Chapter 98: A slap in the face
Well, guys, I'm sure you know the current state of the team, it's time to go through us, and then there's Arsenal who have never given up trying on us, and if you want to defend your title, from now on, every game, you need to take it seriously. ”
In the Liverpool dressing room, after Lao Bei and George returned from the pre-game press conference, Lao Bei suddenly summoned the whole Liverpool team and said solemnly to the players.
"Manchester City's goalkeeper James is a big problem, this guy reacts quickly, has great goalkeeping skills, is already the number two goalkeeper in the England national team. But I think James's ability is already in Arsenal's Seaman, so James is a big problem for all of your attacking players. ”
"Don't worry, coach, there is no goalkeeper in the world who can guarantee that he does not concede a goal, not even Yashin of the Soviet Union." George said lightly, no way, since he promised Lao Bei that he would definitely score in this game, not to mention that Manchester City's goalkeeper is James, even if a group of goalkeepers such as Yashin and Zoff stand in front of George, George will do everything possible to send the ball into the net.
"Very well, since you have this confidence, then I am relieved." Seeing that after George's words were finished, the other players, especially the offensive players, told themselves with very firm eyes that they would not be afraid of James, Lao Bei nodded with satisfaction.
There is no way, the fans and clubs are demanding more and more from the team, but they have simply given up the glory of a team, and how long it will take to build up before it can get results.
In the end, Lao Bei was also forced by the fans and the senior management of the club to be so cautious, otherwise, no matter how powerful James is, he will not let Lao Bei worry so much, at least so far, with the strength of Manchester City's backline, James is not qualified to worry Lao Bei.
"There is nothing special about the opponent's middle and back, it's nothing more than a strong body and a tall body, this kind of family glory is easy to deal with, just hit the ground attack. However, Manchester City's two fullbacks are a bit troublesome, Les and Sun are both players with strong assist ability, and at the same time the defense is also good, fast and full of energy, while attacking, you have to pay attention to these two guys Tivan, Xavi, the task of the two of you is very simple, that is, to make Mills and Sun unable to fly. ”
"Don't worry, Boss, we know what to do." Gerald nodded coolly and replied with a serious face. For the two defeats against Chelsea, and being teased by George, a shameless good buddy, Gerrard has long held his breath at this time.
And next to Alonso. He also nodded to indicate that he knew what to do. I have to say that after constant competition and cooperation. Alonso and Gerrard have become more and more cooperative, and Alonso has completely replaced the German Hamann in the main position.
"Manchester City in midfield. I don't bother to say anything. The quality is not very good, but Manchester City striker. It's a huge hassle for us. ”
"Manchester City have two strikers. One is out: our Liverpool youth camp talents. I believe everyone is familiar with this person. Even some of the older players are more familiar than me. That's right. This guy is Fowler. For Fowler this guy. My request is simple. Be sure to focus on death. Although Fowler's land is no more. But consciousness and a kick to the door are absolutely fatal. ”
"Don't worry, Boss. Except for Mario. Fowler is familiar to all of us. We're not going to let Fowler get the ball easily. Hypia said with a look in his eyes. And at the same time. Hyypia also recalls his time in Liverpool. Everyone fights side by side comrades.
I heard Hyypia say that he tried not to let Fowler get the ball. Instead of not letting Fowler shoot. Lao Bei was very satisfied with Hyypia's serious and responsible attitude. Don't let Fowler shoot. But Fowler really shoots when he shoots. That's too much of a threat. After all, Fowler's shooting skills are absolutely world-class. And as long as Fowler gets up and shoots. There will be chances to score.
Hyypia and others and Dudek who returned from injury. There is also no guarantee that Fowler will be able to block a shot every time. The best way. It's Fowler. Minimize Fowler's chances and time to get the ball as much as possible.
"The other guy is the Frenchman Anelka, this guy has a very withdrawn personality, and has a very greedy brother, according to the temper of the French, I believe that Anelka's personnel in the Manchester City team will also be, in this way, Anelka's threat is much smaller. But don't underestimate this guy, as a talented striker recognized by France, Anelka's threat is definitely not small, with a strong body, sharpness and superb shooting skills, absolutely deadly. For this Frenchman, my request is simple, to see him to death, to isolate him and, of course, to disappear on the pitch. ”
Lao Bei** arranged the final tactical arrangements before the game, and in the Manchester City dressing room not far from Liverpool, Manchester City's head coach Hughes was also arranging the final tactical arrangements.
Fowler! Standing in the players' tunnel, George looked at Fowler, the captain of the Manchester City team, and couldn't help but look carefully at Liverpool's talented forward. That sensitive look has disappeared, and the passage of time has made Fowler look very vicissitudes, no longer having the youth and vigor that he had when he was at Liverpool.
However, from Fowler's squinted eyes, when sharp eyes emanate from time to time, people will remember that although Fowler is no longer young, as he becomes more and more experienced, Fowler is even more threatening at this time than when he was young. Because Fowler has incomparably rich game experience at this time, Fowler will no longer give people the feeling of radiance as he did when he was younger. At this time, Fowler had already hidden all his light, but when this light came out, it was definitely a fatal blow.
"Hi ~ Cure you." The existing people are looking at themselves, Fowler turned his head to look at George, who is looking at him, Fowler is no stranger to George, a junior, or because everyone is from Liverpool's youth training camp, Fowler feels good about George, and suddenly said with a smile.
"Uh~ good Robbie, it's nice to meet you, you must know that when I was in Liverpool's youth team, Coach Houllier often mentioned you in front of us and asked me and Michael to target you, you know, you are my idol." Seeing Fowler greeting him, George responded in a bit of a panic.
"Hehe, is it, Coach Houllier still remembers me?" Fowler smiled, for being able to become George's idol at all, Le will not be at all guilty of his achievements and statistics during his time at Liverpool, and he is definitely qualified to become George's idol, although George has become one of the top strikers in England and even the world at this time.
But when Fowler heard George talk about Liverpool's youth team manager Houllier, he couldn't help it
Recall. Don't look at Houllier at this time, he is only staying in the Liverpool youth team ~ Pulier's first team to send talents, but for players like Fowler who grew up in Houllier's hands, Houllier's status in his own mind is far higher than that of the head coach of the first team.
You must know that in the Liverpool youth team, it is not completely commercialized, and the young players are constantly enjoying the fun that football brings to them under the leadership of the serious and kind Houllier. Because he still has a lot of respect for Holierle, Fowler was a little surprised after hearing George's words.
In Fowler's thoughts, after all, he left Liverpool, no matter what the reason, this point may not make Houllier, the loyal Liverpool youth team manager, forgive because Fowler felt very surprised.
"Of course, when I was in the youth team with Michael and Steven, Hollier used to compare you to us, so that we wouldn't lose ourselves in pride." George smiled and said that George didn't lie to Fowler, and that's exactly what Houllier did in the first place.
"Hehe, compared to me, you and Michael and Steven are doing a good job in Liverpool.
Although I left Liverpool, I have never forgotten Liverpool, I know the changes in Liverpool in recent times, and I also believe that what the Liverpool media say, you and Michael and Steven, are the future of Liverpool. ”
Fowler smiled, after so many years, I haven't seen any wind and rain, and now Fowler will never get some praise and praise like he did when he was young, and he can be excited for a long time.
"Robbie ~ I want to know, why did you leave Liverpool in the first place, I believe that you will never leave Liverpool for no reason, after all, it is where we grew up and became famous."
George has always wondered why Fowler would suddenly leave Liverpool and move to Leeds. George believes that Fowler, the god of Anfield, would not have chosen to leave Liverpool if it were not a last resort.
"Heh, it's useless to talk about this, so don't mention it." Obviously, Fowler didn't want to mention leaving Liverpool, or in Fowler's heart, this matter has always been a pain in Fowler's heart.
"Alright George, it's going to be a game right away, so play well, although I still like Liverpool, but I'm a Manchester City player after all, even against Liverpool, I'm not going to show mercy. I hope you can do the best too. ”
Seeing that George was about to say something, Le suddenly interrupted what George was about to say, turned his head through the entrance through the players' tunnel, looked at the court and said lightly.
Seeing that Fowler didn't have the heart to continue talking to him, George had no choice but to choose silence, began to adjust his mood, and gradually entered the state of the game.
"Hello and welcome to Manchester City Stadium, where Manchester City will be at home to welcome today's guests, Liverpool. Liverpool have been in good form of late, sitting in the top three in the league and winning in cup competitions and Champions Leagues. However, Liverpool has had some minor troubles recently, and I don't know if Manchester City can beat Liverpool at their home stadium, so let's wait and see. ”
Led by the referee, George and Fowler held their heads high and led their players onto the pitch to the cheers of Manchester City fans.
For Manchester City, Manchester City fans naturally sent their own applause, and at the same time kept shouting and cheering for their team, but for Liverpool, Manchester City fans were not so polite, and suddenly huge boos came to their faces, and the fans who had been excited even began to insult Liverpool's players.
Being able to live in a city like Manchester United, a formidable enemy, and being able to endure his team being bullied by his rival Manchester United again and again, is also the number one among all the fans of all teams in the UK.
For Manchester City players, the most important thing is naturally George's captain, not only because George is the captain of Liverpool, but more importantly, George is a great threat to Manchester City's goal, so big that Manchester City fans are worried, I don't know when, Liverpool's young captain will suddenly burst into goals. Because Manchester City fans are even more mean to George.
"Go back to your Liverpool, this is Manchester, not Liverpool, this little kid is here to kick something, believe it or not, Lao Tzu killed you."
"You bastard, you thug, you guy who only knows how to do things, go back to your mother and sue me." ……
From the moment he entered the pitch, George's ears were constantly filled with insults and sarcasm from Manchester City fans. However, George did not react to this in the slightest, after all, George is not a rookie who has just stepped into the British arena at this time, and after two years of experience, George has become numb and accustomed to this.
George and Fowler exchanged flags, picked sides, and then to the cheers of tens of thousands of Manchester City fans, at the referee's whistle, Fowler passed the ball to Anelka, who was next to him, and the game officially began.
Liverpool's midfield is much stronger than Manchester City's midfield, the game has just begun, Manchester City has not had time to pass the ball a few times, the ball was Alonso in a sliding tackle to the side of Gerrard, cut off Manchester City's ball,
Gerrard rushed towards the Manchester City penalty area with the ball and went 50 meters away from the penalty area, and directly shouted the ball to pass the ball to the Manchester City penalty area.
At the moment of Gerrard's pass, George suddenly added, relying on the degree to force the defense of a Manchester City central defender, into the penalty area without waiting for the ball to land, directly volleyed, the ball seemed to fly towards the upper left corner of the goal.
"Hah!" James yelled at the moment of George's shot, and his feet were so strong that he immediately pounced towards the ball. Relying on excellent goalkeeping skills and physical condition, James was stunned and picked the ball out of the air when he was about to fly into the goal.
That's right, it was taken off directly, not the ball off the line. That meant Liverpool didn't even get a corner kick, and it also meant James was in good shape today.
"Oh, James ~~~~ a great save to save Manchester City. It's so beautiful, and I can guarantee that James' save will definitely be the best save in this round of the league, and it will be a textbook save. ”
"Go back and put the little brat, in front of the great Manchester City, in front of the great James, you don't have a chance to score at all, you save your energy." Under the commentary of the commentator, Manchester City fans also gave their applause to James who made this wonderful save. Of course, the "enthusiastic" Manchester City fans did not forget to give James a round of applause, but also to insult and sarcastically George.
The son has improved again, how can he grow so fast? "Talking to the commentator and the ball, as for James, who just stopped George's shot, James felt a lot of things from the moment George just shot.
George and James also entered the England national team at the same time, but James and George were both substitute players at the time, and in the national team, George and James practiced nothing, of course, one was to practice shooting, and the other was to practice savings.
Feeling that his palms were still a little numb, James understood that George's strength was much greater than before. The reason why James reached out to pick up the ball, instead of hitting the ball out or holding it out of the bottom line, was because of the frequent contact between the two in the national team before, James thought that George was still the same as George, and the shooting power was not very big, so he reached out and picked up the ball.
However, at this moment, James already knew that George's shooting power was much greater than before, and James suddenly decided that in the face of George's shot again, he must not be able to hold it up, and try to hit the ball out and hold it out of the bottom line, so as not to cause the ball to get out of his hands because of the big one, and be seized by others.
If there is an attack, there is a defense, no, when George just completed Liverpool's first shot of the game, Manchester City was also unceremoniously and immediately returned an attack from Liverpool.
James kicked a corner with a big foot and the ball was picked up by the Manchester City midfielder, but this time the City player didn't stick to the ball and passed it to Fowler in front of the field after getting a goal kick from James.
Fowler took the opportunity to stuff the ball to the left, and Anel Katonga chased the ball and shot with his feet, but under the interference of Carragher, although the angle of the ball was very tricky, but the power was not enough, because under the interference of Carragher, Anelka's shot was in a hurry, did not hit the right part, and was held up by Dudek with one palm.
Less than five minutes into the game, both sides had one shot on goal and one shot on goal that was likely to score. From this point of view, the game is destined for both sides to play attacking football.
City's corner did not pose much of a threat to Liverpool's goal, and although Anelka struggled for a spot and jumped up for a header, there was still no chance for Yepes to grab the first point and push the ball out of the box under Hyyypia's tight feeling.
As for Fowlercarragher's guards, let alone scrambling for headers, there is no way to even move and run, because Carragher always uses his strong body to jam Fowler behind him, or keep squeezing Fowler out of the penalty area.
In the face of Carragher's brutal way of defending against Carragher's defense, which directly bullied his own body and could not resist, Fowler could only watch the ball being pushed out of the penalty area by Yepes in addition to a wry smile.
In terms of the first attack of both sides, it was clear that Manchester City had the upper hand because Manchester City's attack was more threatening, and even got a corner kick opportunity. Or it is precisely because of this attack that the Manchester City players have been greatly encouraged, and they have pressed up and launched a crazy attack on Liverpool's goal.
The fans at the scene saw that the home team Manchester City team was pressing Liverpool, and they immediately roared excitedly, and the Manchester City players seemed to be roaring again and again in the fans, impacting Liverpool's back line and goal again and again.
In the 8th minute, Fowler turned and shot, but it was a little high, and the ball flew directly out of the bottom line.
In the 11th minute, Anelka received a set-piece from a teammate in front of the goal and headed it directly, but the angle was not very tricky and was saved by Dudek.
In the 15th minute, Anelka received another pass from his team-mate, continued his personal heroism, broke through Reese's defence, ignored Fowler, who was in a better position next to him, and forced his foot to hit the goal in front of Hyypia, and the ball finally rolled off the line by grazing the post.
Seeing Anelka, who didn't go in, didn't look at it, and turned back to retreat, Fowler shook his head helplessly, what else did he have to say about such a teammate.
City's wave after wave of attacks, each more threatening attack, seemed to make the Manchester City team forget that they were facing a strong Liverpool team, and the defenders unconsciously moved forward close to the midfield, leaving a large open field behind them.
In the face of Manchester City's crazy attack, Liverpool's backline, under the command and leadership of Hyypia, seemed very stable and composed, defusing the Manchester City team's attack again and again, and making Manchester City Stadium feel sorry again and again.
There is nothing wrong with wasting an opportunity to waste an opportunity, and it is to be punished. No, the Manchester City team, which has not been able to attack for a long time, suddenly suffered due punishment for their constant waste of opportunities.
In the 29th minute of the game, Anelka's long-range shot hit Carragher's body and was collected by Yepes on the side. Jepeston played the ball to Smitchell in front, and Smitchell knocked it out and the ball was at the feet of Heskey.
Husky is perhaps the most adept and adept passer of the centre. No, after looking at George's position, Heskey gently picked the ball with the instep of his foot, and the ball drew a parabola and fell into the Manchester City penalty area.
George leaned on the degree to grab the ball before James attacked, and without time to adjust, he immediately got up and shot, and the ball passed under James's armpit and rolled directly into the net.
The stadium, which was originally very lively, suddenly became silent, so Manchester City fans were stunned, how could this be, it was obvious that Manchester City occupied the initiative on the field, and if it was to score, it would also be Manchester City that scored, how could it be that Liverpool scored first?
“cooooooooooooooooa1!!! Alan George, a beautiful push, at this moment, the Manchester City team seems to have forgotten what Liverpool is best at fast attack, hoping that Liverpool's goal can make the Manchester City players understand that even if the ball is still flying over Liverpool's penalty area, it will take less than half a minute, and the ball may lie in their own goal. ”
"Boss, you should be satisfied now." No matter what Manchester City fans and players think, after scoring the goal, George evaded the interception of his teammates and rushed directly to the head coach Lao Bei in front of the bench, and Lao Bei just hugged each other and said to Lao Bei.
"No, no, no~ the ball is not enough, I still need more goals, you can score more goals." Lao Bei was also very excited at this time, and said excitedly.
"Shh~~~!!" In hindsight, the Manchester City fans who reacted were angry, and the guy they looked down on the most, booed the most, and scolded the worst, actually opened the record. George's goal was like a slap in the face to all the Manchester City fans who booed George. Thinking of this, Manchester City fans booed even more.