The path to becoming a football legend began with being ousted from Carrington by Manchester United.

Liverpool's goal was like a hammer blow to Manchester City's players. Despite dominating possession, they couldn't break through Liverpool's defense, while the opposition scored on a counter-attack. The goal was scored by Downing, who had been struggling to find the net, which greatly dampened the morale of Manchester City's players.

Silva and Milner made passing errors, Barry and Lescott failed to stop Gerrard's advance, Richards and Clichy participated in the assist but failed to get back to defend in time, and even Joe Hart was beaten by Downing.

They all stared blankly, their expressions gloomy. Their thoughts were unanimous: the goal they had just conceded was their own doing.

David Silva, in particular, believed that the team's poor performance in the first two games was due to his failure as the playmaker.

This goal conceded was directly related to him, plunging Silva into deep self-doubt.

In this situation, there are only three people in the entire Manchester City team who can still laugh. One of them didn't start this game and is sitting on the bench contemplating life.

The remaining two, one tall and one short, walked together in front of David Silva.

"Why do you look like that? Did Liverpool's counter-attack knock you out?" the tall Lin Yi teased.

"Look at this, look at this!" the short Aguero chimed in.

Silva said in a somber voice, "It's all my fault."

"Isn't it a bit too early to say who's right or wrong? I think we played pretty well just now, there's nothing wrong with it!" the tall Lin Yi retorted.

"Yeah, yeah! No problem!" Short Aguero echoed again.

Silva still seemed listless, stammering, "But..."

"Stop with the 'buts'! Think about it yourself. Was there a problem with our attack just now? No problem. Not scoring was just bad luck. I don't believe Liverpool can keep having good luck. Even the short Muller understands this. As the brains on the field, can't you figure it out?" Tall Lin Yi interrupted the hesitant Silva.

"That's right, that's right! Even I can figure it out... Hey! Lin! What the hell do you mean!" Short Aguero realized something was wrong.

Silva finally raised his head, but his eyes still lacked any obvious luster. He said to Lin Yi and Aguero, "I understand the reasoning, it just needs a little time."

Lin Yi scoffed at this. The game was about to start; there wasn't much time to spare. He immediately called out to captain Kompany: "Vincent, this bastard's been beaten down. He says he needs time. Give him a good beating!"

As Manchester City's dressing room leader, Kompany never plays games. Upon hearing this, he immediately kicked Silva in the backside and considerately asked, "You spineless coward, want another one?"

"Enough, enough, Vincent! There are so many people watching! Are you trying to kill me?" Silva protested loudly, and without realizing it, a light called conviction shone in his eyes once again.

Kompany nodded in satisfaction and looked around: "Where are you guys? Anyone who needs this help, just say the word!"

"No, no!"

"Vincent, we're fine, we're confident!"

"Stop your magic, Vincent! This is a nationally televised match, for crying out loud!"

Although Lin Yi and Kompany helped Silva to resolve his inner conflict, he still couldn't fully let go of his mistake. After everyone had finished joking around, he sincerely apologized to his teammates: "I'm sorry, it was my responsibility to concede the goal."

Lin Yi got a little impatient with Silva's nagging and fussing, and slapped him hard on the head.

"Why are you apologizing when you did nothing wrong! You're crazy!"

After the match restarted, Silva, who had been subjected to violence by Kompany and Lin Yi, seemed to have truly emerged from the shadows. He resolutely adhered to his previous tactical style, continuing to put pressure on Liverpool with fast-paced passing and movement.

The situation on the field was exactly the same as before the goal: Manchester City were attacking while Liverpool were defending.

However, this time the TV commentators learned their lesson. They didn't favor Manchester City at the start, and then Manchester City put on a dazzling display of attacking play.

Just as they started to criticize Liverpool, Liverpool immediately scored a goal on a counter-attack.

This time, the commentator directly raised the question, telling anyone who wanted to know to watch the broadcast: "Let's see if Manchester City's spear can pierce Liverpool's shield."

In fact, this is also a concern for Manchester City manager Pellegrini. His strikerless tactical design is beginning to take shape, and all that's missing is a goal, a goal that can open the door to success.

Once this goal comes, everything else will fall into place. But if it doesn't come soon, it's uncertain how long the players' confidence and morale can be maintained.

He has done everything a head coach can do; now he can only place his hopes on the players on the field.

Pellegrini was lucky; his disciple didn't make him wait too long.

In the 42nd minute of the first half, Silva and Aguero exchanged two one-two passes in a small area in front of the penalty area, and Aguero, who moved from the wing, received the ball and broke into the penalty area.

Unfortunately, Aguero's timing and route of the cut were not good. Liverpool's defensive formation and positioning were well maintained, and Aguero was surrounded as soon as he entered the penalty area after a brief stop and dribble.

Gerrard then demonstrated his extensive experience by moving laterally, effectively shutting down Aguero's pass back to Silva.

Forced into a corner, Aguero had no choice but to stop on the spot, circling his right leg around the ball and swaying his body left and right, using these feints to buy time.

Lin Yi, who had previously retreated from the penalty area to make room for Aguero, saw that the ball had been dribbled away and immediately made a surprise return.

He sprinted forward at high speed, almost brushing past Aguero's right side, while simultaneously reminding him, "Hey, you little mule, give it to me!"

Having finally found a lifeline, Aguero readily agreed and poked the ball with his right foot to Lin Yi, who was running.

The space for the two to cooperate was too narrow. In order to ensure that the pass would not be directly poked away by the defender, Aguero increased the power of the pass, so that Lin Yi received the ball much more forcefully than usual, and it looked like the ball was about to roll out of bounds.

Liverpool center-back Skrtel saw this opportunity and immediately turned his body sideways with his arms outstretched, trying to block Lin Yi on the outside and let the ball go out of bounds on its own.

Lin Yi did not slow down, but slightly shifted his body to the side, intending to go around Skrtel.

Skrtel quickly moved to follow, sticking his rear end out to prevent Lin Yi's foot from touching the ball.

"Hey, you little mule!" Lin Yi shouted, pushing off the ground with his left foot and using his hand on Skrtel's shoulder for leverage, successfully throwing himself off. With a sweeping leg motion, he swept the ball towards the center just before it rolled out of bounds.

Liverpool players thought Skrtel had locked up his position and that Lin Yi would be helpless, so they could only let the ball go out of bounds.

Unexpectedly, Lin Yi was so agile that he managed to pass the ball over Skrtel.

This pass took everyone by surprise, and no one could stop it from flying towards the center.

In front of Liverpool's goal, Manchester City's number 16, 173cm tall Aguero, instinctively ducked his neck, and the ball hit him squarely on the head, changing its trajectory and flying towards the far corner of Liverpool's goal.