The road to godhood starting from Ligue 1

Chapter 387 Do you really understand your talent?

As Gaio approached the door of Dunn's office, he heard gentle conversation coming from inside.

When the door is pushed open.

First, I saw Dunn get up from behind his desk, and then I saw a middle-aged white man in a dark gray suit sitting on the single sofa by the window.

She was rather thin, with thin-rimmed glasses perched on her nose. She held a half-finished cup of black tea in her hand. When she saw him come in, she immediately put down the cup and stood up, her smile carrying a professional yet approachable warmth.

“Yang, this way.” Dunn smiled and beckoned him to the man. “This is Mark Kositz, Jurgen’s agent. He came to Melwood specifically to see you.”

Kositz extended his hand first. "Yan, it's great to finally meet you. I've heard Jürgen talk about you for ages." His English had a slight German accent, and he spoke slowly but clearly. "Last year when you were in Ligue 1, Jürgen specifically looked up videos to watch and told me, 'This kid is definitely a superstar prospect.' But he certainly didn't expect that you'd already be in the 23-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or this year. Yan, you've really surprised us!"

Gaio politely returned the handshake and nodded, saying, "Mr. Kositz, thank you for your and Coach Klopp's recognition."

Dunn, sitting in the chair next to him, added with a smile, "Mark just talked to me for a long time, saying that Jürgen has been thinking of poaching you to Dortmund for a while now."

Kositz smiled helplessly upon hearing this. "Indeed, Jürgen had already spoken to the Dortmund management last year about bringing in Yang from Bastia, but as you know, Dortmund's financial situation simply cannot support such a transfer."

He paused, his eyes showing more sincerity. "Jurgen regretted it for a long time, always saying, 'With such good talent, if he had been under my guidance, he could have developed much faster.'"

Gaio responded, "I am honored to receive such praise from Jürgen."

Kositz leaned forward slightly: "Actually, besides meeting you on behalf of Jürgen, I also wanted to let you know that he is very interested in coaching Liverpool."

He looked at Dunn and, after receiving Dunn's tacit approval, continued, "Liverpool has a deep heritage, excellent players like you and Suarez, and the current management's determination to invest. For Jürgen, this is not an easy job, but a 'good project' that can build a special team."

"He even talked to me about how he would design attacking tactics around you and Suarez if you really came to Liverpool."

Kositz stared into Gaio's eyes and said, word by word, "Jurgen also told me to tell you, do you really understand your talent?"

Ok?
Gaio was slightly puzzled.

Kositz didn't continue explaining, but instead smiled and said, "I'm just a messenger. I think Jürgen may have seen something in you that others haven't. I believe him, and that's been the case since the beginning of our cooperation."

Gaio nodded.

Kositz then turned to Dunn and started chatting, starting with the same topic as before: how he started working with Klopp.

Kossitz was not originally a professional agent.

He works for Nike in Germany.

In 2005, Jürgen Klopp had been in charge of Mainz for four years.

At this time, Klopp was somewhat famous in the Bundesliga, but he was far from being a household name in football. However, this coach from the Black Forest of Germany was on the rise in his career.

Mark Kositz first met Klopp in the suburbs of Frankfurt. The main purpose of the meeting was to get Klopp to appear on the sidelines wearing Nike shoes.

The meeting place they agreed to was about a 40-minute drive from Mainz.

When he went to the appointment, Klopp brought along a lawyer friend who had been helping him with legal and contract-related matters for many years.

Klopp brought him along because he didn't have a personal agent at the time and relied entirely on this lawyer friend to review his business contracts.

Kossitz's first impression of Klopp was that he found him very special.

Klopp, dressed in jeans and a hoodie, looked nothing like the traditional image of a football manager in a suit and tie.

As the conversation deepened, Kossitz gradually discovered that this Mainz coach, who was used to making exaggerated gestures and occasionally making sharp remarks, possessed a rare sense of fairness and rationality. He had a thorough understanding of football and a clear plan for the team, without any of the impetuousness of a newcomer.

After their first meeting, Kositz was particularly impressed by Klopp's style of handling things and suggested that they find another opportunity to have a more in-depth conversation.

Not long after, the two met for the second time at a small bar in the countryside.

As they clinked glasses, the conversation ranged from football tactics to everyday life, from the warm afternoon sun to the falling night, and the distance between them gradually closed during the casual chat.

Klopp went to the restroom midway through the session, and when he returned to his seat, Kositz greeted him warmly.

Before Kossitz could speak, Klopp said with a smile, "I don't care much about money, but I do care about my lawyer friend."

He paused, then explained that the lawyer had recently bought a rusty barge and was planning to refurbish it; the entire project would cost approximately 1.2 euros.

Kositz couldn't help but laugh after hearing this, finding the suggestion both practical and endearing.

He could instantly picture working with Klopp.

So he became Klopp's agent, and he remains so to this day.

After working with Klopp, Kositz quit his job at Nike, started a talent agency, and devoted himself to football.

The first thing Kossitz did after becoming Klopp's agent was to connect him with Borussia Dortmund.

At that time, Dortmund was in a slump, and Klopp took over with his heavy metal football philosophy, rebuilding a brand new yellow and black empire on the ruins.

He led the team to win the Bundesliga title, the German Cup title, and the German Super Cup title, and overcame all obstacles to bring Dortmund back to the Champions League final stage after a 16-year absence.

"I can say that I witnessed Jürgen's entire Dortmund career, and he is absolutely capable of bringing about a qualitative change to a team!"

After recounting these past events, Kositz continued to endorse Klopp.

Dunn didn't need him to say any of this; he already knew a lot about Klopp during this period.

He believes Klopp's style is a good fit for Liverpool!
Keep chatting.

Kossitz then returned to the topic of Klopp's current management of Liverpool, saying, "Of course, we still have to wait for Dortmund to confirm their new manager, but Jürgen is already thinking about the team's situation, which shows how much he values ​​it."

Gaio echoed, "I'm looking forward to both Jurgen's plans and Liverpool's future. But right now, the most important thing is the game against Norwich this afternoon, and every game after that. I want to help the team win more games first, that's the best response to all the expectations. I think my teammates need me to do the final training together."

Dunn was listening nearby but hadn't said anything yet.

Kositz nodded slightly and patted Gaio's arm: "Well said. If Jürgen were here, he would definitely like your down-to-earth nature. I look forward to seeing you working with him on the training field in the future."

Kositz handed Gaio a business card: "If there's anything you'd like to know, feel free to contact me. But for now, I won't bother you any longer. I'll be cheering you on from the stands today."

Gaio took the business card, put it away, and stood up to thank him.

Get out of the office.

As Dunn and Kositz's conversation faded into the distance, Gaio was still thinking about Klopp managing Liverpool.

As someone who traveled from another time, he understood better than anyone else in the world what Klopp meant to Liverpool.

Gaio's mind was filled with Klopp's tactics: high pressing, quick transitions between offense and defense, and the link between wingers cutting inside and the center forward. These were things he had seen countless times on screen in his previous life, and now they suddenly overlapped with his own.

Isn't that system, which can unleash the player's full potential, tailor-made for him?
And Klopp's quote.

Do you really understand your talents?

Why did Klopp ask this?
Is it something I haven't fully utilized yet?
He recalled Klopp's transformation of Salah in his previous life, moving the Egyptian Pharaoh, who was originally positioned in the center, to the right wing, amplifying his advantage of cutting inside and shooting, and even adjusting the team's offensive and defensive rhythm for him.

Did Klopp also see potential that he hadn't realized?
Or perhaps those traits that aren't being heavily utilized in current tactics are talents that Klopp has overlooked?
Gaio suddenly realized what was happening.

Klopp wasn't asking him "what he has," but rather "what he knows he can do."

Just like Götze during his time at Dortmund, who was originally just a very talented young player, he became a little rocket who could link up the midfield and the front under Klopp. Later, Van Dijk during his time at Liverpool was activated and showed the domineering power to lead the defense.

Perhaps Klopp has already figured out how to use him, and even knows better than Klopp himself how much his talent can be amplified in this tactic.

Gaio took a deep breath, trying to calm his thoughts.

Regardless of the deeper meaning behind Klopp's words, at least one thing is certain.

The coach who can help Dortmund rise from the ashes and lead Liverpool back to the top is coming soon.

And this player who personally pushed Klopp to Liverpool's doorstep might actually be able to play football that surprises even himself against the opposition.

He was really looking forward to that day.

The morning training session was very simple; everyone just went over the tactics and really just discussed how to play.

Then move around a bit.

after lunch.

The players took a short rest to recharge for the afternoon's match.

Time flies.

The afternoon sun, around 2 p.m., was like a specially turned-on warm light, unusually covering every inch of Anfield's lawn.

It's usually rainy at this time of year.

The red seats in the stands appeared even redder under the sunlight, and even the "YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE" sign high up seemed less somber in the rain and more fluffy and warm.

Fans started flocking to the stadium in the morning, and the lower stands are now completely full.

The elderly fans, wearing retro jerseys, draped scarves over their arms and held various banners, which swayed conspicuously in the sunlight.
A little girl with a red headband sat on her father's shoulders, her gloved little hands clutching a mini flag, humming "You'll Never Walk Alone" along with the people around her. Her off-key tune mixed in with the chorus only added to her cuteness.
now,

The players have already walked out of the player tunnel.

Gerrard was the first to step out, his red captain's armband gleaming brightly in the sunlight. When Gerrard appeared on the pitch, Anfield erupted in cheers.

The red scarves in the stands were all raised in unison, like a sudden surge of red waves. The singing of "YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE" suddenly rose, mixed with shouts of "Steven! Steven!"

The teammates walked out one after another.

As Gaio walked onto the court, cheers erupted from the stands.

"Geo!"

"Geo!!"

Gaio's current treatment at Anfield is almost as good as Gerrard's.

A fan held up a huge poster of him cutting inside and scoring a goal.

Besides chanting the players' names, the die-hard fans behind the goal were already rhythmically stomping their feet, chanting, "Liverpool! Win!"

Slogans came in waves, mixed with the sound of drums, from the east stands to the west stands, then rolled around the field, and finally landed back on the grass.

As the pre-match ceremony proceeded step by step.

The pre-match commentary began: "Dear viewers, welcome to the highlight match of the fourth round of the 2013-14 English League Cup."

At this moment, the cheers at Anfield Stadium are being broadcast far and wide, as Liverpool are about to host fellow Premier League rivals Norwich City!

In the stands at Liverpool's home stadium, the red jerseys formed a flowing wave of heat under the sun, and the song "You'll Never Walk Alone" hadn't yet faded. This kind of home atmosphere is especially precious for the current Reds.

After all, this team is in a special transitional phase: after Coach Rodgers left, assistant coach Colin Clark was appointed to take over in a time of crisis. Today is his first official cup match as interim head coach. He has to stabilize the team's tactical rhythm and also meet the fans' expectations for victory.

However, Liverpool is not without confidence.

Just before the match, Gaio and Suarez were both shortlisted for the Ballon d'Or. The fact that both were nominated for the Ballon d'Or was like a shot in the arm, ensuring that the morale in the locker room was not shaken by the change of coach.

The attacking duo, in particular, is the Reds' sharpest weapon.

Now let's look at the away team, Norwich.

Their performance in the Premier League this season has been far from ideal. After nine rounds, they have only managed two wins, two draws, and five losses, hovering in the lower half of the standings, lacking consistent output on both offense and defense.

Compared to Liverpool's performance, which has remained firmly in the top of the league despite a change of manager, Norwich is clearly at a disadvantage in terms of overall strength.

Of course, cup competitions are always a breeding ground for upsets. Facing Liverpool, who have changed managers at the last minute and whose tactics may have room for adjustment, Norwich may be willing to fight back with the mentality of the underdog. After all, if they can defeat their opponents at Anfield, it will be a great boost to the team's low morale.

This EFL Cup match is crucial for Liverpool to boost morale with a victory, while for Norwich it's an opportunity to break through and advance.

Will Liverpool continue their momentum at home, fueled by the Ballon d'Or nominee, or will Norwich pull off a cup upset?

Let's officially begin this Premier League derby with the referee's opening whistle.

at the same time.

Inside the venue.

The referee blew his whistle, piercing the sky!

drop! !

The game officially begins!
boom! !

"Liverpool! Liverpool!!"

As the whistle blew, the fans in the stadium cheered loudly, their morale soaring.

Courtside.

Both head coaches looked very serious.

Norwich City head coach Hughton is under immense pressure right now.

Colin, on the other hand, didn't feel much pressure. He was just an interim head coach, so winning or losing didn't really matter.

But rest is different.

After Norwich City secured their survival in the 2011/12 season by finishing 12th as a newly promoted team, many believed they would suffer from "second-season syndrome," especially after their successful manager, Lambert, joined Aston Villa last summer.

This makes people even less optimistic.

However, under the leadership of new manager Hughton, the Canaries, who had been consistently underestimated, once again managed to avoid relegation.

Last season, the team had already accumulated 25 points before Christmas, but then experienced a slump with only 1 win in 16 rounds and fell into the relegation vortex. Fortunately, they won the last 2 rounds against West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City, and finally finished 11th.

After Hughton took over, his first priority was to strengthen the team's defense. Cameroonian international Bassong and Turner formed a solid central defensive partnership. Compared to 66 goals conceded in the 2011/12 season, Norwich reduced their goals conceded to 58 last season. Bassong was also selected as the club's Player of the Season for his outstanding performance.

of course,

Sometimes, things can't be perfect. Norwich's defense did improve last season, but it inevitably sacrificed their offense, especially when playing away from home. Norwich's attack clearly lacked creativity and threat, and fans had a lot of complaints about this unentertaining style of play.

In any case, last season was Hughton's first season managing Norwich, and his primary task was to help the team avoid relegation, and to do that, a solid defense was essential.

However, he also knew that if the team was to continue to move forward, it was imperative to improve the attacking power in the midfield and forward areas.

Therefore, Hughton's approach in this summer's transfer market was perfectly targeted, signing forwards Van Wolfswinkel, Hooper, and Redmond, Dutch midfielder Fell, and Swedish winger Olsen in one go. At least on paper, even though Norwich sold their powerful striker Holt to Wigan, their attack still seems strong.

Dutch striker Van Wolfswinkel scored 28 goals in 55 appearances during his two seasons with Sporting Lisbon, while Hooper previously scored 63 goals in 95 appearances for Scottish Premiership champions Celtic. Both are prolific scorers.

however,
Judging from their performance at the beginning of this season, Norwich's signings this time have been a complete failure.

The team simply can't produce any offensive efficiency!
After nine rounds of league play, the team has two wins, two draws, and five losses.

The key issue is that they were shut out by their opponents in many matches.

在这个月的三场联赛中，1-3不敌切尔西、1-4不敌阿森纳，0-0闷平升班马卡迪夫城。

They conceded seven goals and scored two.

It's fair to say that they failed to mount an offensive attack and also lost ground on defense.

This also made many fans grateful to Hughton for keeping Norwich in the Premier League last season.

This season, people have started criticizing Hughton again.

Let him leave get out of class.

That's what fans are like—pure and unadulterated.

Whoever can bring victory becomes a legend; if not, then get out of here as soon as possible.

Shortly after the start of the game, Sturridge passed the ball back to Gerrard in the center circle. The Liverpool captain flicked the ball with his ankle and immediately passed it to Kanté on the right.

Colin originally intended to stick with Rodgers' starting lineup and start Lucas.

But Gaio recommended Kanté to him.

In fact,
Aside from not being very effective on offense for the time being, Kante is definitely good on defense.

Kante didn't hold the ball and quickly passed it to Henderson.

Norwich's 4-3-3 formation had barely settled when they were forced to retreat to follow Liverpool's passes, as they lacked the confidence to press forward.

When Gerrard received the ball in midfield, Norwich's Bradley Johnson was about to challenge him when a cross from the other side thwarted his move.

The ball was accurately delivered to Gaio on the right wing, where he was matched up against Norwich's left-back Whittaker. Before Whittaker could close in, Gaio took quick steps toward the inside. At the same time, he raised his hand to signal Glen Johnson to make an overlapping run down the wing.

Whittaker hesitated after being fooled by Gaio's feint inside and subsequent pass to the wing. By the time he realized what was happening and tried to block the cross, Gaio had already passed the ball to Glen Johnson, who was making an overlapping run.

He then quickly moved into the flank of the penalty area, forming a pincer movement with Suarez against Norwich's center-back Bassong.

Norwich's defense quickly tightened up.

Bennett closely marked Sturridge on the left wing, while Javier Garrido frequently looked back to observe Suarez's movement. Leroyfer and Hulahan abandoned their midfield interception and hurriedly retreated to the edge of the penalty area to cover.

Raymond, Snodgrass, and Elmande, who were originally in charge of the attacking third, could only retreat sporadically in their own half, making it difficult to even create counter-attack opportunities.

Goalkeeper Boone shouted, "Watch out for Gaio!"

But no sooner had he finished speaking than Johnson passed the ball across to Gaio.

Gaio controlled the ball smoothly, then lightly tapped it with the inside of his foot to get past Whittaker's challenge, before lifting his foot and lobbing the ball into the middle.

Suarez, double-headed by Bassong and Bennett, sent the ball flying just wide of the crossbar.

Wow!

Liverpool fans held their heads in disappointment.

That shot really looked like a goal!
Suarez gave Gaio a thumbs up.

For the next ten minutes, Liverpool's passing lanes almost entirely revolved around the right flank.

Gerrard's long passes and Henderson's short passes were always looking for Gaio's runs.

This was the result of their discussion: give the ball to Gaio, who has the best ball-handling ability!

Glen Johnson frequently overlapped on the flank, forming a two-man show with Gaio on the right wing, making it difficult for Whittaker and the help defender Hulahan to break free.

Norwich occasionally manages to regain possession, but just as they're about to launch a counter-attack, it's thwarted by Kanté's tackles or Gerrard's interceptions.

The cheers from the stands rose and fell with Liverpool's attacks.

When Gaio received the ball on the right wing again, he used a series of feints to get rid of Whittaker, then suddenly cut inside and passed the ball across the goal. Suarez received the ball, turned and shot, but the ball was saved by Boone. Sturridge followed up with a shot, but it was blocked out of bounds by Javier Garrido.

More sighs echoed in Anfield.

Norwich's players kept yelling and shouting at each other, trying their best to keep the defense from making any mistakes.

In the stands.

Kossitz looked extremely surprised!
Although Liverpool haven't scored yet, their performance during this period, especially Gaião's, is impressive.

It has already shown him many different things.

He Kositz said to Dunn, "My God, David, look at Gaio! Those two feints he made to shake off Whittaker, how quick was the transition between them, and how precise was his cross timing? No wonder he's a Ballon d'Or candidate!"

Dunn smiled and nodded: "This kid has never disappointed on the pitch, and he's integrated into the Premier League faster than we expected."

"Fast? This isn't just fast, it's talent that's about to burst out of the woods." Kositz gestured to show Gaio's running route. "Did you notice? He deliberately slowed down by half a beat when he cut inside, waiting for Suarez to get into the space between the center-backs before passing the ball. This kind of vision is something many veterans who have played for three or five years might not have."

Oh right, I think I heard you say he was eighteen last time?

No, you mentioned to me that he'll be nineteen next month, right?

At just nineteen, he's already a key player for a team like Liverpool, and he can even lead the attack on the right flank. If Jurgen were here, his eyes would light up.

This current Liverpool team boasts attacking talents like Gaio, Suarez, and Sturridge; midfielders Gerrard can control the tempo and Kanté can press high; and the defense is solid. If Jürgen were to arrive, refine the tactics a bit, and incorporate his reverse pressing and quick transitions, this team could absolutely play surprisingly exciting football!

Looking into the light in his eyes, Dunn smiled and asked, "You're so confident?"

"It's not that I'm confident, it's that Jürgen's ability is trustworthy." Kossitz turned to look at Dunn, his tone unusually serious. "Look at the situation now, Liverpool is dominating Norwich. The players' fighting spirit and teamwork are there, what they lack is someone who can unite all that energy into one. Jürgen is that person. Believe me, when he comes, you will not only be able to beat an opponent like Norwich, but you can also compete for the league and the Champions League. You definitely can!"

As the two were talking, Gaio launched another attack on the right flank, dribbling past two defenders before sending in a cross.

Suarez let the ball slip through in the middle, and Sturridge, who was rushing in at the far post, unleashed a powerful shot.

Unfortunately, he tried too hard and his shot flew towards the stands.

The cheers from the stands rose again.

Kositz looked at the field and sighed softly, "If Jurgen saw Gaio's performance, he probably wouldn't be able to sleep tonight. This is his favorite player, talented, hardworking, and able to integrate into the team. David, you made the right choice in selecting Jurgen this time, and Gaio will be the sharpest knife in Jurgen's hand."

The roar of the Anfield stadium accompanied Liverpool's relentless attack!
Hughton stood on the sidelines, shouting incessantly; for the first twenty minutes, his shouts were almost nonstop.

One moment he was tiptoeing and waving to signal Hulahan to retreat to the right flank, the next he was bending over and yelling at Bennett, "Stick close to Suarez! Don't give him any space to turn around!" But Liverpool's attacks were like clinging vines, especially Gaio on the right flank, who repeatedly made Whittaker stumble, and his brow never relaxed.

Again.

Kante intercepted Lerouxer's pass in midfield and passed the ball to Gerrard.

Gerrard quickly moved to the right wing.

Gaio catches the ball.

Hughton took a sudden half-step forward and shouted, "Side attack! Side attack him now!"

Whittaker immediately closed in, stretching out his arm to try and block Gaio's path, while Hulahan also chased back from the side and rear, the two forming a pincer attack from the left and right.

But Gaio gently flicked the ball to the outside, feigning a strong run along the sideline, which tricked Whittaker into instinctively stretching out his foot to block.

He then suddenly changed direction, pulling the ball back to the inside, while lowering his center of gravity and slightly lowering his shoulders to pass through the gap between Whittaker and Hulahan.

Like a butterfly flitting among flowers!
Very easy!

Hulahan reached out to pull at his jersey, but only managed to grab a tiny corner and couldn't get any leverage. Instead, he stumbled a couple of steps as a result.

Whittaker was too slow to turn around and couldn't keep up with Gaio's pace.

"Ryan! Back up! Back up now!" Hughton shouted, pointing towards the penalty area.

Bennett rushed back desperately, but Gaio didn't give him a chance to get into position.

Gaio took a step to the left and then slammed the ball into the ground with the inside of his left foot.

Without any adjustments or hesitation, the football, like a cannonball, arced past the onrushing Boone and slammed into the top right corner of the goal!

The net bulged outwards from the impact, then bounced back heavily.

Boone knelt on the ground, his hands braced against the grass, staring at the corner of the goal with a look of helplessness in his eyes.

Anfield erupted in chaos!

The cheers erupted like magma surging up from the ground.

"Gaio! Gaio!!!"

Shouts poured out from every corner, so loud that the railings of the entire stadium trembled slightly.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Gaio had already broken free from Suarez's embrace.

The Uruguayan tried to ruffle his hair, but he laughed and dodged it.

He rushed to the front of the stands in a few steps, which was the sideline closest to the fans. The sunlight fell on his shoulders, making the number "10" on his red jersey shine.

He stopped and slowly opened his arms.

This is his signature celebration move.

He likes to stand with his arms outstretched towards the stands, as if responding to every cheer or establishing a connection with the stadium.

now,

The fans in the stands rushed forward like madmen. Some reached out to touch his arm, some held up banners with his image in front of him, and others shouted at the top of their lungs, "Gaio! Score another one!"

He smiled and held the open-eyed pose for two seconds, the sunlight casting a long shadow behind him, like a pair of wings, reflected on the lawn.

Kossitz, standing in the stands, couldn't help but pat Dunn on the arm and point at the figure on the sidelines, laughing: "Look at this kid, oh my god, I've fallen in love with this kid's game! I think I want to settle in Liverpool, I want to see him play every single game!"

Dunn nodded with a big laugh, his eyes never leaving Gaio.

The cheers from the sidelines were still escalating. Sturridge and Henderson ran over and bumped Gaio's shoulders, one on each side, trying to pull him back. But he turned around and waved to the stands before slowly withdrawing his arms and following his teammates toward the center circle.

As he left, he could still hear shouts behind him: "Gaio! Keep it up!" and "We believe in you!"

Gaião's goal sent Liverpool fans and players into a frenzy!

Especially at such a special juncture for the team.

but,

For Norwich players, this goal largely created a gap in their mental defenses.

drop!
The game starts again.

Norwich remained in a morale slump, with players returning to their positions with noticeably heavier steps and even passing the ball with a palpable sense of panic.

Leroyfer attempted to organize an attack in midfield, but just as he passed the ball to Hulahan, he made a passing error under pressure from Kanté.

Possession returned to Liverpool.

Gaio's red figure reappeared in front of Whittaker's defense zone, like an inescapable red shadow.

The fact that Gaio didn't have the ball made Whittaker extremely nervous.

quickly,

In the 29th minute, Gerrard delivered a long diagonal pass from the center circle, and the ball landed precisely at Gaio's feet on the right wing.

This time, Whittaker dared not rush forward and could only retreat to the sideline. However, Gaio gently cut the ball inside with his right foot, pretending to cut inside, which tricked Whittaker into shifting his center of gravity. He then took the ball forward and accelerated suddenly, relying on his speed to overtake Whittaker and break through to the byline.

Gaio took advantage of Norwich's defensive line moving towards him.

Without any further adjustments, Gaio raised his right foot and delivered a cross!
The football swept horizontally across the grass towards the goal, just avoiding the onrushing goalkeeper Boone and also bypassing Bassong's outstretched leg interception, heading straight into the open space in the center of the penalty area.

Suarez was already waiting there. Taking advantage of the moment when Javier Garrido's attention was drawn to Gaio, he quietly slipped out from behind Bassong, leaned forward, and gently poked with his right toe.

The football changed direction instantly.

Heading straight in through the door!

Boone didn't even have a chance to dive and make a save; he could only watch helplessly as the ball bounced inside the goal line.

The ball went in again!

"Goal! Suarez! 2-0!" the commentator exclaimed.
The cheers from the stands instantly drowned out everything!
Before Suarez could turn around, Gaio rushed over and put his arm around his shoulder. The two laughed with their foreheads touching. Sturridge rushed over from the left and hugged them both. Gerrard also waved from midfield with a wide grin on his face.

Norwich's players were completely demoralized.

Bennett stood in the penalty area with his head down, hands on his knees, panting heavily. Basson kicked the turf, his eyes full of helplessness, and the other teammates all looked much the same.

Even Hughton, who was just yelling from the sidelines, now just stood with his hands on his hips, staring at the goal, his face no longer tense, but filled with undisguised despair.

This goal was like the last straw, completely breaking Norwich's already fragile defense.

Colin, on the sidelines, was celebrating wildly with his colleagues.

Although he knew that no matter how much he won this game.

He has no chance of being promoted from interim head coach to permanent head coach.

but,

He's just happy!
Pure joy!
He's a lifelong Liverpool fan; all he wants is to see the team win and take on all sorts of titles!

He doesn't seem like an interim head coach; he's more like a pure fan.

now,

After describing the sequence of the goal, the commentator exclaimed, "2-0! My goodness, Anfield is about to secure the victory!"
Five minutes! Just five minutes!
Just after Gaião tore apart Norwich's defense with a long-range shot, he has now completely tipped the scales of victory in Liverpool's favor with a precise cross from the right wing!
Today, Gaio is a complete dictator on the right wing!
The first goal was scored by his long-range shot, and the second goal was assisted by him. From the start of the game until now, Whittaker has never been able to keep up with Gaio's pace. He was either cut inside and outmaneuvered or made to leave the field by the wing. Even Hulahan, who was supposed to provide support, was exhausted by him.

Liverpool have shown a completely different level compared to Norwich!

From their early possession dominance to their efficient passing combinations that led to two goals, they were more mature and impactful than Norwich in every aspect.

And what about Norwich?
With only two wins, two draws, and five losses in nine league rounds, it's no wonder they're struggling in the relegation zone!

Their defense was riddled with holes under pressure; their midfield interceptions were completely ineffective against Liverpool's passing, and they couldn't even organize counter-attacks. In this state, it would be too difficult for them to take a victory at Anfield.

I even have to say something honest on Norwich's behalf: they really should consider giving up on this EFL Cup match!
Their top priority now is avoiding relegation in the league, as competing on two fronts would be a huge burden on their squad depth.

Look at their current players, their positioning is becoming increasingly scattered, and they are making more and more passing errors. It's obvious that their physical and mental strength is about to give out.

If we continue to expend energy on cup competitions, avoiding relegation in the league will only become more difficult. Rather than ending up with nothing, it's wiser to focus solely on the relegation battle and invest all resources in securing our survival.

Commentary.

To many Liverpool fans who couldn't be there in person, this was absolutely right.

Some fans commented online, "Norwich's defense is as thin as paper, their midfield is completely nonexistent, and Gaio can easily break through on the right flank. They've only won two out of nine league matches, and they're already in danger of relegation, yet they're still competing in cup matches. They might as well just give up and focus on avoiding relegation."

of course,

Most fans praised the forwards' performance tonight.

"Is Gaio cheating on the right wing?"
Whittaker was basically being walked by the dog the whole time, then he unleashed a long-range shot into the top corner and assisted Suarez. He's only 19 next month! His Ballon d'Or nomination isn't just based on his fame.

And Suarez's finishing ability is still as good as ever, advancing is a sure thing!

How about we win the League Cup this season to liven things up?

a match.

They completely restored the confidence of Liverpool fans.

That's just how fans are.

Many people are just engaging in a debate.

But without a doubt, Liverpool were strong tonight!

at the same time.

Germany,

Brakel training center, on the outskirts of Dortmund.

Klopp was in a rare good mood – the 3-1 away win against arch-rivals Schalke 04 last weekend not only thrilled Dortmund fans, but also filled him with joy as he prepares to leave the club.

After all, the exhilaration of leading the team to a resounding victory over their old rivals in the Ruhr derby before leaving Dortmund is indescribable.

Training was temporarily suspended this afternoon, and Klopp sat in his office with the EFL Cup match between Liverpool and Norwich City broadcast on the screen.

As a professional head coach, he couldn't help but shake his head as he watched the game: "The attacking efficiency is too low." He muttered to himself, looking at the screen, "Liverpool's style of play is a complete waste of these players' talent. It shouldn't be like this."

but,

Gaio's performance on the court was a pleasant surprise for him.

Every touch of the ball and every run by Gaio perfectly aligned with his expectations for the ideal striker.

He can dribble past defenders, deliver tricky crosses, and finish with a sudden shot. He's the "dream striker" that countless coaches dream of, incredibly versatile.

It's hard to believe that Rogers had always kept Gaio on the right wing.

This is downright criminal!

This is a waste of his innate talent!
Gaio's abilities should never be confined to a fixed position; his talent should be fully unleashed!
Klopp already had a tactical plan in mind: the forwards must move around and not be confined to any fixed area, and Gaio was no exception.

Klopp smiled at the thought of Gaio.

He wants to develop Gaio into a top-class free-roaming forward!

(End of this chapter)