"Liverpool's corner kick!"
Perhaps just as Carragher had said, Liverpool ignored Ling in midfield and instead swarmed into Manchester United's penalty area to compete for headers.
Matip didn't lose to Maguire this time, he won the first touch and headed toward goal.
Only the angle was terrible.
David Luiz turned sideways to block the ball, kicking it out of the penalty area amid the chaos.
As the camera quickly panned, a figure appeared in the frame, charging forward from the back!
It couldn't help but remind people of Liverpool's number 8, the Reds' eternal captain, Gerrard.
Fabinho was going for a long shot!
Although he wasn't particularly close to the goal, people had an inexplicable feeling—that this shot was highly likely to go in!
Liverpool fans nervously clenched their fists.
However, the scene they anticipated didn't materialize. Instead, Fabinho was knocked aside, and the ball was chased down and controlled by Ling.
"How did he end up in that position?" Carragher voiced the soul-searching question.
Before he could think of an answer, Ling turned and sprinted forward with the ball.
Manchester United's counterattacks are never weak, they simply accumulate the necessary power. And now was the time to unleash it!
The camera locked onto Manchester United's number 7 and the teammates following him!
Fabinho behind him tried to chase back, while Milner on his side attempted to cover defensively.
But in the blink of an eye, Ling accelerated to his maximum speed.
The red jersey fluttered wildly in the summer wind, like a flame rising against the breeze!
Instantly, he left Fabinho far behind, and the advertising boards at the edge of the screen blurred.
Then he looked up to assess the situation.
In his field of vision were the positions of the defending players.
What is the most important thing in a long-distance run? Many might say speed.
But in reality, it's the choice of route.
It requires analyzing the positions of the defending players, quickly identifying their defensive movements and weaknesses, and then determining the running route based on teammates' positioning.
For example, after completing a breakthrough, which direction would have defensive players covering?
Which direction had less defensive pressure?
Which direction was more likely to cause confusion for the opponent?
Moreover, the entire process needed to be completed in the shortest possible time, testing the player's ability to read the game!
Milner charged fiercely from the side, while Van Dijk stood ready ahead.
"You go first!" Van Dijk said solemnly.
He had to seize the moment Ling touched the ball, only then would he not be easily dribbled past.
Milner didn't hesitate upon hearing this.
Ling's eyes sharpened. As he sprinted, his muscles tensed, and his right foot continuously made subtle touches on the ball.
What does it mean to have exceptional ball control?
At this moment, all fans had a tangible sense of it.
Every touch was perfectly weighted, making it hard to tell whether the foot was controlling the ball or the ball was guiding the foot.
The moment Milner attempted the tackle, the dribbling rhythm suddenly changed!
Milner's outstretched foot poked at empty air, and as he tried to chase back, all he could see was a retreating figure.
He could only pin his hopes on Van Dijk.
"Now!"
Van Dijk's timing to step up and press was incredibly precise, perfectly timed for the moment Ling touched the ball.
And he kept his eyes locked firmly on Ling's.
The very best defenders never watch the ball, they can accurately judge an attacker's true intentions simply by observing shifts in their center of gravity.
Suddenly, at the critical moment, Ling cut the ball to the left, driving it into the space left by Matip.
Who could blame the guy for getting too caught up in the corner kick attack?
But Van Dijk was prepared, instinctively turning and following.
The two engaged in a masterclass of offensive and defensive play!
As Van Dijk changed direction, Ling sharply cut the ball sideways with his left foot, his movement both quick and subtle.
And he had already used a shift in his center of gravity to deceive.
Just as Liverpool fans were giving up hope, Van Dijk demonstrated his world-class defensive ability, twisting his body and stretching out a leg to disrupt Ling's touch on the ball.
This caused Ling's dribble to become slightly too heavy.
In the brief span of a long sprint, any unnecessary movement is fatal.
Alisson calmly rushed off his line.
He didn't even need to touch the ball; he simply had to close off the near-post shooting angle.
A goal from zero angle? Such goals rarely happen in professional matches.
Besides, Ling had already lost control of the ball. No matter how he struck it, it wouldn't threaten the goal!
De Gea sighed from the back.
Though he couldn't see too clearly, he knew this chance was likely gone.
Ling had reached his maximum speed, unable to go even a fraction faster.
Seeing the goal line drawing nearer, he decisively abandoned any thought of shooting.
He'd take a gamble!
Betting that his teammate had kept up with him.
He took a long stride ahead of the ball and flicked it backward with the heel of his right foot!
Tap!
With a crisp sound, the ball was rescued from the byline, rolling back as a back pass to the edge of the box.
Immediately after, Alisson saw Rashford, moving faster than Van Dijk, practically crashing the ball into the Liverpool net!
"Goal! Goal!"
"After being suppressed by Liverpool for fifty minutes, Manchester United finally seized a counterattack opportunity to equalize!"
"And the process of this goal was truly magical."
"Ling retreated at some unknown time, not only disrupting Fabinho's long-range shot but also taking advantage of the situation to complete a brilliant long-distance run."
"In the 53rd minute, Manchester United equalized the score!" Neville clenched his fist and roared.
Old Trafford erupted in excitement, with tens of thousands of Manchester United fans shouting loudly, filling every corner of the stadium with cheers.
Rashford even performed an emotional knee slide celebration.
Now, as Manchester United often plays in a 4-3-1-2 formation, he rarely gets to start.
In such a high-stakes match against Liverpool, scoring a crucial goal filled him with emotions that words could hardly describe.
"I knew you could break through, so I kept following behind!" Rashford gave Ling a firm high-five.
Regardless of whether the quick counterattack would be effective, there was one thing the players had to execute perfectly—they couldn't just stand and watch; they had to give their all to keep up.
This was Mourinho's most basic requirement.
There have been many miracles in football history, but without exception, they all had one prerequisite: the players could not give up.
The Miracle of Camp Nou, the Miracle of Istanbul...
Although the goal Manchester United just scored against Liverpool was far from reaching the standard of a miracle, it still reflected the mental state of the players.
"I didn't even have time to look back. If I had passed to Van Dijk and Liverpool launched another counterattack while our backline was empty, we probably would have conceded a goal," Ling recalled the moment with a hint of fear.
However, he hadn't thought that much at the time. He only knew he couldn't waste such a rare opportunity.
Fortunately, Rashford had been right behind him.
"Exactly, it means luck is on our side. We must defeat Liverpool today!" Mahrez waved his arms excitedly.
He felt that during his time at Manchester United, he had recaptured the feeling he had at Leicester City—everyone working together toward the championship.
For a player, this was the best environment.
"It's almost the sixtieth minute. Let's push a little harder. At home, we can only win, not lose!" Ling led the Manchester United players back to their positions.
...
As they passed the Liverpool players, Van Dijk frowned and looked up. Liverpool's marking of Ling had been as tight as possible.
How could he still seize the opportunity?
No, it was more like he actively created the opportunity.
Van Dijk carefully recalled the goal-scoring process.
Ling's retreat had been very discreet, and the timing he chose was tricky.
Van Dijk had wanted to follow closely and defend, but he was caught off guard and left behind.
Pressing forward further would have created gaps in the defense, allowing Ling to easily play a through ball and break through the line.
With Robertson's speed, he definitely wouldn't have caught up with Mahrez.
Choosing to stay in position and defend wasn't wrong.
But who could have predicted Ling's long-distance run, dribbling past Milner and himself?
Although he had interfered with Ling's touch in the end, that flash of brilliance—the backheel pass—instantly rendered Liverpool's efforts futile.
"It's okay. Next time, observe the surroundings before receiving the ball. Don't give Manchester United players another chance to sneak up on us. Let's treat this as if the match has just started. Our goal is still the more valuable away goal," Henderson shouted words of comfort.
He wasn't worried about his teammates losing their composure, but rather that they might become hesitant in their decision-making on the ball.
"Don't worry, it's Manchester United who should be panicking now. Let's defend for a while, and then—" Van Dijk chimed in as well.
If Mourinho had a targeted tactical plan, did Klopp not have one of his own?
In truth, ever since Manchester United won the Premier League title last season, they had become the subject of study across Europe.
As the old saying goes, "It is easier to conquer than to maintain."
Their strengths and weaknesses were placed under a microscope for meticulous analysis.
Conte's Chelsea, for instance, had rapidly declined as a result and never managed to recover.
Even though Mourinho remained vigilant in times of peace, researching numerous new tactics...
Klopp walked over to the substitutes' bench and said to Trent Alexander-Arnold, "Manchester United's right flank has a natural weakness. Without Kante, their mobility is insufficient. Even if they run tirelessly, they can't hide this flaw."
"When you come on later, don't hesitate. Keep attacking down Manchester United's right flank, draw their defensive resources to that side, and then we'll switch the play wide to create an attacking advantage on the opposite side."
Manchester United's right-back, Luke Shaw, was diligent in training and had a good attitude, but he had suffered a broken leg in the past.
Modern medicine couldn't fully restore him to his former self.
As a result, he inevitably carried lingering effects—reduced explosiveness and mobility—which significantly weakened his defensive capabilities.
The same applied to McTominay.
Though he hadn't suffered a major injury, his physique and characteristics limited him in similar ways.
Arnold's eyes gleamed with excitement.
As a native of Liverpool, his hatred for Manchester United went without saying.
Moreover, Ling's "Route 66" remark had made him the butt of jokes.
No spirited young man could tolerate that!
Arnold had long been itching to defeat Manchester United today and return the humiliation to Ling.
"I understand!" Arnold replied excitedly, then pulled on his training vest and headed to the warm-up area.