The road to godhood starting from Ligue 1

Chapter 373 Two games, ten goals scored: the youngest legend in the Manchester derby!
When Gaio stepped onto the court.

The roar of Old Trafford stadium crashed right into you.

Red flags fluttered in the Manchester United fan section.

The singing of Glory Glory Man United was several times louder than in the first half.

The word "Champions" in the lyrics is pronounced with extra emphasis, as if it's an attempt to vent all the frustration of being overtaken.

But the Liverpool fan section wasn't suppressed, and the melody of "You'll Never Walk Alone" stubbornly resonated with the voices of Liverpool fans.

Although there were few people, their shouts were deafening.

It clashed with the Manchester United anthem, creating a chaotic cacophony in the air above the stadium.

Players from both sides stand in the center circle.

Neither side made any personnel changes.

Clattenburg glanced at his watch and then blew the whistle to start the second half.

drop! !

The second half of the game has officially begun!
After Liverpool kicked off, they did not rush to attack, but instead wanted to stabilize their formation first.

They knew Manchester United would definitely launch a fierce attack.

What Liverpool needs to do is withstand this wave of attacks and seize counter-attack opportunities.

As expected, Manchester United players pressed forward immediately when Liverpool retreated into their defensive formation.

However, their pressing tactics were effective.

Liverpool had relatively few players who could control the ball, and possession quickly went to Manchester United.

In the third minute of the second half, Manchester United's attack first tore open a gap on the right flank.

Raphael charged forward along the sideline, with José Enrique following behind him, his arm lightly resting on Raphael's waist to slow him down.

Rafael didn't try to block directly. He lowered his left shoulder to press against Enrique, and flicked the ball with his right toe along the sideline. The ball rolled past Enrique's side, and at the same time, he shifted his body to the outside to avoid Enrique's outstretched foot.

The two bumped shoulders.

Rafael didn't stop, chasing the ball towards the corner of the penalty area until he swept it towards the center.

Rooney emerged from behind Kolo Toure and stretched out his foot to volley.

Skrtel charged in diagonally, his arm pressed against Rooney's back, his palm lightly pressing on the hem of Rooney's jersey to ensure he didn't foul, while his knee pushed forward half an inch to block Rooney's starting path.

Rooney couldn't reach the ball with his foot, and Skrtel instead poked it to Evans.

Wow!

This caused an uproar among Manchester United fans.

"That's a foul?!"

"Isn't that fucking amazing?"

But no one paid any attention.

On the field,

Evans didn't dare to dribble for long and turned to pass the ball to Giggs, but Henderson had already circled behind Giggs.

They immediately applied the same material to hold Giggs back.

They wouldn't let Giggs turn around.

And keep pushing Giggs.

Giggs tried to turn around, but Henderson touched the ball again.

It was almost a replica of the first half!
Henderson, taking advantage of his youth and strength, held off Giggs and was about to gain control of the ball.

Giggs got a little anxious and quickly tried to win the ball back.

Henderson, however, did not stop the ball himself, but instead passed it sideways to Lucas.

Liverpool's counter-attack unfolded instantly!

Lucas received the ball, flicked it to his right side and back, and passed it to Gerrard in the defensive midfield position, avoiding Shinji Kagawa's outstretched foot, while looking up at the forward field.

Gerrard surged forward, received the ball, and didn't stop.

He took two steps forward with the ball, his eyes scanning the Manchester United defense – Buttner and Evans were moving towards Gaio, forming an angle, trying to block Gaio's space to receive the ball.

Gerrard took a look.

Only two people are defending against Gaio?

He kicked it immediately!
Bang!
Gerrard delivered a straight pass to Gaio, fast and accurate!

Gaio stood between the two, his body slightly turned to the side, his eyes fixed on the falling ball.

Buttner reached out to push his shoulder, but Gaio moved half a step to the left, just avoiding it. At the same time, he lifted his left foot and gently tapped the ball with the instep of his foot—the ball landed half a meter in front of him, without bouncing, as if it were stuck to the grass.

Buttner thought he was going to dribble to the left, so he immediately moved to the left side. But Gaio then lightly touched the ball with his left foot, causing Buttner to shift his weight again.

Then he suddenly pulled the ball back with his right foot, bending his knee to protect it. His body was positioned perfectly against Buttner, avoiding both being bumped and preventing the opponent from touching the ball.

Evans came over from the other side and stretched out his leg to tackle the ball.

Instead of retreating, Gaio took a half step forward, flicked the ball to the right with the outside of his right foot, and simultaneously lunged to the left.

The ball passed!

Evans missed his tackle and could only watch as Gaio broke into the edge of the penalty area.

When Gaião regained possession, Manchester United's defense was completely drawn to him.

Buttner turned and chased back desperately. Rafael moved to the right from the center of the penalty area. Even Smalling, who was originally watching Suarez, couldn't help but glance in Gaio's direction, wanting to cover him at any moment.

Out of the corner of his eye, Gaio spotted Sturridge unmarked on the left side of the penalty area.

Suddenly, it surged forward.

Then, tuck your right foot out a little further!
The ball flew towards the penalty area, just bypassing the Manchester United players' interception in the middle, and was accurately delivered to Sturridge.

Sturridge did not attempt a direct header.

Instead, they stopped the ball.

Make one adjustment.

He pushed the ball into the far corner of the goal with his right foot. The ball wasn't fast, but the angle was extremely tricky. It looked like it was about to graz the inside of the goalpost and go in.

De Gea dived to the side, his left fingertips just touching the outside of the ball, changing its direction and sending it crashing into the right post before bouncing back into the penalty area.

The Manchester United players hadn't even reacted yet.

Evans had just stretched out his foot to try and clear the way when Gaio anticipated it.

He rushed towards the six-yard box the moment he passed the ball to Sturridge.

He ran just in time to the landing point and met the ball with his left foot, shooting.

It's practically an open goal!
De Gea hadn't gotten up from the ground yet and could only watch helplessly as the ball rolled into the net.

Swish!
The ball went in!
2-3!

Just over four minutes into the second half, Liverpool took the lead!

Gaião turned and charged toward the Liverpool fans' section, pumping his fist in frustration.

Liverpool are in the lead!

This is also his third hat trick in his Manchester derby career!
A second goal hat-trick!
As he ran down to the bottom of the Liverpool fan section, he suddenly stopped and patted the team badge on his chest.

Subsequently.

He spread his arms wide, looked up at the shimmering red of Liverpool, and his eyes shone like fallen stars.

There were no tears, no deliberate composure, only the pure joy of an 18-year-old boy achieving his dream on the stage!

He stood there, arms outstretched, chest heaving violently, breathing rapidly, as if he could suck in all the lights of Old Trafford.

The air around him seemed to heat up with his breath!

"Geo!"

"Gaio is so cool!"

Liverpool fans chanted Gaião's name wildly; at that moment, his name was their faith!
At the age of 18, he should have been waiting for opportunities in the youth training camp, but instead he stood on the stage of the Manchester derby and pulled the team out of the mire with a hat-trick.

He wrote the most spirited chapter in the world of football!
Suarez was the first to rush over, hug Gaio, and yell, "Hat trick! Yang! So cool!"

Sturridge followed up, grabbed his wrist, and raised his arm high, as if to show Liverpool's ace to the whole stadium.

Gaio lifted his head with Sturridge's help and looked at the Liverpool fans in the stands who were constantly bouncing.

Hundreds of Liverpool scarves swayed in the air like waves as fans jumped and chanted his name. Some held up jerseys with "Gueho" printed on them, their color even more striking than Manchester United's red.

Kolo Toure and Sakho also ran over. The old center-back patted him on the back with such force that he staggered forward half a step, but he smiled very happily.

When Gaio turned his head, he saw Gerrard standing on the edge of the penalty area, giving him a thumbs up, his eyes filled with undisguised satisfaction.

That counter-attack was executed flawlessly, from Gerrard's long pass to his breakthrough and pass, to Suarez drawing the defense, and finally his follow-up shot. Every step was incredibly smooth.

And he,

It was the final key that opened the goal.

The Manchester United fan section behind me fell silent. The deafening chants of "Glory Glory Man United" had been silenced, with only a few scattered boos.

The moment the football hit the net, the coaching bench at Old Trafford.

They are two completely different extremes.

Moyes clenched his fists so tightly that his fingers turned white.

He stared at the Liverpool players celebrating in the penalty area, his face ashen, as if covered in frost.

On the other side, Rodgers, seeing the ball go into the goal, froze for half a second, then suddenly stood up straight, clenched his right fist and swung it into the air, letting out a loud roar.

Scoring a goal at Old Trafford was enough to release all the pressure for him!

When the assistant coach rushed over to hug him, he finally broke into a big smile, patting the other's back with barely concealed glee: "See? I told you he could do it!"

He turned to look at Gaio on the field, his gaze following the white figure, his eyes overflowing with satisfaction.

He said in the locker room, "We need more goals," and Gaio's nod wasn't just a perfunctory response; he really meant it!

This is Gaio!
Subsequently,

Rodgers' tone was full of confidence: "We can win this game."

He didn't make any exaggerated movements, but the smile on his lips was more confident than any cheer.

It wasn't just the score that was turned around, but also his confidence in the team and in Gaio!
now,

Carragher gripped the microphone, his roar nearly vibrating the equipment: "My God! Gao! Gao! Where did this kid come from?!"

He leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the red figures celebrating on the field, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement, even his Scottish accent sounding heavier than usual: "Gaio is so mature for his age! He's never just recklessly charging around like a madman, he plays with his brain!"

When two Manchester United players were double-teaming him, his ball protection and change of direction were nothing like that of an 18-year-old.

I've played for Liverpool for over a decade and seen my fair share of strikers, but I've never seen anyone remain so calm at Old Trafford, in the fiery pit of the Manchester derby. This isn't talent; it's like God opened a backdoor for Liverpool!

The celebratory scenes were still replaying when Carragher started counting on his fingers, "Two Manchester derbies, six goals! Nine goal contributions! 6-0 at Anfield last time, and a hat-trick at Old Trafford to take the lead this time. He didn't come to help Liverpool, he came to save Liverpool!"

Think about it, when we played against Manchester United before, we always fell short at the last minute. What was it that we were missing?
He's someone who can make the final decision at crucial moments!
Now that Gaio is here, he is that spirit, our strongest confidence when we go toe-to-toe with our mortal enemy!

Gaio's talent wasn't something he developed; it was innate!

He knows when to break through, when to pass the ball, and when to step up and lead—things that no amount of training can teach.

For Liverpool, Gaião is not just a striker, he is the future!
This is exactly how we should build a team around him!
With him on the team, we no longer need to envy other teams' attacking lines, nor are we afraid to go head-to-head with any team, especially in a place like Old Trafford. He can turn the opponent's home ground into our stage and shut up Manchester United fans. That's what he means to Liverpool!

I dare say that after today, the entire Premier League will have to figure out how to defend against Gaio.

But I dare say no one can stop him—because his talent contains the ruthlessness and flair Liverpool desperately needs, something their arch-rivals can't take away or learn!

Carragher was not the only one who was extremely excited.

All Liverpool fans, no matter where they were, were instantly thrilled upon seeing this goal.

At the start of the game, the team's performance was somewhat unacceptable to them.

But Gaio stepped forward!

A hat trick!
They've really gone berserk!

At this rate, who can possibly snatch the Premier League Golden Boot?!
The Liverpool fan section at Old Trafford had already turned into a sea of ​​red.

Hundreds of red scarves swayed tirelessly, surging like waves.

An elderly fan in a retro red jersey in the front row was waving his scarf with trembling hands. His eyes crinkled with laughter as he pumped his fist in the direction of the field, his voice cracking as he shouted, "We've taken the lead! We've taken the lead!"

The young man next to him immediately put his arm around his shoulder, and the two jumped and bumped into each other.

Join the players in the stands to celebrate their comeback!

In the various pubs of Liverpool.

Cheers spread.

"A hat trick! Gaio is a god!"

"Only five minutes! And they've already taken down Manchester United!"

"I haven't felt this good at Old Trafford in years! That was amazing!"

Even on the streets of Liverpool, someone suddenly held their phone above their head and shouted, "3-2! Gaio scored!"

Passersby who didn't have time to watch the game laughed when they heard this.

Their laughter carried on the wind, mingling with cheers from distant pubs, creating the most lively melody on the streets of Liverpool.

In a small house on the outskirts of Liverpool, the television screen was blindingly bright.

Seventeen-year-old Tom was sprawled on the sofa, his Liverpool scarf draped over his knees. The moment he saw Gaio score on the rebound, he sprang up, ignoring the scarf that fell to the ground, and rushed over to Gaio on the TV, shouting, "Awesome! Gaio, you're so cool!"

In a London apartment, Mark, a die-hard Liverpool fan living alone, is watching a live stream on his computer screen.

The moment he scored, he roared and stared at Gaio's celebration on the screen, his eyes suddenly reddening.

He pulled out his phone and quickly typed a message to his old friend far away: "Hey buddy, we've taken the lead! Gaio scored a hat-trick! At Old Trafford!"

As soon as the message was sent, the live stream switched to the Liverpool fans' celebration. He smiled at the unfamiliar fans on the screen and hummed "You'll Never Walk Alone" along with the sounds from the stadium.

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was filled with passionate heat—hundreds of kilometers apart, he, the fans at Old Trafford, the fans in the bars, and the fans at home were all bound together by the same goal and the same joy.

Not just Liverpool fans.

Far away in France.

Many people are also paying attention to this Reds-Reds match.

Bastia was as excited as ever about Gaio's performance.

Many people are even discussing whether anyone would form a team to travel to England to watch Gaio play.

I went wearing a Bastia jersey.

This drew many echoes.

In the players' dormitory at Monaco's youth academy, desk lamps illuminated the desks brightly.

Mbappe sat cross-legged on the bed, with a red jersey hanging behind him—a Liverpool jersey signed by Gaio.

The computer screen was showing a live broadcast of the Manchester derby, and Gaio's rebound shot rolled into the net.

He suddenly sprang up from the bed.

The wind it created made the jerseys flutter a few times.

Mbappe braced his hands on the edge of the desk, leaning forward so much that he was almost touching the screen, his eyes shining brightly.

"Goal! Goal!! Hat trick!!!"

He has a very loud voice.

He heard a shout from the next dorm room, "Mbappe! Keep it down!" but he only mumbled a "sorry" in response.

Let's turn our attention back to the screen.

Gaio instinctively pressed the screenshot button when he saw the image of him celebrating with his arms outstretched towards the Liverpool fans. The "Save successful" message that popped up in the lower right corner of the screen was like his rapidly beating heart.

He suddenly remembered what Gaio had said before, "But if you want to play well as a winger, you need to practice your technique more. Speed ​​alone is not enough."

The image of Gaio drawing two Manchester United center-backs, passing the ball to his teammate, and then quietly slipping into space for a follow-up shot suddenly became clear in his mind.

That's technology!
It's not about blindly charging forward.

Every time Mbappe watches Gaio play, he always feels that his goal is always out of reach.

When the live stream switched to the replay, he moved even closer, not missing even the details of Gaio's ankle when he controlled the ball.

"I want to become a player like that."

Mbappe was absolutely determined.
soon.

Liverpool's celebrations at the away game have ended, and they have returned to the center circle.

The game continues.

Liverpool let Manchester United get off to a bad start, but they seized the opportunity to turn the game around, and now their tactics are much clearer.

It's all about counter-attacking!

Although it didn't look good, it worked!

When Rooney passed the ball to Giggs, almost the entire Manchester United midfield pressed forward, with even the defense moving forward two steps, clearly not intending to accept a 3-2 deficit.

Giggs tried to cut the ball into the middle, but just past half-court, Lucas closed in on him.

The two men were locked in a tight grip. Giggs tried to turn and get away, but Lucas held on tight until the ball was forced out of bounds. When Manchester United's left winger Nani rushed over to retrieve the ball, he couldn't help but glare at Lucas, his lips moving as if to curse him.

As soon as possession returned to Liverpool, Gaião started moving down the right flank.

When Sakho lobbed the ball to him, Buttner had already closed in. The Dutch left-back was clearly eager to atone for his mistakes, having conceded two goals to Gaio in the first half and another one in the second half.

His eyes were filled with rage. Just as Gaio controlled the ball with his chest, Buttner reached out and grabbed his jersey with his right hand.

The referee didn't see it.

But Gaio was affected, his center of gravity shifted, and he staggered slightly, unable to continue his next breakthrough. He could only hastily pass the ball to Henderson, who was there to receive it.

As he straightened up, Butner deliberately moved closer to him, his voice low but provocative: "You're not getting over there now!"

Gaio remained silent, only staring at Butner's back, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

He reached out and patted the wrinkles that had been pulled out of his jersey.

Less than five minutes later, Gaio made up for it, this time leaving no room for error.

When Liverpool launched another attack, Gerrard passed the ball to the right wing, and Gaio deliberately slowed down his movements when he received the ball, gently tapping it with his foot.

Buttner was in a hurry to intercept the ball, so he lunged forward too hard, trying to find Kagaio's passing route, and even shifted his center of gravity forward a bit.

Suddenly, Gaio stepped forward with his right foot, as if to dribble towards the outside, causing Buttner to lean to the outside. Then, he gently placed his left hand on Buttner's arm.

The movement was so light it seemed like an unintentional touch, yet it precisely locked onto Buttner's point of force. At the same time, the left foot flicked the ball, and as the weight shifted and brushed past Buttner's side, the right knee subtly nudged Buttner's calf.

The force wasn't heavy, but it hit the most sensitive spot on the muscle precisely.

Buttner's legs buckled, and he staggered, almost kneeling on the grass. He could only instinctively reach out to pull Gaio's jersey.

But Gaio was prepared. He deliberately moved closer to Gaio's hand, and his shoulder lightly bumped into Butner's chest. At the same time, he tripped over Gaio's foot.

The movement was so fast that the referee could only see Buttner reach out and grab Gaio's jersey, but he didn't see Gaio's hidden knee strike and trip.

Gaio staggered two steps to the side, the movement more pronounced than before. He covered his jersey with his left hand as he looked up at the referee.

His eyes were full of "innocence," as if he had really been tricked by Buttner.

Clattenburg happened to catch this, immediately blew his whistle, ran over, and waved to Buttner as a warning: "Watch your movements! If you keep this up, I'll just pull out the cards!"

Butner jumped up and down in a panic, clutching his calf and frowning as he shouted, "He bumped into me! He tripped me!"

Gaio, however, spread his hands blankly and shook his head at the referee.

Suarez then ran over and whispered to the referee, "He's been pulling Gaio since the beginning, and he even hooked his leg in the first half!"

Buttner wanted to argue, but he was worried about getting a yellow card. However, he knew he'd been tricked by this cunning little devil!

These are only a small part of the conflict.

The sparks of conflict ignited completely in the thirteenth minute.

When Nani was trying to steal the ball, he stretched out his leg to Lucas's side and behind, trying to intercept his pass to Sakho, but he didn't touch the ball and instead stepped on Skrtel's heel.

Skrtel winced in pain, whirled around, shoved Nani's shoulder aside, and yelled, "You fucking want to cripple someone, don't you?!"

Nani also got angry, pointing at Skrtel's face and retorting, "It's just stealing the ball! What are you pretending to be in pain for?"

As he spoke, he took half a step forward, his finger almost poking Skrtel's chest. The two faces were extremely close, their breaths mingling on each other's faces, their eyes filled with ferocity, and even the veins on their necks were bulging.

Rooney was the first to rush over, reaching out to pull Nani away, shouting, "Don't be impulsive."

But Liverpool's Kolo Toure also ran over, blocking Rooney from the side, saying "Let's talk this out," but subconsciously pushed Rooney aside.

Shinji Kagawa surrounded Nani, while Henderson and Suarez protected Skrtel from behind. Gaio also ran over from the left wing and stood next to Suarez.

The players on both sides huddled together, blaming each other.

The boos and cheers from the Old Trafford stands were mixed together, creating a chaotic mess.

It looks like it's about to escalate into a physical altercation.

Clattenburg quickly pushed through the crowd and rushed in. He pressed Nani's chest with his left hand, pushed Skrtel away with his right hand, and blew his whistle urgently and loudly, drowning out the noise on the field.

"Back off!" he roared, his eyes sweeping over the players on both sides, then he pointed at Nani, pulled a yellow card from his pocket, and held it high.

He then turned to Skrtel, pointed to his chest, and said something like, "Control your emotions."

He also gave a yellow card, his tone carrying an unquestionable severity.

Nani stared at the yellow card, his face darkening, but he didn't say anything more.

Skrtel also took half a step back.

Kolotouré patted him on the back, signaling him not to act rashly.

Clattenburg waved to the players on both sides, signaling them to scatter, then bent down to pick up the ball from the ground, tossed it to Gerrard, and blew his whistle to signal the game to continue.

However, the atmosphere on the field did not ease.

Manchester United players became more impatient when passing the ball, and Buttner always seemed to be going at it aggressively when he encountered Gaio, but Gaio played very smartly and didn't try to go head-to-head with him.

This made Butner feel like he was punching cotton, which made him very uncomfortable.

The game continues.

Madrid.

Zidane was in his study, his eyes fixed on the television screen in front of him.

The commotion from Old Trafford seemed to travel through the screen, but he only stared at the figure in the white jersey.

Zidane couldn't help but smile.

It wasn't just Gaio's hat trick!

And Gaio's experience in playing football.

The exchange between Gaio and Buttner just now didn't show the impetuousness of young players, but rather the shrewd calculation of seasoned veterans.

He doesn't argue when his jersey is pulled, but he can retaliate subtly with a clever move when counterattacking, and in the end, he can even get the referee on his side.

Zidane thought to himself, "This is hardly the composure an 18-year-old striker should have."

He spent a long time in Real Madrid's youth academy.

I know young players all too well; they have that impetuous mentality that can explode if you're not careful.

They were all hot-blooded young men, ready to explode at the slightest provocation.

Experienced veterans love to work with these kinds of young people.

It's easy to break their defenses with some subtle tricks.

Zidane's thoughts suddenly drifted back to his conversation with Florentino a couple of days ago.

Florentino Pérez mentioned Bale's injury, saying, "We still need to strengthen our attack, but I still think Gaião is a good option."

Bale played in both of Real Madrid's away games against Villarreal and Galatasaray.

Last Sunday at the Bernabéu, tens of thousands of Real Madrid fans eagerly awaited the home debut of this summer's record signing.

Ancelotti had originally included Bale in the starting lineup, but Bale experienced discomfort in his left leg during pre-match warm-ups and ultimately withdrew from the game. Isco temporarily replaced him.

After examination, Bale will be sidelined for about two weeks due to injury.

It looks a bit brittle.

Zidane didn't respond at the time, but now, seeing Gaio's performance on the screen, his thoughts became even clearer.

Gaião is better suited to stay at Liverpool.

If he moves to Real Madrid, where will Ronaldo's core position be?
Players like Gay are born to be the core of a tactic, not to fight for possession of the ball.

He recalled his days at Real Madrid, where, even as a midfielder, he needed sufficient possession of the ball to make a difference.

As a winger, Gaio's talent will be halved if he loses possession of the ball.

More importantly, it's the French national team!

Guaio is the captain of the French national team. As a French legend, how could Zidane let his junior go to another team to be a subordinate?
No matter how good Real Madrid is, they shouldn't let him be relegated to a lower position.

Being a key player at Liverpool allows me to improve my skills and develop leadership qualities, which is a hundred times better than struggling for playing time at Real Madrid.

Zidane reaffirmed his belief: "It's better to stay at Liverpool and be the core of the team than to be a supporting player at a big club."

For this younger generation, what he wanted was not to join a top club, but to become a legend.

Liverpool is now the perfect stage.

Zidane's thoughts were still churning.

On television, the situation at Old Trafford has taken another turn for the worse.

In the 63rd minute, Gerrard received a pass back from Sakho at the edge of the midfield. Just as he was about to turn and organize an attack, Rooney closed in.

The tension from the earlier conflict hadn't dissipated when Rooney pressed with a fierce force, his knee even lightly brushing against Gerrard's supporting leg.

Gerrard tried to turn to his left to avoid Rooney, but Rooney's center of gravity was very stable. In the instant their bodies collided, Gerrard's pass went astray, and the ball did not reach Henderson in front.

Instead, it slowly rolled towards Nani on Manchester United's left flank.

Lucas should have covered and blocked the shot immediately, but the Brazilian midfielder was completely unaware of the danger.

Nani dribbled the ball across the halfway line.

Liverpool's defense tightened instantly. Sakho moved into the middle, forcing Jose Enrique to track back. Nani, however, didn't try to force the ball; instead, he gently pushed it with the outside of his right foot to Rafael, who was making a run down the right flank.

The Brazilian full-back made a direct run down the right flank and delivered a cross from a tight angle on the right side of the penalty area. The ball spun sharply inwards and dipped towards the goal.

Hernandez suddenly burst out from behind Liverpool's defense, leaped up and headed the ball towards the goal in one fluid motion, and the cheers at Old Trafford almost lifted the roof off!
Just as the football was about to graz the left post and go into the goal!
A figure suddenly lunged to the side across the goal line—it was Mignolet.

In the summer, the 24-year-old Belgian goalkeeper transferred from Sunderland to Liverpool, replacing the departing Reina as the starter. In the first few games, he was still adapting to the fast pace of the Premier League and was occasionally criticized for misjudging the timing of his runs. However, in this Manchester derby, he delivered a masterpiece of his career!

He pushed off the ground with his left leg, his body unfolded like a drawn bow, and his right hand stretched out, his fingertips just barely touching the soccer ball!

Just like that,
The ball was blocked back into the penalty area!
Kolo Toure rushed over and kicked the ball out of bounds, temporarily escaping danger for Liverpool's defense.

As Miniore lay on the grass, he pushed himself up with his right hand.

The Liverpool fans in the stands erupted in cheers, and the Liverpool fan section, which had been quiet just moments before, was now boiling over again!

No one expected that this goalkeeper, who was still in the process of getting used to the team, would save the day at such a crucial moment.

Rogers, however, did not relax on the sidelines. He stood in front of the coaching bench with his arms crossed, his brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a mosquito.

Gerrard's mistake and Lucas's delayed intervention felt like two thorns stuck in his heart.

Since Alonso left the team, Liverpool's defensive gaps in midfield have remained unfilled. Although Lucas can make tackles, his coverage area is not satisfactory.

Rogers glanced at the bench instinctively.

A decision was made.

A few minutes later.

"Look! The fourth official has raised his sign! Liverpool is making a substitution – Ngolokant! My goodness, that's a brilliant decision!"

Rodgers actually fielded this young midfielder, whom he had only signed from Bastia in Ligue 1 this summer, in such a crucial match as the Manchester derby!

The commentator's voice carried obvious surprise, yet also a hint of anticipation.

The camera immediately cuts to Kanté.

The 22-year-old French player was bending down to adjust his socks. There was no fear in his eyes, but rather a calm focus.

"Viewers may not be too familiar with Kanté," the commentator quickly pulled up the pre-match materials, speaking at a faster pace but clearly and logically. "This young midfielder's performance in Ligue 1 last season was phenomenal—averaging 5.3 tackles and 3.8 interceptions per game, and his running distance was consistently among the league's best! Scouting reports described him as a 'sweeping machine covering every inch of the midfield pitch,' and his presence is designed to fill any gaps in the defense."

Manchester United's counter-attack just now was made possible by Lucas's failure to cover in time, which allowed Nani to easily advance into the attacking third. If it weren't for Mignolet's brilliant save, Liverpool's lead would have been gone long ago.

Kante's introduction is meant to fill this midfield gap. His coverage ability allows Gerrard to step back more often to participate in the playmaking, rather than frequently dropping back to defend. This also gives Gaio and Suarez more options to receive passes in the attacking third.

Manchester United's counterattack is gaining momentum – Rooney's pressing in the attacking third and Hernandez's runs are all targeting gaps in Liverpool's midfield.

Kante's arrival is meant to act as a mobile barrier.

After Kanté entered the field.

The commentator added, "This young defensive midfielder from France might just become Liverpool's new defensive anchor, providing the strongest support for Gaio and Suarez to score goals. The question now is whether he can withstand Manchester United's counter-attack and help Liverpool maintain this hard-won lead."

Time flies.

Kante's introduction significantly improved Liverpool's midfield defensive solidity.

Manchester United's attack wasn't going smoothly.

In the 73rd minute at Old Trafford, the scoreboard showing "3-2" was like a thorn in Moyes's side.

He stared at the exhausted Manchester United midfielders on the field, finally gritted his teeth, turned around and shouted twice to the substitutes' bench.

The fourth official quickly raised his sign.

Shinji Kagawa and Nani were substituted, and Welbeck and Carrick came on.

As Shinji Kagawa walked off the field, his head was slightly lowered, and the back of his white jersey was already soaked with sweat, turning it dark. He had just had several runs into the penalty area thwarted by Kanté, and there was still a hint of resentment on his face.

Nani was even more direct, taking off his headband and throwing it onto the bench, then kicking the water bottle next to him hard as he sat down.

He struggled on the wing for over seventy minutes but couldn't even deliver a decent cross, getting completely frustrated by Jose Enrique.

The substitution had barely been made when Manchester United's attack was like a powder keg that had been ignited.

After establishing himself in midfield, Carrick immediately displayed a different rhythm from Kagawa – instead of rushing forward, he used two lateral passes to stretch Liverpool's defensive focus to the flanks.

In the 75th minute, he received a pass from Rafael at the edge of the midfield, glanced at the penalty area, and suddenly launched a long diagonal pass. The ball landed precisely in the open space on the left wing. Welbeck shook off the retreating Kolo Toure and stretched the ball into the penalty area. Sakho quickly came over to block, but Welbeck passed the ball to Rooney who had made a run forward.

Rooney met the ball and shot, but the ball grazed the inside of Skrtel's leg and went wide of the post.

Wow!

Another gasp of surprise erupted!

Liverpool's defense was clearly showing signs of fatigue, but fortunately Kante held up most of the pressure in his position.

But Manchester United's attacks came wave after wave.

In the 78th minute, Carrick orchestrated another attack, this time passing the ball to Rafael. The Brazilian full-back dribbled past Henderson and crossed from a tight angle on the right side of the penalty area. Welbeck headed the ball towards the top right corner of the goal.

Mignolet made another diving save, his fingertips barely touching the ball as it grazed the crossbar and went out of play!

Wow!

Manchester United fans couldn't help but hold their heads in regret.

As time dwindled, they grew increasingly anxious, and Manchester United's attack intensified.

Every time, they felt it was time to score.

Liverpool always hold on tenaciously!
As Mignolet, sprawled on the ground, pushed himself up with his right hand, his chest heaving, and shouted to his teammates, "Concentrate!"

A corner kick opportunity. Carrick stands in the corner flag area and kicks the ball to the near post.

Rooney jumped up to head the ball, and Kanté reached out from behind to try to pull him back, but Rooney shook him off. The ball hit Rooney's head and rolled towards the left side of the goal.

Mignolet reacted quickly, jumping again to block the ball out of the penalty area.

But the ball didn't go far and landed right at Phil Jones's feet as he made a run into the box.

Jones raised his leg to shoot, but the ball was blocked by Skrtel's body.

The ball bounced to Henderson's feet, and he quickly kicked it towards the sideline to temporarily clear the danger.

Wave after wave of attacks!

The cheers at Old Trafford were deafening.

Manchester United players continued to push forward, with Carrick constantly waving and directing runs in midfield, while Welbeck and Rooney made runs and received passes in front of the penalty area.

In the 81st minute, Manchester United attacked to the edge of the penalty area again. Carrick passed the ball to Welbeck, who then passed it back to Rooney. Rooney feigned a shot and suddenly passed the ball to Hernandez in the penalty area.

Hernandez turned to shoot, but Kanté rushed in from behind, blocked him with his body, and at the same time poked the ball to Kolo Toure.

Toure cleared the ball with a long kick once again.

The scoreboard at Old Trafford was still ticking, Manchester United's attack hadn't stopped, and Liverpool's defense was like a taut string, with no one knowing if it would snap in the next second.

Manchester United fans in the stands chanted "Goal!" while Liverpool fans yelled "Defend!"

Every pass and every tackle on the field was filled with a suffocating tension.

Even the commentators exclaimed, "Manchester United's attack is getting closer and closer to a goal!"

And Gaio in the forward line.

He kept a close eye on the situation in the backfield, knowing that Manchester United's momentum couldn't last forever.

We're all human, and we all get tired!
In the 89th minute at Old Trafford, the chants of Manchester United fans surged into Liverpool's penalty area like a tidal wave.

Rooney stood in front of the corner flag, hands on his hips, panting heavily. His jersey collar was already soaked with sweat and turned dark brown. He looked up and glanced at the penalty area, where Hernandez, Welbeck, and Phil Jones, three red figures, were squeezed in front of Liverpool's center-back.

Even Carrick pushed up to the edge of the penalty area, clearly this corner kick was Manchester United's last lifeline.

Referee Clattenburg's gesture of checking his watch made the Manchester United players even more anxious.

Rooney takes the corner kick.

The football arced towards the center of the penalty area.

Hernandez jumped the highest, and just as the back of his head was about to glide with the ball, Mignolet rushed out, reached out and smashed the ball, deflecting it out of the penalty area first.

Skrtel stretched out his foot before Welbeck could, trying to kick the ball towards the sideline, but he misjudged the force and miskicked.

Instead, it turned into a through ball towards the midfield.

But there was no one there to meet them.

however,
The Manchester United players' expressions changed the next second!
Gaio!

After a long period of silence, Gaio has reappeared!

Gaio charged toward the ball and took control of it first.

From the start of the race until now, he doesn't know how far he has run; he can only feel that his calf muscles are occasionally uncomfortable during the sprint.

But once he got up, he couldn't care less about that anymore!
Like a cheetah, Gai dribbled the ball straight towards Manchester United's half!
Manchester United players were a beat too slow to react.

Carrick was the first to chase after Gaio, spreading his arms to try and block Gaio's path, but Gaio didn't bother with him at all.

He lightly tapped the ball with his left foot, causing Carrick to shift his weight to that side. Then, he flicked the ball to the right with the outside of his right foot, and his body sprinted past Carrick's left side as if it were oiled.

A simple ball-passing maneuver.

However, against Gaio's speed, it is the most effective way to get past him!
Carrick reached out to pull his jersey, but touched nothing.

When he turned his head again, Gaio had already created a two-meter distance between them.

"Stop him! Stop him quickly!"

On the sidelines, Moyes jumped up, his voice cracking as he roared.

Phil Jones charged back from the penalty area, staring at Gaio's back with bloodshot eyes, chasing after him with all his might.

But Gaio was too fast!

The aging Giggs is Manchester United's last line of defense.

He chased back from the right side towards the middle, and as he ran, he could hear his own heartbeat, which pounded against his eardrums like a drum.

He watched as Gaio drew ever closer, his speed undiminished.

At that moment, he felt as if his legs were filled with lead, and every step was slower than he had imagined.

Time is not forgiving.

He is no longer the Manchester United winger he once was.

As Gaio dribbled closer, Giggs could see the sweat on his face.

Giggs desperately tried to reach out and stop Gaio.

But Gaio easily dodged it, and at the same time, he used his left foot to push the ball half a meter to the outside, away from Giggs' defensive zone.

Run a few more steps.

Gaio is still faster than Giggs!

The stands at Old Trafford suddenly fell silent.

The Manchester United fans' section, which had been buzzing just moments before, was now reduced to a few scattered gasps. The cheers from the Liverpool fans' section seemed to have been choked off, as everyone stared at the white figure as he charged into the Manchester United penalty area.

De Gea rushed out of his goal, spreading his arms wide in an attempt to block all shooting angles.

Gaião suddenly slowed down when he was three meters away from De Gea.

His right leg muscles were trembling, and the lactic acid buildup from the sprint was making his thigh tight, but his eyes remained calm.

The effect of fighting with one's back to the wall!
The moment De Gea lunged forward, Gaio slammed his right foot down!
I used all my strength!

Bang!
The football was traveling at incredible speed, heading straight for the top corner of the goal!

De Gea quickly got to the ground.

Unfortunately, no matter how fast he gets off the ground, he can't keep up with the speed of the football!

Swish!
The ball instantly pierced through De Gea's defense!
It went into the goal!
After scoring, Gaio exerted too much force and his foot failed to stay on the ground.

He lunged forward.

Fell to the ground.

He didn't get up immediately, but simply lay down on the ground to rest.

His chest heaved violently, and sweat dripped from his chin onto the grass.

Not far away, Phil Jones covered his face with his hands; Evans stood with his hands on his hips, his head bowed low, his shoulders trembling; Carrick stood in midfield, staring blankly at the ground; De Gea knelt in front of the goal, looking back at the ball in the net—the despair of the Manchester United players was like the shadows under the night sky at Old Trafford.

It gradually spread over the grass, over their tense shoulders, and over the silent sea of ​​red in the stands.

Gaio paused for a few seconds.

He got up and rushed toward the away fans' section, as he looked up there.

Liverpool fans are erupting in a wilder cheer than ever before!

Happy Fourth of Year!
4-2!

Liverpool won!
We won at Old Trafford!!
The fans' frenzied shouts all rushed toward Gaio.

"Geo!!"

"Gaio!!!!"

Gaio stood in front of the stands, slowly opened his arms, closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and accepted everything with gusto!
His final sprint nearly exhausted him, but it also extinguished Manchester United's hopes.

He won again this time.

(End of this chapter)