The strongest winger

Chapter 542 The first crisis in the Premier League

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"I have to say that Ai Luo scored five goals in a row in the first half. It was very exciting. In the Premier League, it is really rare to see this kind of shocking four-man goal. The Premier League game pays too much attention to physical confrontation, so that the assaulters do not have enough room to survive, so many offensive players will be knocked down when they break through to the third..."

Taking advantage of the intermission, Zhan Jun reminisced about Ai Luo's goal with the fans watching TV: "It can be said that in the Premier League, there are five players in a row and then the ball is scored. This is something that can be encountered but not sought. If there is no accident, then this goal will likely become the best goal of the season!"

The commentators from various countries also analyzed the first half of the game during the 15 minutes of midfield, but the players on both sides of the game were subjected to the head coach's hair dryer in the locker room.

In the locker room, Mourinho first praised Aiello's wonderful goal in the first half to help the team equalize the score, and then mentioned the team's conceded goal.

Compared with 1:1, he prefers 0:0
Ben Haim, who was placed in the starting lineup by Mourinho in this game, had his head stuck to his chest because he felt that he had failed Mourinho's expectations.

"Our opponents conceded a goal against five players in a row at home. I believe they will definitely strengthen their offensive rhythm in the second half, so we must first defend the defense and then wait for an opportunity to attack!" Mourinho said here, paused, and then looked at Drogba: "Didier, run more in the second half to help the midfielder defend."

Then he turned his head to look at Ai Luo, "Ai, your task is the easiest, but also the most important, and that is to seize the opportunity to counterattack and go straight to Huanglong!!" At the same time, Mourinho took a signature pen and drew a red arrow from the middle circle to the Liverpool goal: "Let the damn Liverpool people accept the fact of defeat at their own home ground!!"

"Yeah!" Ai Luo nodded firmly.

……

The atmosphere in the home team's locker room was quite heavy, obviously affected by Aiello's stunning five-man goal in the first half.

Benitez looked up at the twelve players in front of him.

That's right, twelve people, because Benitez is going to make personnel adjustments at the beginning of the second half, replacing Pennant, who is a small winger, with Mascherano to strengthen his control over Aiello.

Therefore, the most fundamental condition for winning the game at home is to perfectly limit Aiello. As for the defensive task of limiting Aiello, Benitez still thinks it would be better to hand it over to Mascherano, because he did a very good job in the semi-finals of the Champions League last season.

Although replacing Javier Mascherano to defend Aiello full-time will definitely lead to a decline in the team's offensive ability, but the overall offense and defense will become balanced, and the defense can be guaranteed to be worry-free during offense.

"Javier, although your task after playing is very simple, it is also the most arduous at the same time, because your task is to perfectly restrain the Chinese for me. I believe that after the two rounds of competition last season, you should know him very well. Don't be distracted like in the semi-finals of the Champions League last season. This game is very important to us!"

Benitez said meaningfully to Mascherano.

In order to gain a foothold in the giants, Mascherano also knew that he had to prove his strength in order to get a better chance, so he nodded repeatedly.

Then fell into his own contemplation.

※※※

The 15-minute break in halftime passed quickly, but the stands at Anfield looked empty. Of course, this was not because the fans left the field early, but after 45 minutes of refueling in the first half, which consumed a lot of energy. Therefore, it is urgent to buy some burgers and Coke outside the stadium during the intermission to increase energy, so that you can continue to cheer for the team you support in the second half.

Many live TV stations also began to receive the signals transmitted from Anfield at this time. Players from both sides of the game slowly entered the field, jogging, walking, and of course chatting, so as to ensure a happy mood and maintain their state for the next game.

Mourinho frowned at Liverpool's first substitution adjustment. In his expectation, according to Benitez's style, he should strengthen his offense, but he replaced a defensive midfielder at the beginning of the second half. This...

Is it to limit Ai?

That's right, the substitution adjustment made by Benitez is to limit Aiello.

Liverpool kicked off first in the second half. After a few kicks, Carragher had no choice but to kick the ball forward under the pressure of Drogba. Terry pressed Torres to head the ball forward. Lampard resisted Gerrard and gave the ball to Mikel.

Mikel took advantage of the situation and swiped the ball sideways to avoid Xavi Alonso's steal, and then passed the ball to the feet of Aiello who retreated to respond.

Watching Aiello drop back to get the ball, Mascherano accelerated and rushed over.

Although Aiello did not look back to observe the situation behind him, his excellent consciousness was enough to have a general understanding of his surroundings. Facing the football passed by Mikel, his body made a fake movement to take the ball to the right and turn around.

That is, fake action + continuous stop and pass.

According to the normal situation, Ai Luo walked past it, but Mascherano didn't do it for a normal steal at all, he just kicked Ai Luo's supporting foot with his left foot just to get off his horse.

Then the referee's whistle sounded.

For the foul near the midfield, the referee on duty did not say anything, not even giving Mascherano a warning.

Mourinho, standing in front of the visiting team's coach and commanding the area, couldn't stand it any longer. Did Mascherano's behavior just now look like a defensive action?This is totally aimed at people!
It's fine if your fucking referee doesn't give a yellow card, so why didn't you even give a warning?
However, under the persuasion of the fourth official, he returned to his command area and continued to chatter.

※※※

Ai Luo rubbed the heel of his left foot, and by the way looked up at Mascherano who had fouled just now. Although that didn't cause him to get injured, it was very painful.

"Are you okay?" Lampard knelt down and asked Ai Luo.

"It's okay!" Ai Luo came back to his senses, "It just hurts a little! Flawed!"

"That's good!"

The game continued. With Mascherano getting into a better situation, Aiello was basically restricted by him and couldn't control the ball calmly. Not to mention shooting and breakthrough, he could only use the opportunity of setting the ball to create a murderous opportunity.

Looking at the situation on the court, Benitez felt extremely calm. It seems that this substitution adjustment is really timely. As long as Aiello is restricted, the threat of Drogba and Malouda will plummet. It should not be a problem to win the game.

"Javier Mascherano's defense deserves to be at the top level of the Premier League. His defense made it impossible for Aiello to find a decent chance in the second half, and he also indirectly helped Liverpool to play two quick counterattacks. If Chelsea captain Terry's defensive attention was not very focused, otherwise the score on the field would be rewritten again..."

The game at Anfield continued, and Zhan Jun expressed his feelings when the game was stalemate.

In order to get a chance, Ai Luo spared no effort to run erratically in the frontcourt, but Mascherano, who came on in the second half, was more physically fit, and he would follow wherever he went.

Therefore, facing the head coach Javier Mascherano, who has super tactical execution ability, Ai Luo has no good way, but can only continue to use his interspersed running to find opportunities.

During this period of the game, both sides were looking for opportunities, but because of the strong defense of their respective defenders, they did not give the opponent's forward a good chance. In the blink of an eye, the game time reached the 65th minute, which means that there are only 25 minutes left in the regular time of the game. If the injury time is counted, the maximum is 28 minutes.

Therefore, the director of the Anfield Stadium took advantage of the dead ball to frequently show the camera to the warm-up area to see if the two sides of the game should make personnel adjustments.

※※※

Mourinho turned his head to look at the players in the warm-up area, and found that there were no personnel to adjust. Although Malouda's offensive ability was not as good as Kalou's, his enthusiasm was not possessed by the Ivorians. Whether it was offense or defense, he was impeccable.

As for Drogba, his deterrence is even greater. Not only can he be used as an offensive fulcrum in the frontcourt, but he can also play for his teammates, and his ability to seize opportunities in front of the goal is also super strong.

And Ai Luo is not among the ranks of substitution adjustments. The transfer fee of 6000 million pounds is not a small amount of money. In other words, for every minute Ai Luo is on the court, he will indirectly help Abramovich reduce his investment by one point.

The three in the midfield do not need to be adjusted for the time being.

Of course, it will be another matter when the aging Makelele is physically exhausted.

"More than half of the second half has passed, but Ai also disappeared during this period of time. This can be said to be his first crisis since he landed in the Premier League. If he can't find opportunities in the next time, then other Premier League teams will follow suit. At that time... it will be difficult to move!" Andy Gray said worriedly based on his years of commentary experience.

Aiello took the ball on the left side and continued to make fake moves to shake the angle and prepare to hit the goal, but Mascherano clung to him reluctantly, and there was no chance for him to make an easy kick. Seeing that Gerrard was about to step forward to steal it, he had to hastily take a long shot, but the effect can be imagined?It shot directly at the second-floor stands.

Seeing Ai Luo shoot the ball into the second-tier stands, how can Liverpool fans at home let this opportunity go?Immediately there was a burst of laughter.

After finishing the shot, Ai Luo didn't care about the laughter on the opening stage, but turned his head and glanced at Mascherano. The latter looked very relaxed, and he clenched his fists subconsciously, unwilling to do so!
In fact, Mascherano's pressure is not much less than that of Ai Luo. From the perspective of the defender, his pressure is much greater than that of the offensive Ai Luo.

Because the offensive players actively seek changes, and the defensive players need to follow the changes of the offensive players. That is to say, the defensive players consume more mental and physical energy than the offensive players, especially the very good offensive players like Ai Luo, who combines man and ball, which makes the defensive players feel Alexander.

(End of this chapter)