever run around Van Dijk, deliberately attacking the space behind Ocho. Kyle Walker curled the ball across with his right foot.
Agüero started his run.
Van Dijk had to defend Sterling, and on the other side, Mahrez was pushing forward at the same time.
Agüero and Mahrez formed a two against one around Ocho. This was almost certain to become a goal.
Agüero held back slightly and received Walker's pass.
At that moment, Ocho was closer to Mahrez. Once Agüero received the ball, there was open space everywhere in front of him.
But Ocho then made a defensive move that Leo Lin had not expected at all.
He turned half sideways toward Agüero, while keeping the other half of his body angled toward Mahrez. In that half turned position, he retreated in front of both of them.
First, he ran close to Mahrez, forcing Mahrez to drift wider to create space for himself. Then Ocho immediately moved closer to Agüero.
It was not a blind rush. It was intelligent movement. As he moved toward Agüero, he also cut off the passing lane between Agüero and Mahrez.
Agüero had been confident at first, but seeing Ocho defend like this clearly made him panic a little. He could not pass to Mahrez, so he could only do it himself.
After taking two steps forward with the ball, Agüero realized Ocho had already settled into position right in front of him.
Agüero immediately burst left to break through. His ability was clearly stronger, and he forced his way past Ocho, creating space to shoot.
But then Leo Lin, who had sprinted all the way back, took advantage of the time Ocho had bought by slowing Agüero down. He caught up, stretched out his foot, won the ball, and cleared it long in one smooth motion.
After completing the clearance, Leo Lin immediately reached out to high five Ocho, then patted him on the head in praise. Van Dijk also patted Ocho on the head.
Klopp and Zubizarreta stood up at the same time. After watching Ocho defend against two players by himself, they pumped their fists, applauded, and gave Ocho a thumbs up.
The Liverpool fans suddenly began doubting their own eyes. They were not sure whether what they had just seen was really Ocho.
"Am I seeing things, or did the broadcast show the wrong player? Was that Van Dijk or Ocho defending two on one just now?"
"That defensive stance, that Defensive Positioning, that Defensive Awareness. When did Ocho improve this much?"
"I'm sorry, Ocho. I was wrong! Anyone else who wants to apologize, line up behind me!"
The live camera cut to Ocho, who had just defended two on one. There was no change in his expression. He simply returned to his defensive position, talked with Rodri about Defensive Positioning, and waited for the match to continue, his gaze firm.
Leo Lin watched Ocho out of the corner of his eye, unable to stop a smile from spreading across his face. The teammates around him were clearly inspired by Ocho as well.
The unstoppable aura Liverpool had shown during their winning streak at the start of the season was returning.
Every fan watching the match looked at Liverpool now, and not one of them could say another word of mockery or sarcasm.
Because they understood.
The terrifying Liverpool were coming back.
...
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