I'm 198cm tall. Are you giving me a Maradona template?

Chapter 199: Three Axe At The Beginning [First Update]

After the third round of the league, we entered the international match day.

There is a large empty space in Liverpool's first team.

But this is the same treatment for any top team.

The same is true for Liverpool's next league opponent Manchester City.

It is worth mentioning that.

After the third round of the league, Manchester City officially announced their third signing from Monaco: left-back Mendy transferred to Manchester City for 40 million euros.

Manchester City's lineup has been further strengthened.

"Manchester City can even form two starting lineups that are capable of competing for the Premier League title."

Some media couldn't help but sigh.

This may be the "super aircraft carrier" that has never appeared in the history of the Premier League.

At each position, there are two top players competing.

For example, in the defensive midfielder position, who will play as the main force between Fernandinho and Fabinho? It is estimated that no matter who is appointed as the head coach of Manchester City, it will be a happy trouble.
For Klopp, the happiest thing is that he doesn't have to worry about Yang Guang traveling thousands of miles to participate in the Chinese national team's games.
The international match day is over.

All the international players have returned.

Thankfully no Liverpool players were injured during the international break.

But considering that the national team players all came back on long-distance flights.

So, before the fourth round away game against Manchester City.

Klopp mainly focuses on physical recovery training and set-piece tactical training.

Even though they were facing Manchester City away from home.

But Klopp does not intend to change Liverpool's tactical thinking, and still focuses on playing to their own advantages.

At most, we can strengthen the pressing training based on Manchester City’s characteristics.

The former teammates of Sunshine who are currently playing in the Premier League include B Silva, Fabinho, Mendy and Bakayoko.

They formed a group together.

The name of the group was changed by Seat B to [Yang and Yang's former teammates].

B Silva: Guys, Yang will come to Manchester City in two days, we have to think about how to deal with him and how to entertain him.

Fabinho: Let's go to a nightclub and find two Indian girls and two Muslim girls.
Baca: You are being a little racist.

Fabi: I'm black, man.

Seat B: I just watch and don’t say anything.

Yang: Don’t look for it anymore. I can control ten women at night, and defeating you will be as easy as taking something from a sack.

B Silva: Stop bragging. By the way, Yang, you have to be careful. Aguero has been shouting these days that he wants to defeat you. Although I don’t think he can do it, as an opponent, I will definitely help him.

Yang: Aguero? I have no grudge against him.

Mendy: Aguero is Messi's good friend.

Yang: SO?

Mendy: If Aguero beats you and he says he is not as good as Messi, doesn't that mean Messi also beats you?

Yang: It’s quite complicated.
Several people were chatting and gossiping in the group.

We agreed to have a meal together after the game.

When players from both sides met in the player tunnel of the Etihad Stadium.

Several former Monaco players chatted for a while in the tunnel.

Then Mendy and B Silva, who started the game, lined up, and Fabinho, who came on as a substitute, went to the bench wearing a coat.

Aguero turned his head and looked at the sunlight.

Of course he wanted to compete with this rising Chinese striker.

Many people say that this is a player who can be compared with Messi.

Aguero pouted.

He doesn't believe that anyone can be better than Messi.

"The game is about to start. During this period, the English media has been talking about the possibility of Liverpool winning the championship. If Liverpool wants to win the championship, then Manchester City is definitely one of their biggest competitors."

Inside the live broadcast room of Penguin Sports.

Zhang Jun stared at the monitor in the studio.

He raised his head and continued, "This season, the total expenditure of the Premier League in the summer transfer window reached 19.8 billion pounds! It set an all-time record, more than the four major leagues of La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue combined! This fully demonstrates how great the competitive pressure in the Premier League is now."

"It's not just the top teams that are willing to invest. Some mid- and lower-tier teams also spend tens of millions of pounds on average on signings!"

Zhang Lu, who was standing by, couldn't help but sigh when he heard this: "This is the Premier League. If you stay in the Premier League, you can earn at least 100 million per season. All teams are trying their best to strengthen their teams, those who are competing for the championship are competing for the championship, and those who are trying to avoid relegation are trying to avoid relegation."

"Of course, the championship still depends on the performance of several top teams, including Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, and perhaps Liverpool." Zhang Jun's mouth curled up slightly.

Live broadcast room barrage:
"Brother Jun, you are trying to save your character, right?"

"It's obviously Liverpool that has won three consecutive games!"

"Three consecutive wins, 13 goal difference, which team is at the top of the list?"

"Let's say this loud and clear: Liverpool are the champions!"

Don't know when it started.

It has become popular among football fans to "accumulate good karma".

Before the championship is decided.

You always have to be "humble".

Liverpool fans say: Manchester City are the champions.

Manchester City fans are anxious: Liverpool is the champions, your whole family are champions.

"Let's take a look at the starting lineups of both teams first." Zhang Jun looked down at the list in his hand.

"Guardiola used a very strange formation, it should be a 3151 formation"

"Three central defenders Otamendi, Stones, Danilo, single defensive midfielder Fernandinho, left and right wingbacks Kyle Walker and Mendy, three players with attacking midfield attributes in the middle of the midfield, David Silva, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, and single striker Aguero"

"This is about control, and taking control to the extreme. Guardiola is still doing his tactical experiments," Zhang Lu added.

"Relatively speaking, Liverpool's formation is a more conventional 433, with goalkeeper Karius, defenders Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Moreno, midfielders Wijnaldum, Henderson, Emre Can, and forwards Mane, Sunshine, Salah."

"Considering that in the previous three league games, Manchester City had two wins and one draw, and was two points behind Liverpool, Manchester City, who were playing at home, would definitely not relax in this game."

"It's OK. Liverpool started the game in very good form. Their performance in this game will largely depend on the performance of their strikers."

"Don't worry about that. Yangguang's performance in this kind of strong dialogue is always quite explosive."

The two laughed.

Everyone is full of confidence in the sun.

Before the game, Klopp anticipated what strategy Guardiola would adopt - this is a coach who has extreme demands for ball possession tactics.

Just look at their starting lineup.

Seat D, Seat B, Ding Ding.

Three technical midfielders started together.

Sitting on the bench are players such as Gundogan and Fabinho.

Look at their formation again.

3151.

This is definitely a rather weird formation.

It was definitely designed for ball control.

Since the opponent wants to control the ball.

Liverpool's strategy must be to disrupt the opponent's ball possession rhythm.

Increase the intensity of the game and speed up the pace.

and so.

From the beginning of the game.

Liverpool launched an active front-court pressure.

First minute of the game.

The sunlight invades the restricted area.

This forced goalkeeper Ederson to make a mistake in his cross pass and sent the ball directly out of the sideline.

Without waiting for the Manchester City players to react, Mane threw the ball directly into the penalty area from out of bounds.

After receiving the ball in the penalty area, Yangguang dribbled to the baseline, and his shot from a small angle was blocked by Elder and went out of the other sideline.

It scared the Manchester City fans in the stands of Etihad Stadium.

The ball was kicked out from the sideline on the other side.

After receiving the ball, Salah made a wall pass with Yangguang.

After receiving the ball in the ribs, he shot into the far corner with his left foot.

The football hit the post and flew out of the bottom line.

"Danger! Liverpool created two dangerous situations in one minute."

"Liverpool's pressing was very aggressive and they made it very difficult for City to keep the ball at the back."

"Manchester City needs to stabilize the situation as soon as possible."

Guardiola also seemed anxious on the sidelines, and he kept making gestures.

I don't know what his gesture means.

Ederson pressed the ball into the small penalty area and was about to kick the ball.

He looked around.

Mane, Sunshine and Salah were standing on the edge of the penalty area, ready to rush in and press at any time.

The same is true for Henderson, Emre Can and Wijnaldum behind them. The two Liverpool full-backs also passed the half-court.

He put on an aggressive posture.

Ederson didn't kick the ball too far.

Instead, he stubbornly gave the ball to Danilo.

The moment the ball is kicked.

Mane rushed into the penalty area.

Danilo wanted to turn around and pass the ball to Walker.

But he found that Walker was being watched.

He hurriedly passed the ball back to Ederson.

Manchester City bought Ederson in order to strengthen their ball control.

Ederson pretended to pass the ball to the left, then suddenly reversed and passed the ball directly to De Bruyne who was retreating to receive the ball.

However, Emre Can, who had been following all the way, slid and tackled the ball to the full-back Arnold before De Bruyne received the ball.

'"foul!"

In the stands of Etihad Stadium, Manchester City fans shouted angrily.

But the referee was unmoved.

Strictly speaking, this ball can be blown or not.

Emre Can cleared the ball, but he also knocked De Bruyne to the ground with his other foot.

In other leagues, such a goal would most likely be called off.

But this is the Premier League
After receiving the ball, Arnold cut inside and passed it straight.

Salah made a high-speed run and tried to dribble past Mendy.

The ball was shoveled out of the baseline by Mendy.

Second minute into the game.

Liverpool got a corner kick.

"Liverpool started the game with a tidal wave of attack. Manchester City wanted to stabilize the rhythm, but facing Liverpool's almost crazy pressing, it was difficult for them to control the ball steadily!"

"Manchester City need to improve their forward passing!"

"Liverpool's backcourt has space, but the problem is how Manchester City can break through Liverpool's frontcourt press"

The commentators in the commentary booth were also quite excited.

Liverpool played so positively away from home.

This at least makes the game less boring.

Arnold ran to take the corner kick.

Next to the corner flag area is the gathering area for Manchester City's diehard fans.

It is said that the match between Liverpool and Manchester United is the English national derby, and they are the most well-known rivals in the Premier League.

But the rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool stems from the contrast between the city of Manchester and the city of Liverpool.

so.
The relationship between Manchester City and Liverpool is not good either.

Although the confrontation between the two sides is not as serious as that between Manchester United and Liverpool.

But Manchester City fans certainly won't have any good feelings towards Liverpool.

They want to beat Liverpool and prove that they are the boss of Manchester.

And Arnold is a real Liverpudlian.

So when he came to the corner flag area.

The Manchester City fans behind him insulted him with the most humiliating words.

This is the best way to stir up their emotions.

It can also put pressure on Arnold and make him emotionally unstable, thus helping Manchester City.

Don't think that such verbal attacks are ineffective.

Didn't Cantona get banned for nine months because he couldn't stand the humiliation of Crystal Palace fans on the sidelines and kicked them?
The camera gave a close-up of the corner flag area.

In the camera, Arnold positioned the football and took two steps back.

Behind him, the Manchester City fans had ferocious expressions. Although I couldn't hear what they were saying, I knew from the middle fingers all over the screen that it was definitely not something nice to hear.
Arnold stared at the penalty area.

Such scenes may occur in almost every away game.

If you don't have a big heart, it will be really difficult to play away games.

Arnold raised his arms.

The Manchester City players in the penalty area suddenly became nervous.

The camera gave a picture of the penalty area.

The sun was surrounded.

Everyone knows that Liverpool's corner kicks are very threatening.

They have three high points in Sunshine, Van Dijk and Matip.

Especially Yangguang, once he gets the chance, it is almost a very threatening header.

It is very difficult to save a header from close range.

It can almost be said that as long as the header hits the goal frame from close range.

Unless the ball hits the goalkeeper.

Otherwise, if you want to save the ball, you basically have to rely on luck.
Arnold kicked the ball out.

He wanted to find the sunshine in the middle, but his route was a little low and was headed out by Aguero in front.

The ball reached the periphery and was controlled by the full-back Moreno.

Moreno stopped the ball, waited for Arnold to quickly run back to an offside position, and then passed the ball again.

Arnold took a look at the penalty area and crossed again.

The football jumped high and flew to the back point.

When the corner kick was headed out.

Manchester City players rushed out quickly.

It is impossible for Liverpool players to just watch themselves being in an offside position.

They also pressed outward collectively.

But in the end, some Liverpool players remained in an offside position.

When Arnold made the second cross.

When the Manchester City players turned their heads, they saw Van Dijk and Yang Guang in the penalty area.

They raised their hands to indicate that the two were offside.

But neither of them moved.

There was no intention to receive the ball.

The football flew over their heads and reached the back point!
A figure rushed towards the back point like lightning!

“Mane!!”

to the exclamations of the commentators.

It is impossible for Mane to be offside when he comes in from behind.

The Manchester City players quickly lowered their arms and rushed towards the goal.

Mane, who had inserted himself into the back post, ran at high speed, raised his foot, and swept the ball towards the goal with all his might!
When Arnold passed the ball.

Van Dijk and Sunshine were offside.

But when Mane swept the ball towards the small penalty area near the bottom line.

Neither Van Dijk nor Sunshine were offside.

Mane made a run at high speed and he had no control over the strength of his pass. In order to prevent the ball from being caught by the goalkeeper due to its slow speed, he simply used all his strength to pass the ball with great force!

The football was about ten centimeters above the ground and flew straight and parallel to the ground.

The ball is extremely fast.

point before.

Van Dijk fell to the ground and shot!

Amidst the exclamations.

The football flew past the soles of his feet.

Before Manchester City fans could breathe a sigh of relief.

Middle road.

Sunshine follows up and shoots with the instep!
Ederson rushed forward with all his might.

But it was too late.

The football hit the net behind him.

When the camera switched over, on the TV screen, Liverpool's No. 9 player had already opened his arms and rushed towards the corner flag area.

Facing a screen full of middle fingers, he opened his arms and slid down to his knees.

"Sunshine! Beautiful! Beautiful! Follow-up shot from the middle! Not offside!!!"

"The ball goes in! One to zero!! Liverpool got off to a dream start away from home! They got off to a dream start again!!"

"Liverpool's opening three moves are becoming more and more powerful!"

Zhang Jun raised his arms and shouted.

As a Liverpool fan, he can express his true feelings at this moment.

(End of this chapter)