Substitution?

That's for sure!

Hiddink has no doubt that he should make a substitution now.

Because time is running out for him!

With Liverpool scoring four away goals at 5-4 on aggregate, Chelsea must score two goals in a row, and if we don't hurry, it's really over.

But the question is, how to change? Replace whom?

Malouda, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are Chelsea's strongest attacking duo at the moment, and no matter who they replace, it will be a serious blow to the team's confidence and morale.

That's the case in football, substitutions often represent a signal from the manager, and if Hiddink replaces attacking players now, it will be interpreted as conservative by players, fans and media, and the players on the pitch will lose confidence and morale.

So, the frontcourt players can't move, and the backcourt players can't move.

The remaining options are three midfielders, with Frank Lampard certainly not moving, Ballack or Essien.

The former has height, played well in this game, can pass the ball, can organise and can cut back, and one of Chelsea's most threatening attacks in this game came from Drogba passing the ball to Ballack on the counter-attack, but Reina played well and saved the ball.

Didier Drogba's goal was a fluke, and Ballack's counter-attack was Chelsea's most dangerous attack.

What's more, Ballack has an absolute height advantage, and the German has an advantage in the face of Liverpool, who have a soft underbelly in defending high balls, and as for Essien, the main thing is his defense.

The pure defensive player was quite low-key in this game, but his role in defending Yang Yang in the second half was also obvious, if he was replaced, would the team's backline be able to hold it?

It can be said that the game has developed to the current situation, Chelsea have gradually ceded the initiative to Liverpool, and at the same time forced themselves into a dilemma step by step.

Either way, there are huge risks.

Hiddink only hesitated slightly, but finally made a decision.

Soon, Portuguese midfielder Deco, who was sitting on the bench, stood up and ran out quickly to warm up.

After Anelka came off the bench, Deco became one of Chelsea's most attacking and creative midfielders.

……

'Chelsea are going to make changes.'

"We saw Deco warming up on the sidelines, it was supposed to be a substitution, but I don't know who Hiddink will choose to replace?"

'The situation is quite bad for Chelsea and they have to change it as soon as possible.

'Chelsea have already made two substitutions after the substitution of Deco, but Benitez has not used a single substitution at the moment, and the team's number one centre-forward, Crouch, is still on the bench.

'Everybody had high hopes for Crouch and thought he would be a key to changing Liverpool's attack in this game, but Rafael Benitez kept Crouch aloof and it was completely unpredictable when he would be arranged.

"Taking advantage of a dead goal, the referee signaled for a substitution."

"Deco is replaced by Essien!"

'It was a very risky substitution, Chelsea, who were one goal behind Liverpool and were forced to score two goals in a row in the next game, had to continue to invest more in attack, replacing defensive midfielder Essien with Deco, who was more creative and better passing.

'It's clear that it's a positive, up-and-coming signal.'

"And we can see that Liverpool are also actively preparing for substitutions."

"Crouch walked out of the bench!"

"Is Benitez going to bring on Crouch at this time?"

"What a cunning fellow!"

……

When Hiddink saw Crouch standing on the sidelines, his whole face became very ugly.

He knew that Benitez had been waiting for him!

The sinister Spaniard had been waiting for him to make a second substitution, in order to make it easier for him to bring on Crouch and change the situation on the pitch in one fell swoop.

Hiddink was helpless because he fell into Benitez's calculations.

Liverpool's players led by Yang Yang gave Benitez the confidence to strategize, especially Yang Yang's equalizer and assist Xavi Alonso's reversal, which allowed Liverpool to begin to dominate.

If you are backward, you will be beaten, and if you are passive, you will also be beaten.

Hiddink is now in such a situation, and he feels constrained at every turn.

With Essien gone, will Ivanovic, Alex, Carvalho and Ashley Cole's line be able to contain Yang Yang, Crouch and Kuyt?

Hiddink himself is not sure!

Especially Yang Yang, Ivanovic alone can't stop him at all!

But no matter what, Hiddink walked to the sidelines and loudly reminded the players, signaling them to be steady, especially defensively, to be careful.

…………

…………

What does it mean to be a master strategist?

Yang Yang has really seen it now!

Whether it was tactical adjustments or substitution timing, Benitez suppressed Hiddink to the death, which allowed Chelsea to lose their advantage step by step from the beginning of the game, and finally fell apart.

When Crouch stood on the sidelines, Yang Yang already had a very strong feeling that Liverpool had won this game.

The key is to be able to win a few balls!

He believes it's not just him who feels it, but Liverpool's players who have it strongly.

Because on the pitch today, no one can stop Crouch, and as long as there is an England big man in front of the ball to hold the ball, then Liverpool's attack will be more threatening and more obvious.

The manager's confidence in adjusting his tactics comes from the strength and performance of the players, and the manager's targeted tactical adjustments bring stronger confidence to the players on the field, allowing them to play better and better, thus forming a virtuous circle.

……

Crouch replaces Benayoun.

The Israelis did well on the left flank and caused plenty of problems for Ivanovic.

Especially as the second half began, the Serb gradually showed a sense of fatigue, obviously affected by three consecutive games, and fitness began to suffer.

So after Crouch came on, Benitez put the most threatening Yang Yang on the left side.

Liverpool's intention is also very obvious, that is, to attack Ivanovic.

Yang Yang felt very enjoyable, somewhat of the thrill of revenge, because a week ago at Anfield, it was Ivanovic's brace that completely sent Liverpool to hell.

And tonight, at Stamford Bridge, Liverpool are going to get that account back from Branislav Ivanovic.

After Deco came on, Frank Lampard and Ballack were more like dragging the midfield, Deco was responsible for passing and combing the ball in front alone, and Liverpool changed their tactical play decisively, Gerrard and Xavi Alonso moved forward, and Mascherano dragged back alone.

This is a very targeted midfield position, and more importantly, Liverpool's midfield is not only complementary, but the overall strength can almost be said to be the best in European football.

So, after the restart, Chelsea tried again and again to get the ball up front, but struggled to get through midfield.

With Chelsea's organisation and planning more centre-based, Mascherano began to play his role as a world-class midfielder, acting as a barrier to defend the team's defence.

As soon as they got the ball, Liverpool split up on the wings and instigated attacks from both flanks.

Arbeloa and Aurelio always have one man standing up front and answering in the gaps.

Liverpool's style of play made Chelsea very uncomfortable.

In the 75th minute, when Liverpool made a quick attack to the front of the pitch to try to break through from the right side of Kuyt, Ashley Cole cleared the ball and formed a throw-in.

Liverpool then formed a dangerous attack on the edge of the Chelsea box and managed to get the ball into the box.

However, Carvalho decisively went around the front and blocked the ball before Crouch, Gerrard and Ballack, Frank Lampard and other players pressed on the edge of the box, and Alex successfully passed the ball to Deco.

The Portuguese midfielder got the ball and turned around, quickly dribbled forward, and under the interference of Xavi Alonso, who was chasing all the way, he wanted to pass straight to Drogba, but was intercepted and tackled by Mascherano halfway.

After Mascherano broke the ball, he took two steps forward and looked up at the front, it was all people, but he still quickly found the passing line, because he saw Yang Yang raise his right hand and point to the left side of the penalty area.

The Argentine midfielder then picked up a cross and sent the ball to the left side of the Chelsea penalty area.

Yang Yang quickly ran over to catch the ball, and when he turned around, Ivanovic and the others had already returned to the defensive position.

Chelsea's defence is still very fast.

Yang Yang raised his right hand high, slowly stepped on the ball at his feet, and approached Ivanovic step by step, as if there was no Ivanovic in front of him.

The Serbs, however, did not dare to advance in the slightest, and retreated step by step, keeping a certain distance.

He had suffered a big loss from Yang Yang, so he didn't dare to mess around again.

To deal with a player like Yang Yang, it is not possible to be too close or too far.

Chelsea's defence is back in position, but Liverpool's attacking players are also on the rise.

When everyone saw Yang Yangbi's gesture, they were like a great enemy, and they didn't dare to be careless.

Ivanovic retreated again and again, and the whole person retreated to the line of the big penalty area, and he quickly realized that he could not retreat anymore.

Yang Yang was pressing step by step, and when he saw that Ivanovic refused to back down, he started quickly.

The Serbian defender only saw the figure in front of him flickering, Yang Yang suddenly accelerated and started, full of explosiveness, first a feint to go down, and then smash the ball to cut in, which made Ivanovic shocked.

The area at the front of the penalty area on the left is the most threatening area for Yang Yang's curling ball.

The Serbian defender decisively chose to block, but Yang Yang suddenly dunked the ball back with his right foot, started to accelerate and rushed to the bottom line.

At that moment, Yang Yang shook off Ivanovic and crossed with his left foot in front of the baseline.

Crouch pressed forward very tacitly, and seemed to be about to receive Yang Yang's cross, which scared Alex and Carvalho to follow.

But what I didn't expect was that Yang Yang's cross actually fell to the back point.

Kuyt cut in quickly to get ahead of Ashley Cole and beat the England left wing-back for a close-range header.