The players of both teams crossed paths in the tunnel, naturally without any exchange between them.
Ling could almost smell the gunpowder in the air.
Today's match was more important to them than the league.
Although the Premier League was gradually solidifying its position as the top of the five major leagues, it still couldn't match the prestige of the Champions League.
Van Dijk glanced toward the front of the line, where Ling wore the captain's armband, and whispered to Matip.
"Make sure to keep an eye on him throughout the match. Don't hesitate to foul when necessary. After all, our yellow cards have been cleared."
Fortunately, with the newly introduced Champions League rule that accumulated yellow cards are cleared by the semi-finals, Van Dijk and Matip were no longer restricted.
Now they could go all out, using every means to contain Manchester United's number 7.
Matip nodded firmly, his expression filled with caution.
But he wasn't lacking in confidence either.
Who was the best center-back in the Premier League? Without a doubt, it was Van Dijk.
However, Van Dijk's success relied heavily on the support of his teammates, especially the covering and coordination of the other defenders.
Since joining Liverpool, Matip had become Klopp's starting center-back.
Up to now, among all Premier League center-backs in aerial duels, Matip's success rate in winning headers was as high as 91%, a few percentage points higher than even Maguire's.
Moreover, having played as a defensive midfielder earlier in his career, Matip also excelled in the attacking phase.
It could be said that Matip was Van Dijk's perfect partner.
Previously, due to not fully recovering from an injury, he had performed at less than 70% of his overall ability in the last match against Manchester United.
"If Manchester United plans to cross from the wings, the full-backs can allow them to deliver the ball. I'm confident I can defend against Manchester United's No. 7."
Matip wasn't being arrogant, it was Liverpool's tactical approach to push both full-backs forward to form a pressing system.
If he could win aerial duels in the box, the pressure on the full-backs would be significantly reduced.
As the Champions League anthem drew to a close, the players of both teams emerged from the tunnel one after another, greeted by the deafening cheers of Old Trafford.
...
"Good evening, viewers!"
"Welcome to the first leg of the 2018-19 Champions League Semi-final!"
"Manchester United hosting Liverpool!"
"Today, Old Trafford is packed with 76,000 spectators, most of whom are hoping for a Manchester United victory."
"Now, let me introduce the starting lineups for both teams."
Gary Neville's voice boomed through the broadcast. "Mourinho has opted not to use the 4-3-2-1 formation again, as it leans more toward defense and relies heavily on the presence of Kante as the midfield anchor. Today, he has chosen a balanced 4-2-3-1 formation..."
"This setup is well-balanced in both attack and defense. What surprised me, though, is Scott's inclusion in the starting lineup. However, based on his recent performances, he fully deserves his place. I'm looking forward to seeing how he performs today."
After Neville finished introducing Manchester United's lineup, Carragher took over to present Liverpool's.
"Liverpool has once again gone with a 4-3-3 formation..."
"The recent form of the Red Arrows trio has been exceptionally explosive, making them the highest-scoring forward partnership in Europe. Particularly with Salah's changed role—no longer acting as the primary attacker as before, but dropping deeper to hold up the ball and organize the offense."
"This has diversified Liverpool's attacking play. As is well known, Manchester United players are generally taller in stature, which consequently leads to poorer mobility. As long as Liverpool can keep moving in the final third, they can disrupt United's defensive line. Scoring opportunities will frequently arise!"
A few days ago, Carragher visited Liverpool's training ground and had since become full of confidence.
Facing Liverpool's "attacking" quartet, Manchester United's task of maintaining an organized defense would undoubtedly be several levels more difficult.
While Neville and Carragher were bickering, the camera shifted back to the green pitch.
After Ling and Henderson exchanged team pennants, they proceeded to the coin toss under the referee's guidance.
This time, Ling's luck wasn't as favorable and Henderson decisively chose the kickoff.
Liverpool often aims for a fast start in most matches, as it suits their style well.
Moreover, Klopp had made specific tactical preparations before the game.
Even if they couldn't score immediately, securing an early advantage would allow them to build momentum like a snowball, gradually controlling the rhythm of the match.
Scoring would then only be a matter of time.
So why is football often likened to war in times of peace?
BEEP!!!
With a sharp whistle, the match officially began!
...
Firmino kicked off, passing the ball back to Fabinho.
Liverpool's formation instantly pushed forward, swarming toward Manchester United's half.
The positions of the two wingers were entirely different. Mane hovered near Wan-Bissaka, while Salah positioned himself closer to the center.
Asymmetrical attacking play. A tactic pioneered and refined in Spanish football.
When discussing tactical masterminds, Guardiola is often the first name mentioned, but Klopp is equally exceptional. Absolutely among Europe's elite.
Gegenpressing!
A tactical philosophy built on relentless running, like intense heavy metal music, capable of unleashing immense energy in an instant.
Fabinho didn't engage in a duel with Pogba, instead quickly passing to Salah on the right flank.
McTominay immediately closed him down. But Salah, with a simple shift of his body weight, created just enough space to accelerate forward.
Football is a sport where talent matters.
The achievements most people strive for over a lifetime might not match what prodigies accomplish in just a few years.
At this moment, Scott McTominay felt immense pressure, as if a stone were hanging over his heart, making it hard to breathe steadily.
Yet, he quickly turned and tracked back.
However, the Egyptian King's sudden stop and cut inside once again left McTominay trailing.
Whether in agility of movement or physical prowess, Salah held the upper hand.
Ling watched clearly from the attacking third as Liverpool's midfielders surged forward in unison. In an instant, three passing options materialized.
And Manchester United's weakness—not opting for a three-defensive-midfielder setup—was laid bare at this moment.
Nemanja Matic managed to mark Wijnaldum and Fabinho but couldn't cover Henderson, Liverpool's captain, on the far side.
Before Luke Shaw could step up to provide defensive support, Salah delivered a perfectly weighted pass into the path of the advancing Henderson.
"The pass was perfectly timed. Will Liverpool continue to build up?"
"No!"
"Henderson launches a long pass, targeting the left flank, Mane!!!" Carragher's roar echoed.
The thought of Liverpool's fast break possibly scoring a goal made his emotions boil like water reaching its boiling point.
Why could Mane become Liverpool's starting winger?
First, his physical attributes—explosiveness, speed, strength, jumping ability, stamina, aerial prowess, and reaction time—were all outstanding.
Second, his athleticism: he possessed excellent mobility, moved exceptionally fast off the ball, and had remarkable muscular endurance, allowing him to sprint repeatedly while maintaining the quality of his movements even after high-speed bursts.
Finally, his tactical awareness, which was also his core competitive advantage. How to make forward runs, diagonal runs, and reverse runs.
This season, Mane's tactical awareness had not only improved significantly but had also developed a strong understanding with his teammates.
He accelerated as Salah made the cross and simultaneously timed his run to stay onside.
Wan-Bissaka was caught off guard and left behind.
Under the tense gazes of both sets of fans, Mane calmly controlled the ball in front of him, made a slight adjustment, and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot!
Bang!
The football flew toward the Manchester United goal like a cannonball.
At the critical moment, Wan-Bissaka made a sliding tackle to interfere, just barely touching the ball with his toe, causing it to deflect off the line and strike De Gea's arm before going out for a corner.
"Ah, what a pity! Liverpool's early attacking surge nearly resulted in a goal!"
"However, I believe Liverpool's attack has set the tone for this match. Their offensive pressure will only grow more intense from here."
"I wonder if Manchester United can withstand it," Carragher remarked arrogantly.
As he said, although Liverpool failed to score, their morale was significantly boosted. This was also a psychological game.
But the Manchester United players were not as fragile as imagined.
Ling reminded Wan-Bissaka, "Mane is quite fast. You can drop a bit deeper and have Mahrez track back to help defend."
Even if this reduced their attacking intensity, Manchester United's priority now was defense.
Liverpool was different from Manchester City.
If they tried to play compact defense against Manchester City, they'd likely be pulled apart like dogs on a leash.
However, Liverpool lacked that kind of possession-based control. They relied more on mobility, using individual skill to break down defenses.
The more compact Manchester United's defense became, the less space Liverpool would have.
"Got it." Wan-Bissaka wiped the sweat from his brow, still shaken.
Fortunately, his last-ditch sliding tackle was quick enough, or he would have become Manchester United's scapegoat.
He raised his alertness to the highest level, closely watching Mane's every move, ensuring the Senegalese forward never left his sight.
---------
Read 30 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator