After Firmino set his stance, teammates gathered around to watch.
Leo Lin rolled his wrists as well. He noticed the bulging muscles on Firmino's arms—proud proof of hard training, a man's badge of honor.
Leo Lin placed his arm on the table and clasped Firmino's strong, calloused hand.
At Klopp's signal, both of them exerted force at the same time. Muscle crashed against muscle, and the players around them couldn't help but shout in excitement.
Firmino clenched his teeth and pushed hard. He had no intention of losing to a youngster.
But after three seconds, he was shocked to realize that Leo Lin hadn't budged at all—there wasn't even the slightest change in his expression.
Then Leo Lin suddenly exhaled and exploded with force.
Bang!
Firmino's arm was slammed straight down.
Klopp grabbed his head in disbelief. He wasn't the only one—most of the players present reacted the same way.
Leo Lin had used a bit too much strength, smashing Firmino's hand into the table. He quickly lifted Firmino's right hand, rubbed his palm, and flashed a completely innocent smile.
In that moment, he seemed to turn back into a pure, straightforward young man.
But…
Firmino looked at Mané. Mané looked at Salah. At that moment, the Reds' front three were left with nothing but shock. Wijnaldum even felt a quiet sense of relief deep down.
Firmino knew exactly how strong he was. Playing as a forward in the Premier League placed huge demands on strength and physical duels.
That was why he practically lived in the gym—to make sure he had the power to survive in the Premier League.
Yet in that arm-wrestling contest, it was obvious he was no match for Leo Lin.
As a senior figure in the squad, losing to a youngster like this was hard to swallow. Just as Firmino was about to stand up awkwardly, Leo Lin spoke again.
"Thanks for holding back, senior. It's obvious you didn't use your full strength."
Firmino froze, then looked at Leo Lin. The latter was smiling at him, and the players around them burst out laughing.
The awkward atmosphere vanished instantly. Firmino patted Leo Lin, his fondness for the young man growing even stronger.
Wijnaldum felt relieved because he had always sensed that during the morning training session, Leo Lin hadn't gone all out against him in physical battles.
The way the first-team players looked at Leo Lin now clearly carried a great deal more respect.
The third stage was a physical health assessment, and Klopp felt fortunate.
All first-team players showed excellent health indicators, with no immediate injury risks. They would be able to face the new Premier League season in top condition—except for midfield mainstay Henderson, who would miss out due to injury.
This first training session, combined with physical testing, laid a solid foundation for Leo Lin to remain with the first team.
August 14.
The first round of the Premier League was about to begin.
News of Leo Lin joining Liverpool's youth system had already circulated among fans abroad, with many doubting whether he would truly get an opportunity at Liverpool.
The Premier League was one of the most watched leagues in the world—physically intense, highly competitive, and packed with strong teams.
And when it came to commercial value, the Premier League no longer needed any qualifiers. Among the five major leagues, it was firmly the undisputed leader.
Some overseas fans—particularly in China—were keeping an eye on this young player brought into Liverpool's first team, curious to see whether he could actually get his chance, especially since his father was Charles Lin, once a well-known figure among Chinese fans.
August 14, 4:00 p.m. European time.
The Premier League season opener.
The ESPN broadcast studio.
Jon Champion and Jim Beglin were already in position.
"Dear fans, it's great to be back with you. The annual football feast is here once again, and the Premier League opener officially kicks off today."
"I'm Jon Champion, joined here by Jim Beglin."
The livestream audience exploded. As soon as the broadcast went live, viewers surpassed one hundred thousand, with no precise number visible. The popularity was off the charts.
Comments flooded the screen as fans buzzed with excitement.
"The Premier League is finally back! I can watch my beloved Liverpool again!"
"Here for Leo Lin. Heard he's Charles Lin's son—does he actually have a chance to get minutes?"
"Minutes? Let's see if he even makes the squad. A lot of young players never get that far."
"He's bounced around Europe for years—Everton, Leicester City, and now Liverpool. That alone says a lot."
"I heard even people close to his father don't think he'll get a real opportunity."
"That's just how football is. Talent alone isn't always enough—connections and timing matter just as much."
The discussion raged on, most of it centered on Leo Lin.
Jon Champion continued the commentary.
"Both teams have submitted their starting lineups!"
"First, let's take a look at Watford's starters for today!"
"Goalkeeper: Gomes."
"Defenders: Holebas, Kaboul, Britos, Janmaat."
"Midfielders: Chalobah, Cleverley, Doucouré."
"Forwards: Pereira, Okaka, Nordin."
In the livestream.
"They do have a few talented midfielders—Chalobah is said to be on the radar of several big clubs."
"Watford aren't weak. In the season opener, they'll definitely want points early to build momentum for survival."
"This really hits Liverpool where it hurts. Liverpool's midfield is already a weak spot, and Watford's midfield is genuinely strong."
"Fans, Leo Lin has made Liverpool's first-team squad and will be waiting on the bench."
Jon Champion then moved on to Liverpool's starting lineup, his voice noticeably upbeat.
"For Liverpool, Klopp has gone with a 4-3-3 formation."
"Goalkeeper: Mignolet!"
"Defenders: Moreno, Lovren, Matip,Arnold!"
"Midfielders: Wijnaldum, Henderson, Emre Can!"
"Forwards: Mané, Firmino, Salah!"
Jim Beglin added his thoughts.
"It has to be said—if the midfield had a bit more physical edge, Liverpool's lineup would be very complete."
"Henderson has returned early from injury, showing impressive recovery, but starting him still carries some risk."
Both teams entered the tunnel. Leo Lin, wearing the substitute kit, walked out first and took his seat on the bench.
Some Liverpool fans waved to Milner, who was also on the bench, but very few acknowledged Leo Lin.
Leo Lin didn't mind. Compared to the established stars of the first team, he was still a complete unknown.
Moments later, the match kicked off.
"Watford get us underway!"
"Looks like they're trying something off the training ground!"
"Back to Cleverley, then into the box—decisive!"
"A precise long pass finds Doucouré!"
"Danger!"