Wednesday night, December 13th.

Premier League Round 16, Goodison Park. It was dark. The stadium is brightly lit.

Tonight is extremely cold and according to the weather forecast, Liverpool's first snow of the winter is likely.

The Sky Sports commentator for this game is still Martin Taylor, and the guest is Gary Neville.

Martin Taylor's voice rang out: "It was a midweek game, both teams played each other last weekend, with QPR comfortably beating Brighton & Hove Albion 5-1 and Everton beating Manchester City 2-1 in a tough game, which also leaves the top two teams in the table still Lu and Flores. ”

Gary Neville's voice was very excited: "I witnessed that 1:4 match last season at Loftus Road, the first duel between Kristen Lu and Nicolas Flores, and the result was the victory of the mentor over the student. But this season, Lu and Amber have shown us the strength of QPR. The two teams are now in first and second place in the standings. I'm looking forward to it, and it's definitely a direct conversation with the title favourites in my eyes. ”

Sky Sports' screens were shown as starting XI for both teams.

With John O'Connor sidelined through injury, Queens Park Rangers used Mensah at right-back, with Jacob Harding as Ian's midfield partner.

qpr（4231）：

Hans-Bachmeier;

T-F. Mensah, Mario Fernandez, Glenn Mitchell, Yu Zixiang;

Jacob Harding, Ian Parker (c);

Campbell, Patrick-Amber, Vargas;

León Ferreira

On Everton's side, captain Ross Barkley returned to the starting line-up after the ban was lifted.

Everton(433)

Robles;

Coleman, Jimenez, R. F. Mori, J. L. Gaya;

Ross Barkley, Frank van der Berg, Oliver Torres;

Dembele, Lukaku, Brahimi

(See formation diagram)

****

As Nicholas came out of the tunnel, Goodison Park erupted in applause.

Later, when Christine walked out talking to members of the QPR coaching staff, there was a bit of boos, but it was the cheers of the away fan zone that were louder.

Lu Ling walked towards the Everton manager, and he put a camel-colored coat over his blazer. It seemed to have been agreed, although she knew it was just a coincidence. Her trench coat was unbuttoned, and she shivered.

Nicholas also walked towards the QPR manager.

Lu Ling stretched out his hand. The man opposite held tightly.

His hands were warm, but hers was cold.

He squeezed her hand tightly, but quickly let go.

The scar faded a lot, and maybe it wouldn't be visible the next time I shook hands. She lowered her eyes.

This time, in front of the camera, they didn't talk. In fact, not even eye contact.

Patrick, who was about to tee off near the center circle, tilted his head to look at this side.

When Tim shook hands with Nicholas, they did say a few words.

Similarly, Juan also chatted with Lu Ling.

"Long time no see, Christine. Your coaching achievements are too dazzling. ”

"Thank you, Juan. ”

Juan smiled, "Have a drink together after the game?"

"I don't think your boss is interested. She smiled perfunctorily.

Juan glanced at Nick, nodded, and didn't say anything more.

The coaching staff on both sides walked to the dugout.

After Tim sat down, he said to Lu Ling with a strange expression, "I always forget that I am also your ex. ”

Lu Ling laughed, "Actually, I am too." Why, Nick told you about this?"

"Not really, but I remembered it when I shook his hand. It feels weird. Tim smiled, and he looked at her camel-colored trench coat again, "Aren't you really agreed......

Lu Ling shook his head.

Referee Ron Atkinson blew the whistle to start the game.

The QPR boss got up and walked to the touchline.

On the other side, the Everton boss also moved to the touchline.

Two people in camel-colored trench coats stand near the sideline.

Many fans in the stands here picked up their phones and took pictures of these two backs.

Everyone knows that they were once intimate lovers.

****

Sky Sports' camera swept to the box stands at Goodison Park, where QPR's American boss Nathan Neil Lawrence, as he promised on Twitter, was on the scene.

The camera stayed a little long on the handsome face of the American, but it immediately turned back to the game screen -

After a simple dip from the back of the QPR, captain Ian Parker quickly stuffed the ball to Patrick's feet in the frontcourt.

Everton look shaky. The pass was very quick and pinpointed, finding an opening at the back of the field.

But Frank Vanderberg moved quickly and appeared in front of Patrick's side.

Patrick looked up at the young Dutchman, who was a year younger than him.

Van der Bergh, who has short dreadlocks, has shocked the Premier League this season, while Patrick himself believes he could be a tougher midfielder than N'Golo Kante.

But Patrick suddenly kicked the ball into Vanderbergh's leg.

"Bailey-style kicking pass" is reproduced.

It was his battle letter to the defensive genius.

Can you react?

The ball hit Van der Bergh's calf and the Dutchman made a knee-jerk forward kick. Only kicked into the air.

Oh, I see.

The ball bounces back at Patrick's feet. He didn't look at his opponent again, but went straight past Van der Bergh's side.

Everton's centre-back Forness Mori was a bit unresponsive and was quickly distracted.

Patrick-Amber magically connected the two...... He's ready to ......" Martin Taylor's voice hasn't fallen, and QPR's number 7 is ready to lift his feet.

But Patrick felt a rush of pressure on his shoulders at this point, it was Vanderberg, and he chased all the way back, and he was stubbornly entangled.

Patrick tried to make a shot, but just hit the Dutchman's outstretched right foot.

Both fell to the ground.

The referee's whistle blows.

Point your finger to the penalty spot.

Lu Ling turned around and gave Tim a quick high-five.

'Penalty kick! 25 seconds into the game! Everton players haven't even touched the ball yet! Oh no, Patrick Amber deliberately kicked the ball into Frank van der Berg's leg when he got past him and then bounced back at his own feet, and we saw again the magic trick he used against Manchester City...... In short, the QPR attack came too quickly, it was Amber's own effort, and now there is no doubt that he will take the penalty of his own making!"

Van der Bergh was booked for two complaints and was pulled away by Everton captain Ross Barkley.

Patrick picked up the ball and placed it on the spot.

He looked at the opponent's goalkeeper, Hoel Robles.

But in fact, he didn't have a goalkeeper in his eyes, not even a goal.

The words that Nicholas had said to him nine months earlier suddenly sounded in his mind:

"Anything against my team, your celebration, don't be happy. ”

And Tina's words: "...... Love you. ”

But that's not for him.

Patrick stepped back and stood about ten yards from the ball.

Martin Taylor explained: "Patrick Amber only needs to score this penalty to break Jamie Boydy's record for consecutive goals set two years ago and become the first man in Premier League history to score in 12 consecutive league games, can he do that?"

Patrick runs.

Shot.

The moment his left foot touched the ball, Patrick realized that his body was too stiff.

That doesn't work......

He wanted to step up the force for a split second, but the ball flew high over the crossbar.

"Oh my God!!......!

Gary Neville also commented: "It seems that this game is too important. Patrick may have been under pressure, but the ball should have at least been shot in goal. ”

Lu Ling froze beside the sideline.

And Nicholas looked at the Everton players who high-fived each other on the field, and his posture and expression did not change at all.

Patrick froze in place for two seconds, then headed for his own half. Ian came over and patted him on the shoulder.

Patrick just stared at his left foot. The mist coming out of his mouth made him feel that everything was a little blurry.

Damn it.

Van der Berg jogged past Patrick and deliberately hit the league's top scorer on the shoulder with his shoulder, who had just missed a penalty.

Patrick didn't realize someone was approaching and staggered. Then he looked at the Dutch boy. Vanderberg's eyes were full of defiance.

Ian noticed what had just happened, and the referee didn't see it. The Dutchman may have seen the referee's position in advance.

Patrick just wanted to make further moves.

Timothy Fosu Mensah hurried over and pushed the two away.

Mensah and Van der Bergh were former team-mates in the Dutch youth team and have a good relationship – both are of Ghanaian descent and have similar interests. Now both are in the Dutch national team and have also spent a lot of time training together. He said a few words to Van der Bergh before running back to his right-back position.

The game was restarted by a goal kick from Everton.

On the sidelines, Lu Ling pondered.

It was just a casual mistake by Pat and didn't affect anything.

Hopefully not.

Moreover, the game has just begun. Treat it as if the penalty hadn't been taken.

She shouted loudly into the pitch to keep the players steady.

And the sky was filled with small snowflakes.

Liverpool's first snow of the winter arrived as scheduled.

The weather is getting colder.

Such small snowflakes fell on his trench coat. The Everton boss glanced at the snowflakes on his arms that turned into water in an instant.

That night, it snowed too.

He unconsciously touched his cuff and felt the cufflinks inside. There are two letters on the back of the cufflinks. 166 Reading Network