Chapter 103

April 22

"Good evening, everyone watching TV. This is Sky Sports! I am today's commentator Melville. Welcome to watch the 2007-08 Champions League semi-final. A focus match will be fought at Anfield. The home team is Liverpool and the away team is Chelsea."

"I am the commentator Osmond. Liverpool and Chelsea have met in the Champions League for four consecutive seasons. In the previous three seasons, Chelsea lost to Liverpool."

Melville took over the conversation, "For Chelsea fans, this is a very cruel curse. As long as they meet Liverpool in the Champions League, all their efforts will be wasted. They won the Premier League championship, but they can't touch the Champions League trophy at all."

"Melville, let's talk about some specific matches between the two teams in the past few seasons," Osmond picked up the information at hand, "In the 2004-05 Champions League, Liverpool successfully advanced at home with a goal from Luis Garcia."

"Yes, that's right, but this goal is very controversial. Even now, many media and Chelsea fans still think that Chelsea should not have fallen there that year." Melville talked about his own views. "Compared with the current Chelsea lineup in the 2004-05 season, Chelsea's lineup is like heaven and earth. It is a pity that they fell in the semi-finals at that time."

"No, no, no," Osmond disagreed with Melville's view. "If Liverpool didn't win the game, wouldn't we be unable to see the miracle night in Istanbul and the Italians shed tears of regret?"

"I treat them to pineapple pizza and they cry," Melville chuckled. "Isn't it easy to make them cry?"

Osmond was too lazy to respond. He lowered his head and glanced at the information in his hand and talked about the game situation in the 2005-06 season. "The season before last, Liverpool and Chelsea met in the group stage. The two sides drew in both games and shook hands in peace."

"It is worth noting that last season, in the 2006-07 season, Liverpool and Chelsea met again in the semi-finals, and Liverpool successfully advanced to the finals by winning 4:1 on penalties in the second leg." Melville looked up at the camera and said, "Dear viewers in front of the TV, today's semi-final first leg will officially start at 19:45. Please continue to pay attention to Sky Sports and witness the birth of the winner with us!"

After a short advertisement, the camera turned to the Liverpool and Chelsea players who were warming up on the field. The camera zoomed in again and again, directly aiming at Endrit who was stretching his muscles.

"The camera is on our Ritter, the youngest captain in the history of our national team," Melville couldn't stop smiling, "He is not only a skilled footballer, but also handsome and a good person who never messes around. He is the dream lover of thousands of girls in England."

To be honest, since Endritt came out of nowhere, some playboys in English football have been criticized more frequently. In the past, when people criticized some players for not training and playing football well and only hiring prostitutes or affecting their game status, it was all dry. After criticizing them, as long as they performed well, everyone would forgive them directly.

It’s not possible now. With such a big industry benchmark like Endrit standing there, I can’t say the word “forgiveness” with my eyes closed.

"Just think about it. I suggest you don't really use Ritter as your standard for finding a lover," Osmond said with a straight face as he gave the girls a very sincere suggestion, "Otherwise you may not find a boy you like, because after getting to know him, you will find that they seem to be no match for Ritter in any way."

"How could that be? Boys like girls, but Ritter only has football in his eyes and doesn't want to fall in love at all." Melville showed an extremely confident smile, "I'm different. Not only do I love football, I will also love my future wife very much."

Osmond kicked Melville in the studio, feeling angry that this relative must have a problem with his brain. He was talking about not growing crops during the live broadcast.

"There are rumors that Ritter has great power in the national team and he can even influence who will play in the European Cup."

"I don't know if it's true or not, but even if it does have an impact, I think it's a good thing, because I really believe that the players selected by Coach Capello and Endrit will definitely be the best candidates for the national team."

At 19:30, the commentators began to introduce the players of both teams today.

"Rafael Benítez lined up a 4231 formation, with Reina as goalkeeper, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel and Aurelio as defenders, Mascherano and Alonso as defensive midfielders, Kuyt, Gerrard and Babel as the three midfielders, and Torres as the lone striker."

"Crouch did not appear in the starting lineup. It is reported that Crouch's performance was not very good in the recent training match."

"Gerrard trained with Endrit in the national team last weekend. It is said that the two have a good understanding. I wonder if there will be an own goal in this game, such as Endrit subconsciously passing the ball directly to Gerrard? And Gerrard subconsciously kicking the ball into his own goal?"

"Oh God!" Osmond felt a headache, "No! Absolutely not! There won't be any own goals in this game!"

"Let's look at Chelsea's starting lineup today. Our number one goalkeeper is Ritter, defenders are Essien, Carvalho, John Terry, Ashley, midfielders are Makelele, Ballack and Lampard, and forwards are Cole, Malouda and Drogba."

"There have been some changes in the midfielder's position. Ballack played in the middle of the field. Newcomer Anelka obviously still did not get Mourinho's trust. In this crucial Champions League semi-final, Mourinho gave the heavy responsibility to Malouda."

“Beep, beep…”

With the referee's whistle, the game began. Chelsea, playing away, took the initiative from the start. Drogba dribbled into the penalty area with a single shot.

"Is this ball possible? Is it possible? Oh! Carragher took it directly!"

The game had only been going on for two minutes and Drogba had not been brought down, so Carragher was lucky not to get a yellow card, but Chelsea got a direct free kick opportunity.

Amid the cheers of Chelsea fans who were traveling with the team, the football hit the wall with a bang, and Chelsea failed to take the lead at the start of the game.

After this free kick, Liverpool, who seemed a little out of form at the beginning, quickly found their rhythm. In the 8th minute, Gerrard shot low from the edge of the penalty area. Endrit stared at the football and walked forward and kicked Essien.

After receiving the ball, Essien made an accurate long pass directly to Makelele on the left. Makelele stopped the ball with his chest and dribbled directly from the left to the Liverpool penalty area.

Liverpool midfielder Kuyt rushed directly towards Makelele. When he got close, Makelele made a lob shot and the ball flew towards the right side. Drogba jumped up in the middle and threw the ball directly towards the goal!

"Drogba header!"

"GOALLLL!!! The ball goes in! Chelsea scored the first goal in less than ten minutes away from home, Liverpool is in danger!"

Drogba turned and ran towards Makelele. On the way, he passed by Gerrard but did not notice the very depressed expression on the latter's face.

As someone who had trained with Endrit in the national team, Gerrard told his teammates directly after a training session that Chelsea's counterattack was really fast, and after seeing their teammates break through and shoot, they must keep an eye on the opponent's defenders and not let them kick the ball out.

Gerrard didn't know whether his teammates listened to him or not, but after watching the game between Chelsea and Fenerbahce, their coach Rafael said that they didn't need to make any special adjustments for Chelsea's new counterattack. As long as they defended well as usual, just like Fenerbahce, and the goalkeeper was strong, they could easily block the opponent's shots.

Gerrard also believed what the coach said at the time. After all, if one of Liverpool's opponents came up with a new offensive method, then Liverpool would just train specifically against it. Wouldn't Liverpool need to practice their own tactics? They don't just play against Chelsea. If they were to target every team like this, Gerrard himself would have come to the conclusion that all of their Liverpool players were exhausted to death on the training ground.

Before the start of today's game, Gerrard was not in awe. After all, he had seen Endrit's cooperation with his defensive teammates in the national team, and he himself had received a long pass from the defender in the frontcourt, but he didn't feel how fast it was at the time.

Just after raising his foot to shoot, Gerrard kept a close eye on Endrit's movements, ready to move at any time. After seeing who he was kicking the ball to, he rushed forward to block the ball and shot again!

but! Endrit actually kicked the ball directly towards Essien! By the time Gerrard turned around to defend, the ball had already gone into Liverpool's goal before he could catch up with the opponent.

He deliberately shot low, because during the national team training, for every low shot Endrit would pounce towards the ball and then use his arm to directly hit the ball out. There was a time difference in between, and Gerrard wanted to use this time difference to see if he could quickly intercept the ball and shoot again.

But...it turns out that when Endrit handled the low shot for Chelsea, he just kicked the ball directly? Isn’t he afraid that he will lose aim and let the ball go straight into Chelsea’s goal?

Listening to the referee's whistle to start the game, Gerrard rubbed his face and returned to his position with his teammates. He made up his mind and when he shot again, he would score with a low shot. He just didn't believe that Endrit could kick the football out directly every time.

There was no need for Endrit to make many mistakes. As long as Endrit's foot failed to aim at the ball just once, he could equalize the score for Liverpool!

In the 13th minute, Alonso made a long pass, Kuyt successfully made an offside move and shot directly, but the ball was blocked by Carvalho who returned to defense in time.

Gerrard reviewed the game silently in his mind, thinking that the next time he received the ball and shot, he must first feint to get past the opposing defender. When facing Endritt and shooting directly, he should not shoot directly, but pretend to lob or lob, but finally turn it into a low shot when kicking the ball.

In the 17th minute, Aurelio made a straight pass, but Bebar missed the ball and failed to catch it. Torres received the ball on the left side of the penalty area and shot under the pressure of John Terry, but the ball went directly out of the near corner.

Gerrard silently ran over and reminded, "Next time just shoot low."

Torres didn't understand, but nodded to show that he understood.

In the 21st minute, Chelsea attacked. Arbeloa made a mistake in passing the ball. Lampard intercepted the ball and passed it long into the penalty area. Cole volleyed the ball and sent it directly into Reina's arms.

"This ball is a bit soft."

In the 31st minute, Gerrard made a cross from outside the penalty area. After receiving the ball, Gerrard was about to shoot when he saw Gerrard asking him for the ball. After a second of confusion, Torres passed the ball back to Gerrard, who began to repeat the shooting method he had just imagined countless times in his mind.

He broke through Carvalho's defense, faced Endrit, pretended to shoot, and then quickly retracted his foot and kicked the ball again.

The football flew quickly towards the goal. Under Gerrard's expectant eyes, Endrit flew forward and caught the football directly under his body.

Gerard:? ? ?

Endrit stood up from the grass with the football in his arms and then threw it to Essien.

He turned his head and looked forward, and found that Gerrard, who had just shot, was still standing in front of the goal. Endrit raised his eyebrows and looked inquiringly. Gerrard said nothing and turned back to defend.

Damn it, why is this happening? ! Why doesn't every shot lead to a direct counterattack? You guys are just one goal ahead...

Gerrard took a deep breath and didn't dare to think any further. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got: Chelsea was leading by one goal, so couldn't they play the way they wanted? It is completely impossible to infer how Chelsea will play next based on past experience.

They don't play by the rules at all! It was just a small cooperation training, but it turned out to be so wonderful!

Gerrard didn't know whether he should be happy or not. If he was unhappy, wouldn't it indirectly prove that their national team had a great chance of winning the European Cup this year if Chelsea played like this?

But you say you are happy? Sorry, he can't smile at all now.