Chapter 488: Who gets the upper hand? (Daily transition)

Liverpool has been awful lately.

The team always drops the ball at crucial moments, constantly encountering all sorts of weird things.

Just as Klopp was about to perfect the team's tactical system, the club's painstakingly nurtured Anfield heir, Coutinho, kicked up a fuss demanding a transfer to Barcelona.

A loss may be a blessing in disguise.

After strengthening both attack and defense in the winter window, Liverpool accidentally became a "perfect team".

Their unstoppable winning streak gave fans hope of a revival.

Even Happy Bean players were stunned.

Is this still the same weak‑defense, strong‑attack team that always loses?

The true winner.

In the first decade of the new century, Liverpool earned the nickname "Nemesis of the Blue Army".

On the Champions League stage, the red‑blue clash occurred four times within five years.

Liverpool

Anfield Stadium

The crowd roared, every seat filled.

Li Kang warmed up and headed toward the tunnel.

This northwestern English port city, warmed by the Gulf Stream, never gets very cold.

He walked on.

He looked back at the moon in the night sky.

Why do some clouds cover the moon while others are covered by the moon?

Li Kang inexplicably recalled Maguire mentioning the "Flat Earth Theory" earlier.

Even now, many still believe the earth is flat.

Outside the stadium, fans from both sides were locked in fierce clashes.

Security barriers were broken through.

Fans started throwing punches.

Flaming bottles and cans flew through the air.

Cause of the conflict? None—if you trace the fans' grudges, the timeline would have to stretch far back.

Pre‑match press conference.

Tuchel and Klopp shook hands.

They share a history, from Mainz youth team to Dortmund.

Tuchel always inherits the squad Klopp left behind.

The media jokingly called it: the former eating the latter's leftovers.

A Sky Sports reporter asked first: "Mr. Tuchel, you faced Klopp ten times in the Bundesliga and won only once—can you finally get revenge tonight?"

The venue burst into laughter.

Tuchel also laughed:

"I'll turn the head‑to‑head record around in the Premier League."

Klopp was also asked about match details; he had no reservations, saying: "Our overall strategy won't change—we'll suppress the opponent's key player and break their formation."

"ESPN! ESPN! Good evening, viewers."

"Now broadcasting the 2017‑18 Premier League showdown!"

"Liverpool at home versus Chelsea."

"The long‑awaited red‑blue clash."

"Mars hits Earth!"

"A frank talk between rock‑n‑roll football and the Cthulhu legacy!"

The two team flags on the pitch slowly withdrew.

The stands all around swayed with stirring, loud songs.

Player tunnel.

Players from both sides greeted each other warmly.

Minor grudges among local fans didn't affect the players' feelings.

Many were old acquaintances.

Salah and Rudiger were close friends during their Roma days and also played for Chelsea.

Van Dijk has faced Li Kang several times in just two years.

Plus Karius, an old Bundesliga acquaintance.

Liverpool's goalkeeper is very handsome, and every girlfriend he's dated has had a smoking‑hot figure.

"Li"

Mane stepped forward to say hello, flashing a goofy grin.

This season, fans began teasing him as "pure as ice and jade"—not dirty, but he can't rein in many of his moves on the pitch.

The referee crew led both teams out of the tunnel.

The Kop stand led the home fans in chanting pressure.

Anfield Stadium erupted with a roar like a landslide and tsunami.

"Now let's introduce the starting line‑ups."

"Liverpool lines up in a 4‑3‑3!"

Goalkeeper: Karius.

Defenders: Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson.

Midfielders: Chamberlain, Emre Can, Wijnaldum.

Forwards: Salah, Firmino, Mane.

This match will definitely be an open attacking game.

Nonsense, Liverpool this season often scores three or five goals in a match.

Can Liverpool's high-intensity non-stop pressing contain Li Kang?

Chelsea's formation is 4-4-2!

Goalkeeper: Buffon.

Defenders: Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill, Rudiger.

Midfielders: Li Kang, Kante, Bakayoko, Fabregas.

Forwards: Hazard, Diego Costa.

Looking at the starting lineup, this match does not have the extreme midfield strangulation like Atletico Madrid; the theme is quick transitions, with the ball flying end to end.

Given Fabregas's current form, he will be pressured by Liverpool and unable to keep possession.

In an open attacking game, no brainpower needed; I'm more optimistic about Chelsea.

Li Kang took up a good position.

A mechanical, cold electronic synthesized sound rang in his ears.

Ding, mission triggered: Capture Anfield.

Mission brief: No positional warfare, no tempo control, use a more frenzied attack to crush this Liverpool side that's near its peak!

Mission reward: Liverpool Legend Dark Gold Treasure Chest.

The guessing segment ends.

Accompanied by the referee's whistle.

The match officially begins.

Chelsea in possession.

Diego Costa kicked off, passing back to David Luiz.

His distribution was steady; facing Liverpool's pressing network, he launched a long ground pass, precisely finding Li Kang running in the left half.

Mane quickly applied pressure.

Li Kang performed a step-over feint, easily sliding the ball across to Kante.

Chelsea's overall formation quickly pushed forward.

Conte first developed Kante's ball-carrying ability, and Tuchel continued this remodeling plan in training.

If one day Li Kang gets injured...

Kante is Chelsea's most reliable midfielder.

The passing speed is very fast.

Having advanced into the 40-meter area, Diego Costa knocked the ball back to Li Kang.

Li Kang's ball control is too steady.

Why not pass now?

Nice, he took on Wijnaldum.

Firmino is coming.

Firmino's nickname is 'Shield Forward', a mix of a false nine and a dropping striker.

How exaggerated is it? He often drops back to the defensive line to initiate attacks.

Li Kang did not continue with a dribbling move to shake off.

The attacking tempo cannot be slowed down.

Pa.

Pa.

He and the advancing Hazard executed a neat one-two.

Emre Can timely positioned himself; in the physical clash, he was bounced back staggering by a huge force.

Even in dangerous moments, Liverpool still managed to get into their defensive positions.

Van Dijk directed the defensive line to shorten the gaps.

Li Kang didn't engage in a tussle, passing the ball to Fabregas.

He couldn't help but think: 'Liverpool's front and back lines, combined with Atletico Madrid's midfield hardness'

On the sidelines.

Klopp wore a smile.

When he is nervous, his face always bears a smile.

For example, in a lost match, if spectators in front of the TV cover the score and only look at the red army coach's expression, they would still think Liverpool won.

Headache.

The 'five-second rule' doesn't work at all for Li Kang now.

Within five seconds, exert full effort to press.

If the press fails, fall back to maintain position and solidify the defensive line.

But Li Kang's ability to shake off defenders facing forward or backward and his forward burst completely disrupted Liverpool's midfield.

On the other side.

Dino exclaimed: "After the horse race battle, Li's advance route became more reasonable."

Tuchel rested his chin, couldn't help but sigh: "Originally we were worried our formation would be scattered by Liverpool, but Li scattered the opposing side first."