"How should we play against Arsenal?"
"One word: patience."
During the pre-match tactical briefing, Krawietz and Klopp kept returning to the same theme: patience.
"Boss, how exactly do we stay patient?"
"What, take the hits without fighting back and swallow the insults without replying?"
Klopp rolled his eyes.
"That's not patience. That's cowardice."
"We counterattack."
"We'll use the system we were best at back at Dortmund. Start in a 4-4-2, but when we break forward it turns into a 4-2-4."
"Let Arsenal have the ball, but don't give them the space to play their beautiful football."
"We stay patient until Arsenal relax and start pushing forward in numbers. That's when the counterattack opportunities will come."
"And when they do, we strike once and finish them."
Klopp and Krawietz looked at each other.
Both burst into a slightly sinister laugh.
...
April 20, FA Cup semifinal.
As the match kicked off, Arsenal immediately took control of possession.
Their passing was crisp and elegant, especially in the final third where the attack revolved around Giroud's role as the pivot.
The versatile forward Lacazette partnered the lightning quick Iwobi, repeatedly probing Liverpool's defensive line.
But Liverpool, set up in a 4-4-2, formed an extremely compact defensive structure. The players stayed tightly connected, combining zonal defense with aggressive pressing to deny Arsenal any comfortable shooting space.
Aside from an early threatening move, Arsenal failed to create another real opportunity.
As the match went on, Arsenal's formation gradually pushed higher up the pitch.
26th minute.
"Arsenal's line is clearly moving forward now. Bellerín is pushing up to join the attack."
"Wilshere distributes from the holding midfield position to the right. Bellerín overlaps and receives it. Chance to deliver!"
"A low cross across the box looking for Giroud!"
"A clever backheel flick. Beautiful combination play!"
"Lacazette receives and lays it off to Iwobi!"
"Shot! Oh!"
"A wonderful passing move from Arsenal, but the final shot lacks power and Karius gathers it comfortably."
"This is Arsenal's tactical quality. They play such beautiful football!"
Just as Jim Beglin was praising Arsenal's attack, Karius suddenly launched a powerful overarm throw to start a counterattack.
Straight down the left flank.
Bellerín had pushed up and hadn't recovered yet. Mané was already waiting in space. He receives the throw, turns, and drives forward with the ball while Salah bursts forward on the right.
Liverpool launch a lightning counterattack.
"Counterattack! Mané drives forward and plays it to Firmino."
"Back to Mané!"
Mané feeds Firmino. The Brazilian striker holds off the center back with his back to goal and lays it back first time to Mané.
Mané meets the ball immediately and sweeps it into the center.
Leo Lin makes a late run onto it and, without taking a touch, whips his ankle through the ball and curls a powerful pass toward the right flank.
Salah has already arrived in position.
"Leo Lin switches it to the right. Everything is first touch football!"
"Salah drives down the wing. Liverpool have a four on three in attack!"
"Firmino's forward run pulls the defense away. Salah has space!"
"He cuts inside and lifts it across!"
"Mané at the far post!"
"Header!"
"Beautiful!"
"Smooth. Absolutely smooth!"
"That is how you execute a counterattack!"
"Mané scores. Salah with the assist. Liverpool strike first!"
Gerrard leaps to his feet in celebration.
"GOAL!"
"Mané finds the net. A razor sharp counterattack and brilliant team play!"
"It's the Mad Four again!"
"MLSF combine for a magnificent goal!"
"Arsenal have paid the price for pushing forward. You simply cannot leave space behind against Liverpool."
Arsenal legend Henry shook his head with a sigh. He knew Bellerín had fallen into the trap.
"Liverpool started the match in a 4-4-2 and deliberately defended deep. Clearly they wanted Arsenal to relax and push further forward."
"After failing to break through for a while, Arsenal grew impatient. They pushed their formation higher and used the fullbacks to generate more attacking chances."
"Bellerín pushing up did create space for Arsenal's attack, but once the chance was missed, Liverpool seized the transition and delivered a perfect counterattack."
Fans across the live streams were full of praise for Liverpool's counterattacking play.
"When you have Mané and Salah plus a modern striker like Firmino, a deadly counterattack is inevitable."
"Liverpool score with their first shot. What an outrageous conversion rate."
"Liverpool's front three have been fully unleashed this season thanks to Lin. All three are playing at a much higher level."
Play resumes.
Arsenal learn their lesson and stabilize their shape, keeping possession and waiting for the right moment to attack.
Liverpool's defense remains fully focused. Everyone knows the quality of this Arsenal side. They are equally capable of slicing through a defense in an instant.
36th minute.
"Liverpool's defensive structure remains excellent. The spacing between players is still extremely compact."
"Ramsey carries the ball forward looking for an opening. Leo Lin stays tight to him, pressing closely."
"Ramsey has absolutely no passing options."
Ramsey continues dribbling forward with Leo Lin glued to his side. After several attempts to find a forward pass, he has no choice but to move the ball out to the right.
Iwobi moves wide and immediately plays a first time pass to Giroud.
It looks harmless.
But Giroud suddenly lets the ball slip through his legs.
Lacazette cuts inside from the flank, receives the pass, and immediately sends a diagonal through ball behind Lovren.
Giroud, who had just let the ball run through his legs, has already spun away from Lovren and made a reverse run.
The angle is tight. Instead of shooting, he lifts a delicate outside foot pass toward the far post.
Xhaka, who had been lingering in midfield, makes an extremely subtle late run into the box and appears perfectly in the open space at the far post.
He meets the pass and calmly pushes the ball into the net.
Karius stands frozen.
The Liverpool players haven't even fully processed what just happened.
"I've said it before. This is the real strength of Arsenal."
Jim Beglin is completely absorbed by the brilliance of Arsenal's team play.
"Absolutely beautiful. Every pass is first touch."
"Constant movement and combination play."
"Clever positioning combined with a midfielder's late run created the chance."
"Giroud's link-up play is outstanding. The nutmeg dummy draws Lovren in, then he spins and receives Lacazette's pass before chipping it to the far post. He even spots Xhaka's run from deep."
"This isn't a moment of inspiration. This is a rehearsed tactical move. That's the influence of Wenger."
"Arsenal score a brilliant goal and the match is level."
"One one. Both sides back to the same starting line."
"This is a match played at the highest tactical and technical level."
"Both teams are outstanding today. A clash of top quality."
"The ultimate battle of team coordination and passing combinations."
"Klopp's counterattack versus Wenger's passing game."
"Magnificent."
"Simply brilliant."