Reborn Liverpool

Chapter 249 Returning to the old club

Liverpool's next round of the league and the Champions League group stage are a week later, and Klopp has time to adjust the team lineup, of course, only to make some minor personal position changes.

Since the start of the new season, the Red Army has a trident on the offensive end. Under the leadership of Zhang Mai, the central midfielder can also combine various styles of personnel. The defense also has two giants, Van Dijk and Maguire.

But why does the Red Army, with such a sharp attack, always gain momentum and fail to score, no matter whether the opponent is a strong team or a weak team, why do they play so hard in every game?
Full back!The problem undoubtedly appeared on the two flanks of the sideline and the defense line. The two mediocre flying wings dragged down the overall performance of the team's offensive system.

Klopp emphasized that the two full-backs should actively participate in the offense, have a fast offensive and defensive balance, have good physical strength up and down, and have a good passing skill.

The original two main full-backs left Moreno and right Klein performed well, but they were not at the top level in Europe. Milner, who often played as a left-back, was still working hard, but unfortunately his physical strength declined with age. The young Robertson and Arnold are full of energy, but it is a pity that there is still too little game experience and competition test!
The most difficult thing to find in European football at present is the top central defender and the flying wings on both sides. As soon as there are good seedlings, they are often acquired by the big giants. Usually, even wing talents who only occupy a certain skill or body are rare. one sight.

After the team training on Friday, Klopp approached Zhang Mai to discuss the solution of the two wings, because the sixth round of the league on Sunday is next, and he will go to Moscow next Tuesday for the first round of the Champions League group stage. road trip.

The situation was so urgent, Zhang Mai said bluntly to Uncle Zha based on his own memory:

Focus on cultivating Robertson and Arnold. These two have a bright future. The more difficult the game, the more they have to play. Moreno and Klein are in rotation, and the competition in the league is also fierce.

After Klopp went back, he thought about it for a long time, and finally accepted Zhang Mai's opinion, and rested two teenagers in the sixth round of the league on Sunday.

On September 9th, the 24th round of the 2017/18 Premier League season will be a focus match at the King Power Stadium. Liverpool will go away to challenge Leicester City. Zhang Mai will also meet his former teammates.

Leicester City just won Liverpool (second-team lineup) at home in the League Cup in midweek.The Reds have only won one of their last three away games at the King Power Stadium.

双方英超历史交锋22场，利物浦10胜5平7负占据上风；双方历史交锋107场，利物浦44胜24平39负占据上风。利物浦相比联赛杯首发更换9人，仅有米尼奥莱、亨德森继续出场。

Zhang Mai exchanged greetings with a group of old friends from Leicester City during the warm-up, and the big screen on the sidelines has already displayed the starting lists of both sides:

Leicester City: (4-4-2)
1 - Schmeichel;

2-Simpson, 5-Morgan, 15-Simmons, 3-Chilwell;

7-Grey, 25-Endidi, 10-Andy King, 11-Albrighton;
9-Valdy, 20-Okazaki Shinji.

Liverpool: (4-3-3)
22 - Mignolet;

2-Klein, 3-Maguire, 6-Lovren, 18-Moreno;
7-Milner, 14-Henderson, 10-Zhang Mai;

11- Salah, 9- Firmino, 20- Lallana.

Zhang Mai looked at the Leicester City lineup on the opposite side and found that more than half of his former teammates had left. He and Kante left first. Ranieri also left sadly after insisting on it for 9 months. This year he followed Mahrez And "Brother Drinking Water" (£4000m to Chelsea).

However, with Vardy in the front and Schmeichel in the back, the skeleton of Blue Fox City is still there, and there will be a comeback when the situation improves in the future.

It's just that the old captain Morgan who is over 30 years old and his Japanese friend Shinji Okazaki may be in decline.

At the beginning of the first half of the game, although Leicester City's strength has weakened, they still took the lead in attacking at home.

Although Liverpool is a bit slow, the midfielder led by Zhang Mai is still ready to defuse most of the Blue Fox City's offensive.

In the 6th minute, Leicester City missed a chance to score. Shinji Okazaki made a direct pass. Vardy shot from a small angle on the left side of the penalty area and was barely saved by Mignolet. Albrighton then volleyed the goal from the edge of the small penalty area higher.

"Leicester City's frontcourt strength is more than half that of when they won the championship, but with Vardy here, it is still not to be underestimated!"

Klopp, who was watching the game from the sidelines, was taken aback by Leicester City's attack.

After the first 10 minutes of adaptation period, Liverpool players also started to attack.

In the 13th minute, Liverpool also wasted the opportunity. Lallana hit the left post with a strong shot from 25 yards and rebounded. Salah made a supplementary shot from 10 yards and missed the goal.

Salah missed an empty goal, causing Klopp, who was passionate on the sidelines, to sigh again and again.

Immediately afterwards there was a quick counterattack by Leicester City. Albrighton made a cross from the center and Shinji Okazaki missed the header.

Liverpool took the lead in the 18th minute. This time, Zhang Mai made a diagonal pass from the upper left corner of the penalty area, and Salah headed from a small angle from a far point into the near corner.

1-0!Salah made up for it and helped the Red Army open the scoring. Klopp, who was still regretting just now, danced happily on the sidelines.

The game continued. Although Leicester City was at a disadvantage on the field, they still resolutely implemented their quick defense tactics.

In the 20th minute, the Blue Fox City attacked with a long pass from the backcourt. Mignolet attacked and was intercepted by Vardy. Shinji Okazaki shot an empty goal and hit Mignolet and deflected out of the baseline.

In the 23rd minute, Liverpool expanded their results. Zhang Mai received a pass from Firmino and shot directly from a curve ball at 25 yards. The ball drew a beautiful curve and hit the left post into the net.

2-0!Liverpool took a two-goal lead in the away game smoothly.

Leicester City kicked off again in the middle circle. Seeing the unyielding eyes on Vardy's face, Zhang Mai knew that the strong characteristics of Blue Fox City were still there.

In the 39th minute, Vardy was brought down by Henderson at the front of the penalty area. Morgan headed the ball forward in the melee. Replays showed that the penalty was controversial.

Then Zhang Mai passed the ball again, and Firmino shot obliquely from the left rib of the penalty area 12 yards and missed the far corner.

The persistent Leicester City pulled one back in stoppage time in the first half. Albrighton made a free kick from the left. Vardy's header from the front of the small penalty area was saved by Mignolet. bottom line.

Then Leicester City took a corner kick, Mignolet made a mistake, and Shinji Okazaki shoveled an empty goal into the net from close range in the corner kick melee.

1-2!Shinji Okazaki helped Leicester City get back a goal. This is the last 2 times he scored 3 goals against Liverpool.

After the half-time break, the two sides changed places to fight again, and Liverpool, which was more powerful, continued to exert pressure in the second half.

In the 48th minute, Zhang Mai headed the ball and Salah's shot from the left side of the penalty area was confiscated by Schmeichel.

In the 52nd minute, Lovren, who put in an assist, missed the goal with a header in the corner kick melee.

In the 59th minute, Milner also received a wonderful pass from Zhang Mai on the left side of the small penalty area and shot high.

In the 63rd minute, Firmino's long shot went high again.

In the 65th minute, Klopp sent Sturridge to replace Firmino to prepare for the Champions League away game two days later.

In the 68th minute, Liverpool widened the score gap. Henderson counterattacked after stealing the ball from the backcourt. Sturridge made a cross.

3-1!The captain of the Red Army helped the team expand its lead.

Leicester City, which was two goals behind, was not discouraged, and still insisted on a quick counterattack, and finally succeeded in the 73rd minute.

Gray chested the ball 12 yards to the right of the penalty area, then volleyed and was saved by Mignolet, and Vardy headed into the empty goal.

2-3!Vardy made a contribution, and Leicester City continued to chase the score.

In the 79th minute, Leicester City had an excellent chance to equalize. Mignolet made a clearance and kicked empty but knocked Vardy down. Liverpool was awarded a penalty kick.

Unsurprisingly, Leicester City followed up with Vardy taking the penalty kick, and the funny shot from the center was saved by the magical Mignolet.

Zhang Mai was a little funny seeing Valdi's confused and disappointed eyes from the side, well, Doubidi with a strong heart doesn't need to be comforted!
Klopp quickly strengthened his defense and replaced Milner with Matip.

In the 89th minute, Sturridge, who was still shooting in waves, shot a curve ball higher again.

There were 3 minutes of stoppage time. In the 92nd minute, Matip, who had just replaced Milner, shot out of the far corner from the left side of the penalty area.

The game then came to a close, with Liverpool taking three points from the King Power Stadium with a 3-2 win over home side Leicester City.

In the other game of this round, Manchester United defeated Southampton 1-0 in the same away game and continued to rank first. Liverpool still ranked second in the league with a goal difference disadvantage.

Zhang Mai's one shot and one pass in this field brought his league goals to 5, and also 4 assists, temporarily ranking first in the two league tables.

(End of this chapter)