Chapter 734: Tit for Tat
Mourinho saw it clearly: Liverpool had a potent attack and a solid defense, with no apparent weaknesses. This meant United could not afford to relinquish control of the match to their rivals.
A one-goal lead was no insurmountable obstacle for a team like Liverpool. If United allowed Klopp's side to seize the initiative and gain momentum, they could easily overwhelm them. Therefore, Mourinho decisively instructed United to adopt an aggressive and proactive approach against Liverpool.
United applied a high press combined with immediate counter-attacks, denying Liverpool time and space to organize their attacks comfortably.
Special attention was given to Liverpool's wingers, Salah and Mane, whose partnership posed a constant threat. United's plan was clear: to respond to Liverpool's aggression with equal ferocity, forcing them onto the back foot and keeping them from committing fully to their attack.
Mourinho may not have known the Chinese idiom "using the enemy's method against them," but he understood its essence. Klopp's hallmark strategy, whether at Dortmund or Liverpool, was high pressing followed by lightning-fast counterattacks. Mourinho sought to turn those tactics against him.
United's Response
United quickly launched a counter-offensive.
Luke Shaw surged forward along the flank, reaching the byline before delivering a low cross.
Harry Kane slid in for a shot but missed the ball. However, his presence caused Koulibaly to accidentally deflect the ball toward his own goal, forcing Alisson into a desperate save.
United quickly regrouped for a second attack. Bruno Fernandes flicked a header toward goal, but it narrowly sailed over the crossbar, giving Liverpool's fans a collective scare.
The sequence rattled Liverpool, with Alisson hesitating before taking the ensuing goal kick to steady his team.
Sustained Pressure
For the next fifteen minutes, Liverpool managed only one shot on target, while United created two dangerous opportunities.
In one instance, Mbappé fired a curling shot from outside the box that seemed destined for the top corner. Alisson, however, made a fingertip save, deflecting the ball out for a corner.
"That was incredible from Alisson," said a Liverpool-supporting commentator. "He's already saved Liverpool at least twice tonight. But the defense needs to do more to prevent Manchester United from getting such dangerous chances."
United's relentless attacks put immense pressure on Liverpool's defense, particularly on Matip and Koulibaly. Liverpool's focus on finding an equalizer left their backline exposed.
Liverpool Strikes Back
Despite United's dominance, Liverpool remained dangerous.
Gündoğan held the ball in midfield but came under heavy pressure from Henderson. As Henderson used his body to block Gündoğan's path, Alexander-Arnold swooped in to provide additional pressure. Gündoğan stumbled, and Liverpool regained possession.
"Double-team tackle!"
The turnover allowed Liverpool to launch a rapid counterattack.
Salah sprinted forward, forcing even Kante to scramble in defense. The French midfielder committed a tactical foul, but Salah quickly got to his feet and took the free kick without delay, passing to Alexander-Arnold.
The young fullback delivered a pinpoint through ball back to Salah, who drove toward the byline. He then cut inside, evading Luke Shaw, and whipped a low cross into the box.
Van Dijk had been drawn away by Wijnaldum, leaving Firmino free to slide in ahead of Maguire and fire the ball into the net.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!"
"Firmino! Firmino! Firmino! He equalizes for Liverpool with a golden sliding finish. It's 1–1, and the game is back on level terms!"
"What a match! What a goal! Both teams are putting on a spectacular display, and this equalizer sets the stage for an even more thrilling contest."
Mourinho's Reaction
"F**K!" Mourinho muttered under his breath, visibly annoyed as he watched Liverpool celebrate.
However, he didn't dwell on the goal. Mourinho had never expected to keep a clean sheet against a team like Liverpool—it was nearly impossible. Still, conceding before halftime left him feeling unsatisfied.
"If only we could have taken a one-goal lead into the break," he thought.
An Immediate Response
What Mourinho didn't expect was that his wish might come true just a minute later.
United restarted from the center circle. Harry Kane passed to Bruno Fernandes and began running forward.
Instead of passing back as expected, Bruno opted to drive forward himself. The United captain weaved past two defenders, barely maintaining his balance, before laying the ball off to Kane.
With his back to goal, Kane deftly flicked the ball into the path of Bruno, who had continued his run into the box.
Just as Bruno received the ball, Matip slid in with a reckless tackle...
Tweet!
Referee Damir Skomina blew his whistle.
"Bruno is down! He's fallen in Liverpool's penalty area."
"Matip is signaling that he didn't commit a foul."
"But the referee has pointed to the spot—penalty! Penalty! As the first half nears its conclusion, Skomina has awarded a penalty, judging that Matip fouled Bruno inside the box."
Liverpool's Outrage
Skomina's decision immediately sparked a furious reaction from Liverpool.
Captain Henderson approached the referee, arguing that it wasn't a penalty, insisting Matip never touched Bruno.
Matip himself gestured repeatedly, his face a picture of frustration: "I didn't touch him!"
On the other hand, Manchester United players refrained from engaging in the debate, instead celebrating the awarded penalty.
United's players knew better than to involve themselves in Liverpool's arguments with the referee. The referee, Skomina, didn't need anyone defending him—he had the final say on the field.
Moreover, with VAR in use, the decision would be reviewed by the video assistant referees, ensuring the fairest possible outcome.
Unfazed by Liverpool's protests, Skomina remained resolute.
"It's a clear penalty," Skomina said to Henderson. "Please ask your teammates to step back!"
"You're biased…" Mane shouted angrily.
Henderson rushed to pull Mane away, but it was too late. Skomina had already heard the Senegalese forward's words and promptly issued him a yellow card for dissent.
Henderson gestured to his teammates to back off, realizing further protests would only escalate matters and provoke the referee further.
Analysis of the Decision
"Mane's frustration earns him a yellow card," the commentator remarked. "He's been in fine form today and is arguably the Liverpool player most eager to win the Champions League."
"That said," another commentator added, "this penalty is critical. If converted, Manchester United will regain the lead before halftime."
VAR replays showed that after Bruno received a pass from Harry Kane inside the box, Matip clumsily extended his right leg, clipping Bruno's supporting foot. The contact, although subtle, was enough to constitute a foul.
The penalty decision stood. There was no controversy; it was a clear foul.
Bruno at the Spot
Bruno, Manchester United's primary penalty taker, wasted no time. He picked up the ball and walked confidently to the penalty spot.
Mbappé glanced at Bruno, tempted to ask for the chance to take the penalty himself. However, he held back.
As confident as Mbappé was, he knew better than to challenge Bruno for penalty duties. Not only had Mourinho designated Bruno as the first-choice penalty taker, but Bruno had also earned this privilege with an unparalleled 100% penalty conversion rate.
Bruno's record was flawless. Since taking his first penalty on September 16, 2014, in Udinese's Champions League match against Ludogorets, he had never missed.
So far, Bruno had converted an astounding 34 consecutive penalties in his professional career. This spot-kick would be his 35th attempt.
Bruno's penalty technique was impeccable. Whether it was a driven shot to the bottom left, a side-footed placement to the bottom right, or a thunderous blast, every penalty was executed with precision and power, often leaving goalkeepers with no chance to react.
In all competitions, Bruno maintained a jaw-dropping 100% success rate from the penalty spot.
A Rivalry of Legends
The only blemish, if any, on Bruno's penalty legacy was that he wasn't Portugal's first-choice penalty taker. That honor belonged to Cristiano Ronaldo, the national team captain and another master of the craft, who also boasted an exceptional penalty record.
The crowd held its breath as Bruno prepared to take the kick, poised to extend his incredible streak.
(To be continued...)
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