Chapter 490: Never Walk Alone (Daily Transition)

The quality can match the red‑blue showdown of the Champions League semi‑final.

If this weren't a Premier League match, people might recall some interesting effect.

1978: the British Prince married, Liverpool won the Champions League, and the Pope died.

2005: the British Prince married, Liverpool won the Champions League, and the Pope died.

This year, the British Prince got married.

Time passed.

Liverpool was very passive and felt awful.

Chelsea, which controlled the match, repeatedly threatened the opponent's goal.

The 29th minute of the match.

Li Kang weaved through the red defensive line.

The ball suddenly darted out of the crowd.

"A reverse diagonal pass."

"After Li Kang's pass, a pause, then a forward run; he even considered Rüdiger's reaction time."

Rüdiger stopped the ball on the left side of the penalty area.

He was stunned for a moment.

He suddenly swept the ball toward the goal!

Thud!

In the end, the force was just too great.

The trajectory wasn't well controlled either.

The ball flew out of bounds.

In Liverpool's penalty area, it was a mess of bodies.

At the moment Li Kang and Karius collided, they both simultaneously opened their arms in a friendly gesture to cushion the impact.

He had heard that the German goalkeeper had once suffered a concussion in youth team play, leaving some aftereffects.

It wasn't a big deal.

The two big men timely stopped their inertia, and under everyone's gaze, gently interlocked hands in a hug.

The blue team's technical director, Čech, who had accompanied the squad, couldn't help but applaud this touching scene.

The tank cap on his head had disappeared; does the tank cap in his heart still remain?

Anfield Stadium, thunderous applause.

Karius beamed, gratefully patting Li Kang's buttocks: a classic Bundesliga friendly gesture.

The attack failed.

Liverpool's throw‑in.

Chelsea players quickly returned to their positions.

Rüdiger's mind wandered: if his cross were a beat faster, what would happen with the early‑moving Li Hui and Karius?

As he thought, his whole body involuntarily shuddered.

"Liverpool had gained a scarce opportunity for independent attack."

"The camera cut to Klopp on the sideline, his gesticulations very passionate."

"The match entered the 30th minute; the upcoming time point is Liverpool's peak scoring period!"

"Come see this advance — finally we have changed formation!"

Klopp's distribution of player stamina at different time points leans toward a fixed interval.

The fitness trainers and nutrition experts had transferred over from Bayern Munich.

The coaching staff also had a member nicknamed 'the Eye' — Klavitz.

These people told him:

We must consider fighting on multiple fronts.

The rock‑style of play cannot be maintained mindlessly for long.

For example: Liverpool is a game character without a blue bar, its skills are powerful, but they must be cast using the health bar. When facing monsters that cannot be easily defeated, the health bar must be allocated wisely.

Liverpool finally changed formation.

In the final 15‑minute stage of the first half, attempting to equalize with independent attack, they held nothing back.

Aimulei Zhan sent out a long ground pass.

Firmino suddenly retreated to the right flank of midfield to receive the ball.

The speed was very fast.

This left Rüdiger and Bakayoko unable to keep up.

Even keeping up wouldn't work; once they pushed deep, Chelsea's right flank would be left with a huge gap.

Liverpool's centre forward immediately sent a long ground pass along the outer right wing.

After receiving the ball, Salah charged toward the penalty area.

"Firmino's movement on the pitch is very fragmented and scattered."

"A very clever retreat, barely managing to bypass Chelsea's double‑layer press!"

"People call him the most position‑flexible centre forward!"

"Watch closely!"

"His current position is now parallel with the defensive line."

A false‑nine plus withdrawn hybrid forward.

No fixed activity area.

Especially during the advancing, attacking establishment stage, it will make the opposing defensive players very uncomfortable.

Red torrent, instantly sweeping Chelsea's half.

Hybrid striker Firmino, his movement runs parallel to our own high defensive line.

A unique attacking method.

Mané switched to a striker role, drifting between Chelsea's two centre-backs.

Full-back Robertson filled in the little black egg's hole, becoming a winger.

The three miserable midfielders provided support at the attacking outer second point.

Firmino was waiting.

Waiting for Salah to draw the defence, waiting for Chelsea to adjust their defensive line, then he would quietly make a forward run into space, becoming a 'deep-lying finisher'.

This move works every time against strong teams.

Besides Manchester United, other European powerhouses have all suffered losses.

But it's useless against lower-table teams, because their defensive line adjustment speed isn't that fast—everywhere is a gap, everywhere is not a gap; after Firmino lurks and then makes a forward run, he's easily stumbled into by the lower-table team's defenders, getting stuck in position.

Likewise.

Firmino, such a talented striker, with his unorthodox style, cannot threaten Manchester United's defensive backline.

"Salah drew most of the defensive power to the right flank."

"Chelsea fans, don't panic!"

"The Blue Army's defense is very solid!"

Salah did not force a breakthrough.

In the tight space, he knocked the ball out to Arnold on the wing.

Firmino's sturdy body shuddered.

This is it.

Transform!

Deep-lying finisher!

Anfield Stadium, all eyes focused on the ball's position.

A stream of red flame igniting from the high defensive line began to surge.

Carrying a surging killing intent, he ran toward the vacant space at the edge of the penalty box.

He didn't run far.

Firmino suddenly realized something was off.

The dreamed-of finishing space—gone!

Blocked by Li Kang!

The flames went out.

What's going on?

Arnold's ability to read the defense is not lacking at all.

After he noticed Li Kang's movement, Chamberlain had a very comfortable receiving environment.

With a 'pop' sound.

He passed the ball over.

Firmino could not appear in the space, causing the attack to end.

But Chamberlain's peripheral position could barely create a weak-side transfer before the finish.

Settling for second best.

Not too bad.

Unfortunately, Chamberlain hadn't settled the ball when a small black shadow darted past.

Kanté!

15-18 era, God of Interception Efficiency in Europe!

"Beautiful!"

"Chelsea's counterattack!"

Live broadcast room.

The bullet screen was full of curses.

【What the hell is Firmino playing? Does he deserve the name of the Red Arrow Trio?】

【Liverpool is again playing nonsense!】

【The attacking chain is too short! Every time it's that short!】

【I've figured it out: Chelsea's defensive main idea is to cut off the connection between the Red Arrow Trio and the two full-backs; in the initial stage of positional play, Tuchel's 4-4-2 formation will release Li Kang to protect the space.】

【Tuchel is awesome! World-renowned coach!】

【Firmino's timing for the forward run is perfect; Li Kang's timing for filling the hole is even more perfect.】

Chelsea's final counterattack failed to materialize.

At his peak, Van Dijk is no longer the small full-back who was once bullied by Hazard.

Retreating in sync, sealing the inner line, driving out the outer line.

The ball was cleared out of touch.

Chelsea possession.

Sideline.

Dino looked bewildered: "Boss, Liverpool's attack this time."

Tuchel wanted to explain but didn't know how to put it into words: "Li and Kanté, great."

The other side.

Klopp helplessly pulled at his hair.

Can't play like this.

Playing like this will lose.

He stood on the sidelines roaring loudly, his voice again drowned out by the roaring "You'll Never Walk Alone" from the four stands, but his gestures still conveyed his intention to the disciples.

Match time passed minute by minute.

Chelsea steadily controlled possession.

The connection between Fabregas and Li Kang helped the team construct ever-changing Cruyff triangles in the attacking phase.

The two La Masia number 4s have different approaches to solving problems.

One always looks for the most reasonable receiving position and delivers the most reasonable passing lane.

One, with the formation's forward and backward shifts, always stays in the truly central position, the real pivot.

Liverpool went crazy.

They, in the rousing "You'll Never Walk Alone" at Anfield, returned to the frenzied pressing style.

Which form of Majin Buu is the most troublesome?

The weak little Buu!

Because it's the purest!

"Football paradox."

"Frenetic pressing and counterattack with a high defensive line should not coexist."

"Counterattack needs space; a low defensive line is its carrier."

"A high defensive line is the carrier of proactive offense, naturally strangling the space for counterattack."

"But under this paradox of a ball-less system, a top midfielder, while giving it all in frantic running, can also rival a superstar!"

"A mortal body can stand shoulder to shoulder with gods!"

"This is the greatness of Liverpool's system!"

Anfield Stadium, cheers rose and fell.

The intense scene left the audience almost out of breath.

Beep! Beep-beep~

The head referee blew the whistle signaling the end of the first half!

The score remained unchanged.

The panting Liverpool players were still unsatisfied.

Fabregas was sore all over, he lifted his jersey and shorts toward the head referee, pointing out the bruises on his body.

Diego Costa was reluctant to forget Liverpool's centre-back, and even when leaving the pitch he was still pulling Van Dijk to chat.

Li Kang brushed off the wood shavings in his hair.

From God's perspective, the red line frenetically contracted.

After the clashes with Atlético Madrid and Liverpool, he suddenly realized that tactical restraint does not always become the main theme of the match.

Atlético Madrid's cholo-taka would pull the situation into a 50-50 balance.

Liverpool's primitive frenzied pressing style is a fight to the death.

The tactical revolution in the five major leagues sees rivers converge and flow endlessly.

There exist teams in the football world that are 'tactically unkillable'.

Fortunately, such teams are not many.

Chelsea's locker room.

Tuchel did not replay the details of the first 30 minutes of the first half.

He spent most of his explanation time on the last 15 minutes.

"Liverpool players' pressing on the high defensive line was exerted to the fullest at this moment."

"If Li Kang continues to make forward runs and join the attacking chain, the team will lose its pivot; once possession is lost, our formation will be torn apart by the opponent!"

"Wait!"

"Patience!"

"We are leading; Liverpool players are not robots! When their stamina wanes, they will surely make mistakes!"

He did not finish his words.

Other Chelsea players, under pressure, will also make mistakes.

Dino, however, was full of confidence; he took out his yellowed little notebook and reopened the second page.

That was the record from when they had just arrived at Chelsea, when Tuchel had the players do 'small-ball' training; after half a season of trial, the team's passing and control stability showed visible leaps of progress.

After all, these players themselves are European top-tier.

Li Kang placed the small tactics board on the stool, moving the little magnetic flags with one hand while gesturing toward Kanté with the other.

Little Black Egg scratched the back of his head sheepishly: "Li Kang, I don't know if I can seize the moment like you do, but I will try."

At that time, Kanté was still too young to know that God had bestowed upon him an alternative attacking talent.

Liverpool's locker room.

The door was tightly shut.

Even advanced soundproofing equipment could not completely block Klopp's passionate speech.

Next Monday, this speech script will be sent to various well-known groups as internal reference material.

The fifteen-minute break is about to end.

The locker room door was opened.

Liverpool players appeared one by one, full of vigor, in the cleaner's sight.

"Good evening, dear viewers, welcome back."

"What you are watching live now is the epic showdown of the 2017-18 Premier League season!"

"The second half of the Liverpool vs. Chelsea match!"

"Neither side has made any substitution adjustments for the time being."

The commentator inadvertently called the 'Red-Blue Derby' an 'epic showdown'.

Beep!

Accompanied by a whistle from the head referee.

The second half begins.

Liverpool possession.

Firmino passes back to the defensive line.

Li Kang and Hazard swap positions again; Chelsea's double-layer press quickly strangles Liverpool's backline.

After the ball is passed several times among the red jerseys.

It's lost.

Fàbregas controls the loose ball.

Liverpool, with high morale, paid no attention to this detail.

Role switch.

Continue the high press.

Under Emre Can's interference, Fàbregas struggles to pass the ball backward.

"It's chaotic!"

"Crazy Liverpool will surely disrupt Chelsea's formation."

"The more chaotic, the better."

"In a disordered state, Liverpool will only benefit more."

The Red Arrow Trio's most comfortable output environment is a disordered scramble.

However, many fans jokingly call Liverpool's tendency toward this strategy 'blind chicken kicking'!

The battle continues to spread.

Firmino's movement becomes increasingly fragmented, sometimes dropping to midfield, sometimes to the defensive line.

Oxlade-Chamberlain became a wing-back, while Arnold slipped into the holding midfield role.

Hazard was forced into a holding midfield role, while Kanté filled the gaps and pushed forward to the front line.

Fàbregas returned to the false-nine position he had at Barcelona and in the 2012 European Championship.

It's chaotic.

It's completely chaotic.

The coaching staff on the sidelines hardly had time to think about how to break the deadlock.

On the pitch, only three positions remained untouched by the scramble: Buffon, Karius, and Li Kang.

The intense match made viewers feel that time was flying by.

In the live broadcast room, there was a chorus of wails and howls.

{Where are the big chances we were promised? It's clearly an end-to-end game, so why aren't we scoring? }

{Whenever I see someone break into space and feel a scoring chance, the result is either being dispossessed or being stopped! }

{Li Mingdeng's game control is too steady; he didn't let the team descend into total chaos, otherwise this match would definitely have produced seven goals. }

{He has no choice but to control the game, as no other midfielder can assist the attack, and Fàbregas is tightly marked. }

{We're done; it's almost the 80th minute. }

{I beg the 22 gentlemen on the pitch, please score a few more goals! }

{Liverpool and Chelsea are now just standing and trading blows, seeing who can't hold up, who will fall first, who will collapse. }

82nd minute of the match.

As both sides' stamina wanes, formations gradually return to normal.

The forwards return to the front line.

The defenders return to the defensive line.

Li Kang, in the forty-meter zone, receives a pass from a teammate.

Salah and Oxlade-Chamberlain charge forward at the same time.

Chelsea's core pulls the ball, turns, shakes off defenders, and all nearby support links are cut off.

From God's perspective.

Azpilicueta pushes forward energetically.

A forward attack involving a large-scale shift inevitably carries risk.

In a normal formation, the risk of losing possession is lower, and the chance to launch a complete attacking move is greater.

Smack!

The ball lifts off the ground.

It arcs toward the right flank.

An outside-spin long pass!

Beautiful!

Annuode fell back to help defend the flank, while the midfield‑shaped Fei'erminuo quickly dropped back to plug the gap.

Unfortunately.

Exhausted from the struggle, the two's movements slowed by a beat.

Attacking players can afford to be slow; the price is merely a delay in the attacking rhythm.

Defending players cannot afford to be slow; the cost is too dire.

A fantastic ground long pass!

They tore through Liwupu's flank!

Diegesita had no chance to shoot!

Quick reaction!

Set up the shot and pass back!

Kante!

Little giant!

Got it!

Thud!

Kante sneaked out and fired an angry shot on goal.

The ball skimmed the turf, blasting toward Liwupu's goal.

Kaliwusi's view was blocked by the dense crowd.

Exactly.

The 1.6‑meter Kante was shielded by a bunch of 1.8‑ and 1.9‑meter giants!

The left side of the goal net was lifted again.

0:2!!!

Kante stared blankly, then ran back excitedly.

He fiercely embraced Li Kang.

Diegesita, who provided the assist, muttered complaints, yet a heartfelt smile spread across his face.

Beautiful!

The ball went in!

Kante's shot into the empty space is very similar to Fei'erminuo's!

Tuhe'er continued Kongdi's remodeling of Kante from his previous tenure.

Li Kang was dragged into the thick of the frantic Liwupu side; Keluopu never dreamed that the one to finish it would actually be Kante!

When Kante celebrated facing the away stands, continually pointing at Li Kang, what did it mean? We'll have to wait for post‑match interviews to find out!

With only eight minutes left in regular time, Hengdesen shouted encouragement from the sidelines.

We believe that, even though we are now in dire straits, Liwupu will not give up!

You will never walk alone.