Green Dragon

Chapter 627
After finishing the third round of the Europa League group stage, those injuries in the Liverpool team have also returned to the training base one after another.

Perhaps thanks to Long Shute's arrival, the team's physical overdraft is not so serious. Gomez and Ince, two serious injuries who were originally reimbursed for the season in history, are also close to recovery. They only need to rest for about a week before they can come back .

When Liverpool played Southampton at home on October 10, Liverpool's players may have some embarrassment.

"Among the Red Army fans in China, some people call Southampton 'the fellow'. Let's take a look at Liverpool's lineup, and maybe we can understand that the nickname of the fellow is indeed well-deserved..."

Zhan Tianjun couldn't help mentioning this allusion during the explanation:
"Lallana, Lovren, Klein, plus Lambert who left in the summer... these players are all from the 'Saints', no wonder Southampton fans don't like this round of opponents. "

Zhang Lu smiled and asked:
"If I remember correctly, several big teams in the Premier League have poached a lot of people from Southampton, right?"

Zhan Tianjun nodded:
"It's true. For example, Manchester United once dug Luke Shaw and Schneiderlin, Arsenal dug Walcott, Chamberlain, and Chambers, and Tottenham dug Bale and Alderweireld. , if the stars that Southampton have sold in recent years are combined into a team, they may also be able to reach the top four in the league..."

A good joke, but everyone knows it won't be easy for a club with Southampton's weak roots.

Cultivating young talents and then selling them to big teams at a high price to ensure the continued operation of the club is their way of survival. To break this model, unless there are rich Americans or Middle Eastern oil tycoons spending a lot of money.

"Marten, long time no see!"

When Long Shute stood in the player tunnel and looked behind him, he saw a familiar old teammate.

Maarten Stegrunberg, the Dutch goalkeeper who played alongside him at Ajax.

The tall Dutchman opened his arms and hugged him like a child:
"It's been a long time, dear dragon, but to be honest, I really don't want to meet you in this place..."

His smile is full of the sincerity of an old comrade-in-arms, but also a little embarrassed, which cannot be faked.

Yes, as the former third captain of Ajax, he absolutely does not want the former vice-captain to stand in front of his goal! -
The saints have been ranked 8th and 7th in the past two seasons respectively. The reason why they can achieve the mid-to-upper ranking with their meager investment is that they have indeed cultivated a group of outstanding young players, which naturally led to them being almost eliminated by the Premier League. The major giants are hollowed out.

But the young talents of this team seem to have sprung up like mushrooms after a spring rain. After one batch was cut, another batch emerged immediately...

The 33-year-old Stegrunberg can only be regarded as a veteran, but behind him, there are many teammates who are already well-known.

For example, defensive midfielder Wanyama, central defender Van Dijk, and forwards Tadic and Mane, as long as this central axis can continue the state, if nothing else, it will be split up by other teams in two or three years. Walk.

Perhaps... some of them will also join Liverpool?
-
The Brazilian trio - Coutinho, Firmino, Lucas - who have been resting since the national team week, all got the chance to start in this game.

Replenishing energy to the end is not the same as continuous fatigue combat. In the 13th minute of the opening, Coutinho used a continuous dribble to tear apart Southampton's side defense, then directly cut in and changed direction, and kicked away. Goal guarded by Stegelenberg.

Liverpool, who opened the scoring for the first time, did not choose to withdraw. Just 10 minutes later, Long Shute accurately found Firmino, who was cruising on the offside line, with a side pass. The ball is a coquettish lob!

2-0!

After leading by two goals, the Red Army played at home slightly relaxed, which seems to have become their habit.

Southampton originally wanted to take the opportunity to launch an offensive, but Long Shute warned them with his performance of scoring two goals in 10 minutes: Even if our defense line is paper, we can't let you score casually!

but……

Long Shute may have overestimated his own defense team, the defense line formed by Lovren and Sktel... Sometimes, it may not be as good as a piece of paper!

In the 71st minute, Van Dijk launched a long pass from the backcourt and directly penetrated most of the pitch. Lovren, who was dragged at the end of Liverpool's formation, originally wanted to make a volley clearance, but accidentally kicked the air!

Saints winger and Senegal's super fast horse - Sadio Mane just accelerated and got a chance to shoot!
Liverpool goalkeeper Mignolet hadn't even reacted when Mane slammed through the goal!
The clearance wasn't the only poor display from Liverpool's backline.

10 minutes later, Southampton took a corner kick, and Skrtel and Lovren, two defenders who had partnered for more than a season, made a low-level mistake in competing for the same position!

Lovren headed the ball, and the ball landed at the feet of Saints striker Pellet.

The Italian pushed the arch of his foot, and the ball went straight in from Mignolet's crotch!

It's not the worst!
Lovren, who had completed his own assist, collided with his teammates and was carried out at the same time!
Standing not far away, Long Shute almost wanted to cry without tears!
He could tell that both Skrtel and Lovren were flawed, and there was nothing serious about it, but... such consecutive mistakes would definitely affect the morale of the team!
With two centre-backs injured at the same time, Rodgers had to make all the substitutions he could, leaving Sacco and Bader at the front of the box.

At this moment, Luo Tiantian couldn't help but want to thank Long Shute for his rotation policy, otherwise there might not be a tacit understanding between these two players!
Even so, Budd and Sakho, who played hastily, were still caught by their opponents. In the 86th minute, another free kick was played. The three Saints players continued to perform header relays in the air. If he didn't reach the ball, he could only watch helplessly as the football finally landed at Mane's feet, allowing the latter to push another shot to make a contribution!
Southampton chased three goals in 15 minutes and narrowed the score from 4-0 to 4-3. Their morale suddenly rose to the peak, but Liverpool seemed to lose all confidence suddenly.

When the game entered the last 10 minutes, Southampton once completely suppressed Liverpool. Every pass of theirs seemed to easily tear through the Red Army's defense, and the atmosphere at Anfield was close to suffocation.

Whenever this kind of situation comes, Long Shute is definitely the one who is the most exhausted. He directly becomes a scavenger. No matter which corner the football is passed to, he will rush to the scene first without hesitation.

Staring at the ball and not at the man, this was originally a mistake made by amateur players, but Long Shute did not hesitate to make himself that fool.

Because he doesn't want to lose.

Even if it's a draw...he doesn't want it!

Perhaps he was intimidated by his momentum, or perhaps his physical fitness was finally on the verge of the limit. Southampton's offensive finally lost its previous sharpness when it entered the stoppage time period.

But Long Shute still didn't dare to be careless. He was still using his full-court sprint to help Sakho and Bud stand firm, ensuring that his defense would not collapse at the last second.

He thought about counterattacking, but he had just completed a steal from Mane when he was kicked on the ankle by this amazingly fast African horse!
Long Shute, who was preparing to speed up, suddenly lost his support and fell heavily on the front of his own big penalty area. He could only feel bursts of burning pain from his left ankle.

The Liverpool players immediately divided into two groups. One group supported the captain on the field and anxiously asked him if he was injured. The other group was irritable and wanted to beat Mane to death on the spot...

The sky above Anfield was full of boos, and Mane couldn't even lift his head. He just lowered his head with an aggrieved face, and let the two former teammates, Lallana and Klein, keep yelling at him. ...

"You murderer!"

"Are you a butcher sent by Manchester United?!"

"Die to the Senegalese nigga!"

Liverpool fans certainly have reason to curse Mane with the most vicious words, because he shoveled no one else.

If there is one person who is absolutely indispensable in this Liverpool team, it is Long Shute.

For the first time, Liverpool fans feel that their team may really be able to win the league title that has not been won for 26 years this season.

But now... this swarthy guy had his foot wrapped around the savior's ankle!
The referee didn't hesitate, he showed Mane a yellow card, and then... another red card!
Because Mane had already received his first yellow card for overturning Moreno a few minutes ago!
Success is also Mane, and defeat is also Mane! -
When the Senegalese winger walked to the sidelines in frustration, Long Shute, who was receiving simple treatment on the sidelines, extended his hand to him.

Mane raised his eyes in surprise.

Long Shute moved his ankle slightly. Although it hurt a lot, his muscles and bones were fine:
"You don't want to abolish me, do you?"

Mane nodded quickly, and grabbed Long Shute's big warm hand:

"Sorry, I just want to get the ball back. I will never hurt other players maliciously. Please believe me."

Long Shute patted his head:

"I know, you are a very professional and good player, I just hope you are more calm. By the way, you stand here. After the game, I will exchange jerseys with you."

Mane's eye circles suddenly turned red.

The boos at Anfield seemed to be much smaller.

He has always had a good impression of the Chinese.

As early as 2010, Mane was still an unknown youth player of the French second team Metz with a weekly salary of only a few tens of euros. A Chinese reporter who went to interview Wang Chu met him by chance.

When he saw the reporter's camera, Mane, who had not been home for many years, asked the reporter to take a photo of himself, which he wanted to send to his mother in Africa.The enthusiastic Chinese reporter agreed without hesitation, but the simple Mane repeatedly confirmed to him, "Is this photo free?"

Yes, Mane and Wang Chu used to be teammates in Metz's youth team, and Wang Chu also wore the captain's armband.

But relying on the strong body of African players, Mane, who only got his first professional contract at the age of 19, has been on the Rockets since then. After Metz was relegated, he was sold to Austria by the team, but he did not It didn't disappear for a long time. Two seasons later, Mane, who helped the team win the League Cup double, moved to Southampton for 1200 million pounds, and soon became a black lightning in the Premier League.

In May 2015, he broke the record for the fastest hat-trick in the Premier League by scoring three goals in 5 minutes and 2 seconds-the original record holder was Liverpool's God Robbie Fowler.

Now he has met the captain of the national team of his old teammate Wang Chu, and he has also met the God of Liverpool's new generation.

The wheel of fate is rumbling forward, and no one knows whether their destinies will intersect.

(End of this chapter)