Chapter 376: Leading at Anfield
BBC commentator Gary Lineker was providing context for the match: "Liverpool has been defeated by Manchester United in both league meetings over the last two seasons, but they knocked United out of the Europa League last season. The last time United achieved five consecutive league wins over Liverpool was in 2008, and the last time they won three consecutive away league games was in 2005. In 48 Premier League meetings, Liverpool has 13 wins, 8 draws, and 27 losses, with 8 wins, 4 draws, and 12 losses at home. Historically, in 196 encounters, Liverpool has 65 wins, 52 draws, and 79 losses. Klopp has faced Mourinho five times, winning three, drawing one, and losing one. Sturridge and Emre Can have been rotated into the lineup for this match. United has made two changes, with Ashley Young and Fellaini making their first league starts of the season."
With Manchester United's upcoming schedule being so tight and demanding, Mourinho has already started rotating the starting lineup to cope with the intense schedule.
For this match, Mourinho set up a 4-2-3-1 formation with De Gea in goal, Valencia, Van Dijk, Smalling, and Blind in defense from right to left, Kante and Fellaini as the double pivot, Bruno in the middle, Ashley Young on the right, Rashford on the left, and Ibrahimovic as the lone striker.
When Ashley Young and Rashford pushed forward, United's formation resembled Mourinho's preferred 4-3-3.
For Liverpool, Klopp also went with a 4-2-3-1 formation: Karius in goal; Clyne, Matip, Lovren, and the veteran Milner in defense; Henderson and Emre Can as the holding midfielders; Coutinho, Firmino, and Mane as the attacking midfielders; and Sturridge as the lone striker. When Firmino and Mane pushed forward, Liverpool could also switch to a 4-3-3.
Bruno examined Liverpool's lineup, particularly their forwards and defenders. Most of the key players Klopp would rely on to dominate the Premier League and Europe in the future were already in the team. However, two core players were missing: central defender Van Dijk, whom United had snatched from Southampton, and the "Egyptian King" Salah. Bruno pondered whether to suggest to the club's CEO, Giaretta, that they should also try to sign Salah.
Given his relationship with Salah, Bruno believed that if Manchester United showed interest, Salah wouldn't refuse. He wondered how Klopp would fare without his defensive linchpin, Van Dijk, and without Salah, the heart of the "Red Arrows."
Bruno's long-range shot earned United a corner, but his teammates couldn't capitalize on the opportunity. After Bruno's shot was taken, the ball was caught securely by Karius.
Liverpool then attempted a counter-attack. Klopp had instructed them not to sit back and defend but to engage in a head-to-head battle with United, emphasizing that only by attacking could they avoid being dominated. However, their attack ended unsatisfactorily with Sturridge's shot going over the bar.
United regrouped and launched a new attack.
Bruno signaled to De Gea to pass him the ball. The Spanish goalkeeper obliged. Bruno received the ball, turned, and began to drive forward. He played a one-two with Ashley Young, who dropped back to support. Bruno passed the ball to Young and continued his run forward. Young, without turning, used the outside of his foot to pass the ball back to Bruno.
Bruno received the ball and was immediately confronted by Liverpool's Jordan Henderson.
Henderson, who came through Sunderland's youth system, had joined Liverpool in 2011 and became captain in 2015 after Gerrard left for LA Galaxy. Having played for Liverpool for several seasons, Henderson was not only their captain but also a key defensive midfielder known for his strong defensive skills and excellent passing and ball control, making him an all-around midfielder.
Seeing Henderson charging towards him, Bruno feinted a pass to the right. When Henderson slightly shifted his weight in that direction, Bruno quickly dragged the ball back with his left foot, leaving Henderson wrong-footed. Bruno then pushed the ball forward and sped past him.
After getting past Henderson, Bruno didn't pass but surged forward into Liverpool's half-space.
Seeing this, Liverpool's other defensive midfielder Emre Can rushed to intercept, thinking Bruno was aiming to break through that area.
This was exactly the opportunity Bruno had been waiting for. From the moment he bypassed Henderson, he had been calculating the development of the play. He noticed that after completing the one-two with him, Ashley Young had moved to the right, while Rashford had shifted towards the center. Bruno saw that Liverpool's defense looked thin after he bypassed Henderson and realized that well-timed runs and passes could easily find gaps.
When Can approached, Bruno passed the ball to Ashley Young on the right flank. Young, instead of making a run down the wing, cut inside. With Liverpool's left-back Milner and center-back Lovren focusing on him, Young suddenly played a brilliant through ball on the outside.
The ball rolled past Milner's outside, into the box. Milner and Lovren turned to see Rashford, who had drifted from the center, receive the ball.
A perfectly executed pass and run!
"This is Manchester United's chance!" shouted BBC commentator Lineker.
Former United defender and guest commentator Rio Ferdinand added, "Look at that pass… beautiful!"
Another guest, Liverpool legend Carragher, remained silent.
Rashford received the ball with his back to goal. Liverpool's other center-back Matip rushed to block him, thinking this would nullify the threat. But just as Matip started his run, Rashford turned and swept the ball with his right foot, making a low cross.
Neither Liverpool's goalkeeper Karius nor Matip could react. They watched as the ball rolled across the face of the goal to Ibrahimovic.
Ibrahimovic simply needed to tap the ball in with his instep, sending it into the net.
"GOOOOOOOAL! Ibrahimovic! Ibrahimovic scores his sixth goal in seven league games this season! The Ligue 1 top scorer from last season has continued his fine form at United, scoring consistently!"
"What a goal! Ibrahimovic scores again! United lead 1-0 at Anfield!"
And the match had only been underway for three minutes.
The Manchester United fans in the stands erupted with joy. Their team hadn't kept them waiting long, tearing through the Liverpool defense with their trademark attacking play.
The Liverpool fans were stunned. How could their team be trailing just three minutes into the match?
Had it been Manchester City scoring this early, they might have been able to accept it. But since it was their most hated rivals, Manchester United, the feeling was much worse.
The broadcast director cut to the VIP box, where the world saw a familiar face: Sir Alex Ferguson. The almost 75-year-old had come to Anfield to watch the match, sitting alongside another United legend, Sir Bobby Charlton.
As the United players celebrated wildly at Anfield, the Liverpool players stood in silence.
After a moment, as the match restarted, Liverpool began their retaliation.
"Scumbag squad! Scumbag squad! You're a bunch of dirty scumbags!"
"Ibrahimovic, you Scandinavian pirate, go back home!"
Since Ferguson's retirement, United had struggled, and their fierce rivals Liverpool hadn't fared much better.
In fact, since Benitez left Liverpool, the Reds had mostly stayed away from Champions League football. It was only under Rodgers in the 2013-2014 season that Liverpool came close to winning the league, only for Gerrard's infamous slip against Chelsea to cost them the title and plunge Liverpool back into mediocrity.
In the 2014-2015 season, Liverpool finished sixth, missing out on a Champions League spot and only qualifying for the Europa League. The 2015-2016 season was even worse; after eight games, Liverpool was tenth, leading to Rodgers' dismissal and Klopp's mid-season appointment. Despite reaching the finals of the League Cup and Europa League, Liverpool lost both, and their eighth-place finish in the league meant no European football the following season. This season, Liverpool was confined to domestic competitions only.
Once the dominant force in English football and five-time European champions, Liverpool had fallen on hard times. The fans' frustration and high expectations clashed with the harsh reality, leaving them with no other outlet but to vent their anger vocally.
(End of Chapter)
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