The road to godhood starting from Ligue 1

Chapter 377 Fighting for Fourth Place? Fighting for the Title! Arsenal Takes the Crown!
"This is absolutely Rodgers' most crucial decision of the game! Liverpool bombarded Sunderland's penalty area relentlessly, but failed to create a single opportunity to break through their dense defense. And now, their strongest signing of the season is finally about to make his appearance!"

The camera panned across the Liverpool fans' section in the stands, and the previously somewhat somber red stands instantly erupted in cheers.

"Geo!"

The shouts rolled across the field like waves.

Martin Tyler's voice became even more impassioned with the surge of excitement: "Sunderland's bus was welded to the penalty area from the start of the second half. Cattermole and Ki Sung-yueng blocked the middle like an impenetrable wall, and Suarez was being closely marked by two defenders and could hardly breathe."

But Gaio is different!
Let's not forget that in the Manchester derby, how he tore apart Manchester United's defense from midfield all the way down, and how he was able to deliver accurate passes even when surrounded by three defenders!
His dribbling, his link-up play, his nose for the ball in the penalty area—these are exactly what Liverpool needs most right now.

In the broadcast footage.

As Gaio and Sterling embraced and Gaio made his entrance, lightly touching the sideline with his toes, the cheers in the tavern practically lifted the roof off.

Someone yelled at the top of their lungs, "He should have come on a long time ago! Rogers is dragging his feet, if he doesn't come on soon we'll lose those three points!"

Some people also said, "His stamina should be enough, right? The two teams are playing so hard, don't let him get too tired."

"We have to keep going even if it's tiring! Look at how Sunderland parked their bus, only he can break through their defense!" someone chimed in, eyes glued to the screen as Gaio ran down the right flank, his voice full of anticipation. "We really need Gaio. That last goal against Aston Villa, that game-winning goal, it still gives me goosebumps!"

As the game progresses.

The sounds in the tavern gradually subsided, and everyone's eyes were glued to the young figure on the screen.

Gaio has arrived.

Liverpool's hopes seem to have returned to the pitch.

but,

After Gaio came on, the defense of the Stadium of Light became like an impenetrable net.

He had just received Gerrard's pass on the right wing when Colback and Ki Sung-yueng closed in on him, especially Ki Sung-yueng, who pressed his elbow against his lower back and constantly put physical pressure on him.

A winger quickly covered the gap behind him.

Gaio protected the ball and could only pass it back to Kolo Toure.

This can be considered a change for Sunderland after Gaio's arrival.

The right flank is heavily defended.

In a full five minutes, he only touched the ball three times, each time surrounded by two or three defenders with no space. Even Gaio had a hard time getting a chance.

This kind of bus is something no team wants to face.

The cheers in the Boot Room Tavern gradually subsided.

Mick said nervously, "Sunderland's defense is too tight, it's like they're marking him with five players!"

Ted frowned, staring at Gaio's retreating figure on the screen. "Don't rush, he's finding his rhythm. The Double Reds have been so exhausting, he needs to catch his breath after coming up. What do you take Gaio for, a robot?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the situation on the field suddenly changed.

Gerrard passed the ball to the right wing again.

Meanwhile, Gerrard moved forward, which slightly distracted Ki Sung-yueng.

And in that instant, Gaio didn't hesitate at all.

He first feinted with his left foot to trick Colback into shifting his weight to the left, then gently flicked the ball with the inside of his right foot, and then pushed it forward with the toe of his left foot. The two movements were as fast as a gust of wind.

Fried meatballs!

Kolbak tried to chase back, but his own weight caused him to stumble, and he could only watch helplessly as Gaio slipped past him and sped down the sideline.

As Gaio reached the byline, Sunderland's center-back Cuéllar had already covered him, but instead of slowing down, he thrust the ball forward with his right foot, sending it rolling along the grass towards the center of the penalty area.

There,

Suarez was battling with another center-back, John O'Shea. He braced himself against O'Shea's pull, leaned forward, and poked the ball with his foot!

Everyone's eyes are on the football!

Sunderland goalkeeper Westwood has already fallen to the ground.

But the ball didn't go into the goal. Suarez's toe missed the mark and hit the bottom of the ball, which bounced up sharply, grazed the top of the crossbar, and flew high into the air.

It flew away!
Wow!

This scene filled Sunderland fans with both fear and relief.

Then they clapped enthusiastically.

The away Liverpool fans were about to celebrate, but when they saw Suarez shoot the ball wide, they all covered their heads in dismay.

An expression of disbelief.

Gaio on the field wasn't too disappointed; he waved to Suarez, indicating that it was okay.

Suarez scratched his head, patted his thigh in frustration, and ran back to the attacking third to prepare for the next attack.

Rogers, standing on the sidelines, showed no change in expression.

The atmosphere remained somber.

at this time,

The broadcast cameras repeatedly showed Gaio dribbling and passing the ball back to defend.

Martin Tyler lamented, "It's such a shame, but you can't deny that Gaio changed the game right from the start."

Liverpool's attack in the first half was like headless flies, with each player acting independently and unable to form any decent combinations.

But Gaio created the closest chance to score in the entire game with just one breakthrough and one pass.

That's his value; he can always find that tiny gap in a tight defense.

Sunderland set up a tight defensive formation, with their forwards dropping back to defend, but Gaio's croquet-style cross and precise cross tore open a gap in their right flank defense.

We've been saying that Liverpool lacks an attacking core without Gaio, and now it seems that's true. Even though this goal didn't go in, it proves just how much this team needs him.

He's only eighteen!

Having just played a full 90 minutes in the Manchester derby, he immediately found his rhythm after coming on as a substitute. Sunderland's players were clearly unprepared for his breakthrough; Colback was completely outmaneuvered and couldn't keep up with him at all.

Sunderland needs to be on high alert from now on.”

David Dunn, watching the broadcast, still had a furrowed brow, only showing a slight smile when he saw Gaio's camera.

soon.

Liverpool regained possession and launched a siege.

but,

Bauer quickly made personnel adjustments, replacing striker Altidore and Sebastian Larsson.

They brought on two defenders, Cerlustka and Mavrias.

Bauer is determined to hold out to the bitter end.

This further narrowed Liverpool's attacking space.

Even when Gaio has the ball, it's very difficult for him to break through.

There are always three or four people watching you.

Liverpool's own formation also kept pushing forward, with the defensive line already past the midfield line.

Ball's substitutions were like welding the last steel plate onto Sunderland's defense.

Cerlustka immediately took the center-back position upon entering the game, while Mavrias covered the sideline. The defensive formation, which had some gaps, instantly shrank into an impenetrable wall.

Liverpool had a very high possession rate.

But most of it was ineffective ball possession.

Liverpool players passed the ball around Sunderland's penalty area, from the left to the right, and back to the defenders in the middle, but the ball never touched the core area of ​​the penalty area.

Even when Suarez drops back to receive the ball, he's surrounded by two defenders.

Sturridge attempted a long-range shot from outside the penalty area, but the ball was blocked by a Sunderland center-back just as it left the ground.

Time ticked by, and Liverpool's attack grew increasingly frantic.

Liverpool took a throw-in, Gerrard tried to pass into the box, but the ball was headed away by Cerlustka.

Rodgers paced back and forth on the sidelines, waving to the players and urging them to press forward. His anxiety was impossible to hide.

Bauer stood on the sideline, shouting, "Hold on!"

In this match, Sunderland were determined to hold onto their 1-0 lead until the final whistle.

Time slipped away quietly as players fell to the ground, the ball went out of bounds, and the goalkeeper slowly took the kickoff with the ball in hand.

The two sides also had a minor altercation because the Sunderland players wasted time.

However, it was quickly stopped.

The more behind a party is, the more calm it should be.

Until the 87th minute.

At this moment, the players at the Bright Stadium all showed signs of visibly fatigue.

Gaio, however, was still looking for an opportunity.

No matter how many people there are, there's always a sliver of a chance!
He received a pass from Kolo Toure on the right wing, and before Mavrias could close in, he gently pulled the ball inside with his left foot, then cut his body towards the center.

Qi Chengyong had been watching him closely, but his stamina was almost completely depleted, and his pace was noticeably slower.

As Gaio saw him rushing over, he suddenly brushed the ball with the outside of his right foot, pretending to dribble towards the right side of the penalty area. Ki Sung-yueng instinctively stretched out his leg to block, but Gaio instantly withdrew his movement, pulled the ball back in front of him with his left foot, and spun around Ki Sung-yueng's defense like a top.

Just as Gaio was about to break through, Ki Sung-yueng instinctively stretched out his leg to block the ball from behind.

However, due to excessive physical exertion, the body clearly couldn't keep up with the brain.

He was a step too slow when he extended his leg, and the spike grazed Gaio's ankle.

Gaio immediately curled up, clutching his ankle and collapsing to the ground.

drop!
The referee immediately blew his whistle and pointed to the edge of the penalty area, awarding a free kick.

He even shook his finger at Ki Sung-yueng, without taking out a card, but it carried a warning meaning.

The Liverpool players on the field immediately surrounded him, and Suarez reached out to help Gaio up and patted him on the shoulder.

Gerrard then strode towards the penalty spot, bending down to measure the distance with his feet.

Sunderland's players surrounded the referee, arguing that Gaio had dived, but the referee waved his hand, signaling them to quickly form a wall.

All eyes were focused on the area at the top of the penalty area.

Liverpool fans in the stands held up scarves and shouted at the top of their lungs, "Score one!"

Sunderland fans booed, but chanted "Hold on!" Rodgers on the sidelines forgot to pace and leaned slightly forward.

Ball rushed to the sideline and yelled at the players, "Watch your position!"

Gai and Gerrard stood on either side of the penalty spot.

Gaio has free-kick ability.

After his shooting skills were enhanced and his shooting attribute reached 90, his shooting skills are now basically in the top tier.

Even set pieces are no exception!

Gerald and Gaio exchanged a glance, said nothing, and nodded slightly.

it is more than words.

Gerrard sees Gaião as the next Liverpool captain, and in fact, he is somewhat dissatisfied with Rodgers' sudden decision to start Gaião.

this moment,
He hopes Gaião can respond with a goal.

This was almost Liverpool's last chance to score when they were trailing.

Martin Tyler said, "This position is crucial! It's right at the edge of the penalty area, Gerrard's most comfortable free-kick position. Of course, don't forget, Gaio also has a record of scoring from a free kick!"
Sunderland's wall is very tight; whether Liverpool can equalize depends on this one shot.

drop!
The whistle sounded.

The referee signaled that Liverpool could kick off.

The Liverpool fans held their breath, countless eyes fixed on the two figures in front of the penalty area.

Gerrard didn't move.

Gaio put his hands on his hips, took a deep breath, and then took a run-up. His stride was not fast, but as he approached the ball...

The inside of his foot precisely hooked the ball to the side, without a thunderous sound of force, only a muffled thud.

The football seemed to be guided by precise navigation, drawing an arc that just went around the top of the leftmost head of the wall.

Then it suddenly plummeted!
The speed wasn't particularly fast, but the angle was extremely tricky!

He grazed the inside of the right post and scurried into the corner of the goal!
Swish!
Westwood's diving hand only touched air as he crashed heavily onto the grass, turning back to watch the ball spinning endlessly in the net.

The ball went in!
In the 88th minute, Liverpool equalized!
1-1!

The crowd erupted instantly!

Gaião clenched his fist and waved it toward the Liverpool fans' section, but instead of rushing to the stands to celebrate, he shouted to his teammates to hurry to the center circle, there was still time!

His teammates excitedly came over and high-fived him as they walked toward the center circle, patting him on the shoulder.

The Liverpool supporters' section at the Stadium of Light was a sea of ​​joy.

"Geo! Geo!"

The shouts rolled across the stands like waves!
Sunderland fans were somewhat helpless; no one wanted to accept that with only minutes left in the game, the victory they were about to hold onto was shattered by a substitute teenager's free kick.

Three points turned into one.

Not even a single cent is guaranteed.

The Boot Room Tavern was in complete chaos!

Ted was so excited his hands were shaking, and he shouted, "I knew he could do it! I knew it!"

Mick shouted while holding up a Liverpool scarf.

The surrounding fans cheered, and some banged on the table and sang Liverpool's anthem.

Some people even shouted with tears in their eyes, "That's amazing! That kick was incredible!"

Martin Tyler's voice on TV was filled with barely suppressed excitement: "Goal! Gaio! 88th minute! He saved Liverpool with a perfect free kick!"
Look at that curve, look at that angle, Westwood has absolutely no chance!
This is Gaio!
That's why Liverpool can't do without him!
Just moments ago he was being surrounded and blocked, but now he's turned the tide with a single kick. That's talent, that's the ability to change the game.

Rogers on the sidelines, however, was relatively restrained.

He just threw a punch in celebration.

Subsequently,

He quickly shouted to the players, "Keep the attack going!"

He wasn't satisfied with just one point.

however,
He could only score one point as the three minutes of stoppage time came to an end.

This time, Liverpool didn't get the dramatic last-minute winner.

drop!
A long whistle.

The match has now ended!

Sunderland drew 1-1 with Liverpool at home, extending their winless streak to six games, but at least they didn't lose their first match after sacking their manager.

The Liverpool players were all a bit tired.

Stand still.

They didn't lose, but something just felt off about their play; this kind of game is frustrating.

Sunderland fans are quite satisfied with the result.

At least we didn't lose.

at this time.

During the broadcast, Martin Tyler remarked with a sigh, "As the final whistle blew at the Stadium of Light, the score remained 1-1 between Liverpool and Sunderland, marking the end of the sixth round of the Premier League!"

The Red Army failed to hold onto their top spot with a single victory.

This draw served as a prelude, completely setting the stage for a dramatic turn of events in the sixth round of the Premier League.

When all the match results are finalized and we look at the standings, many fans, like myself, can't help but sigh that this round of the Premier League has completely disrupted the preseason predictions.

Let's start with a few key matches.

The biggest upset was at Old Trafford, where Manchester United lost to West Bromwich Albion at home.

Villa Park witnessed a dramatic comeback, with Manchester City taking the lead twice but ultimately losing 2-3 to Aston Villa, completely dampening their morale after a three-game winning streak.

The performances of the two North London clubs were quite the opposite.

Arsenal defeated Swansea 2-1 away from home, and with this win, they have now won five consecutive games after losing in the first round, firmly sitting at the top of the league table.

The clash between Tottenham and Chelsea was relatively uneventful, ending in a 1-1 draw that keeps both teams competitive for the time being, but they are already some distance from the top of the table.

Looking at the standings now, this is the most astonishing part.

Before the season, when we discussed the title favorites, we always mentioned Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea. But what about now?

Chelsea are currently in fourth place, which is the most respectable position among the traditional powerhouses.

Manchester City have lost two of their six games and are currently in fifth place, far below expectations.

The most surprising result is Manchester United, who have only 7 points after 6 rounds with 2 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses, and have now fallen to 12th place, just 3 points away from the relegation zone.

It's worth noting that they're even ranked behind teams like Cardiff City and Aston Villa, who were considered relegation contenders before the season. This kind of start is probably unprecedented in the Ferguson era.

On the contrary, several less popular teams have become the surprises of this Premier League season.

Arsenal are no longer the top-four contenders everyone talks about. After losing in the first round, they rebounded strongly and won five consecutive games, making them more competitive for the title. With five wins and one loss, they have 15 points and are at the top of the table.
Liverpool failed to defend their top spot with this draw, finishing second with four wins and two draws, just one point behind the leaders.

Tottenham, with 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss, accumulating 13 points, closely follow behind, continuing their good form from last season.

in fact,

Speaking of Arsenal...

We must mention Wenger's sharp eye for talent.

When Arsenal played Swansea at Liberty Stadium, 1995-born youngster Serge Gnabry burst onto the scene, not only opening the scoring for the team but also becoming Arsenal's second youngest league goalscorer in history, second only to Cesc Fabregas.

In fact, Wenger's decision to use him was somewhat out of necessity.

Arsenal have been plagued by injuries this season. Chamberlain, Podolski, and Rosicky are all long-term absentees, and even Walcott suffered an unexpected strain during the last round of warm-up.

They are almost always outnumbered in every game.

Despite this predicament, Wenger unearthed Gnabry, a rough gem, from the youth team and made him the starting right winger.

This young German player, who was initially brought in from Stuttgart for only £10, has truly impressed everyone.

He has top-notch physical attributes, quick acceleration, and a decisive finishing touch. His dribbling skills and vision are even superior to Walcott's.

He's now scoring one goal in three appearances, a much better record than Walcott's one goal in seven games.

Many fans joked that Walcott should be careful about his starting position. While that may be a bit of an exaggeration, considering that Arsenal will be competing on three fronts, Gnabry will definitely get more opportunities. The kid's future is indeed worth looking forward to.

In stark contrast to Arsenal's glory was the shameful day for both Manchester clubs.

The last time these two fierce city rivals lost on the same day in the Premier League was in September 2008, five years ago!
It's truly heartbreaking to see such a scene played out again.

It's worth noting that in the previous two seasons, they almost turned the Premier League into the Manchester Super League. In the 2011/12 season, Manchester City won the title by virtue of Aguero's injury-time winner, edging out Manchester United on goal difference. Last season, Manchester United won the title again by 11 points, Ferguson retired in glory, and Mancini was sacked after failing to win any of the four major trophies.

But everything changed after Moyes and Pellegrini took over.

Manchester United, having lost 3 of their first 6 matches, is a team that has never won the title after losing so many of their first 6 matches in a top-flight league. Moyes' debut season may well see the harsh reality that the Red Devils will miss out on the title race.

On the Manchester City side, Pellegrini's adjustments in this match are also questionable. Using two towers rashly and taking Nasri off too early were clearly bad moves. Kompany and Hart's rare synchronized mistakes directly gave Villa the chance to win the game.

For these two new coaches, there is still a long way to go in transforming the team and establishing authority in the locker room.

However, the predicaments of the two Manchester clubs have truly ushered in a Warring States period for the Premier League this season.

Apart from Everton and Liverpool, Merseyside rivals, no team can remain unbeaten.

The suspense in the upcoming Premier League season will only increase. Can the Manchester clubs learn from their mistakes and regain their form as soon as possible?
Can Arsenal hold onto their lead and escape the fate of fighting for fourth place?

Liverpool secured a draw thanks to Gaião's moment of brilliance, but this also exposed the hidden dangers of over-reliance on young core players. How Rodgers balances Gaião's playing time and fitness issues, and how he builds an attacking system that can function without Gaião, will be key to the Reds' title aspirations.

Simultaneously,

Can Chelsea and Tottenham catch up?
The story of this chaotic Premier League season has only just begun, and we have every reason to expect more exciting developments.

only.

Liverpool fans who heard Martin Tyler's words had only one message in their ears—Arsenal didn't care about finishing fourth, they took the top spot, and Liverpool came in second!

Therefore,
It's inevitable that people will vent their anger online, and there are quite a few of these kinds of comments.

"Can't even beat Sunderland? And they're a relegation team! If it weren't for Gaião's last free kick, we wouldn't have gotten a single point today. We'd be utterly humiliated!"

"Liverpool without Gaio is a second-rate team! Look at their attack in the first half, they couldn't even break through Sunderland's makeshift defense, and their crosses were all just guesswork. If it weren't for Gaio coming on to draw fouls and score goals, they would have lost 0-0 today!"

(End of this chapter)