In the first 30 minutes of the game, although the score was still 0:0, the pace of the game was very fast and both sides played very hard.

Everton almost controlled the initiative throughout the game. In the first 30 minutes, Everton made 19 successful crosses and 11 shots, including 6 extremely threatening shots on target.

Southampton, on the other hand, almost just retreated into their own half and defended with all their might. They only had three decent defensive counterattacks and only one shot on target.

Comparing from the data, Everton is definitely crushing the team.

This is also in line with the predictions of bookmakers before the game.

As the game progressed, the physical strength of both sides began to decline.

Especially Everton, who had been attacking non-stop, their attack speed slowed down significantly.

Southampton's physical fitness has also declined, and the defensive line's sense of confrontation has also dropped a level.

In the 35th minute of the game, Everton's left-back Leighton Baines made a series of wall passes with Arteta who was running in and out of position, and successfully broke through the double-team of Southampton's right-wing forward Schneiderlin and Richardson, as well as Lambert who came to support.

Leighton Baines broke through the encirclement at a very fast speed, and immediately made a reverse triangle cross after going down the bottom! The movement and interweaving of this ball were quite beautiful, and the cross was also exciting enough!

However, No. 37 "internal version of Rooney" Jose Baxter ran a little too far, and when he stopped suddenly, turned around and forced a hook ball, his body was no longer in the best condition for shooting.

Baxter fell to the ground and barely shot the ball, which hit the goal post and flew out of the end line.

Everton Toffees fans covered their heads in unison and wailed in unison.

However, the happiness of the Toffees soon came.

Southampton goalkeeper Davis kicked the ball out of the goal. When Lallana stopped the ball near the center circle, Fellaini pushed him with his elbow from behind.

Lallana lost his balance and failed to stop the high pass.

Fellaini immediately took the lead and headed the ball to Arteta who was not far ahead.

Arteta didn't stop the ball and passed it directly into Southampton's penalty area!

Southampton's two central defenders, Jaidi and Fonte, were a little relaxed at this time. When they saw the ball flying in, they hurriedly started to chase and defend.

Internal version: Rooney Baxter received Arteta's pass at the edge of the penalty area and volleyed the ball directly! Davis jumped up and flew to save the ball! However, he was still half a beat late! The ball flew over Davis and whizzed into the far corner!

The ball went in! In the 36th minute of the first half, Everton, who played at home, finally knocked on Southampton's goal after knocking on the door more than a dozen times!

The entire Goodison Park was boiling! Everton fans cheered and jumped excitedly, waving the blue team logo flags in their hands vigorously!

The score on the big screen was immediately changed to Everton 1: Southampton!

Southampton fans and Liverpool fans all shook their heads helplessly.

I have to say that Everton's goal was really wonderful.

Fellaini’s role as a pillar in the midfield is very strong, Arteta’s threading is also very effective, and Baxter, the internal version of Rooney Jr., has a nose for goal and shooting skills that are truly at the level of a British star.

On the home team's bench, head coach Moyes folded his arms across his chest, leaned back in his chair, chewed gum, and looked relaxed.

In fact, the score of 1:0 at this point in the first half did not satisfy Moyes. In his heart, the score in the first half should have been at least 3:0. He ignored Gu Ran's superb role on the defensive end.

If it weren't for Gu Ran's defense, Arteta would not have been limited to only being able to perform at 70% of his level.

However, no matter what, Everton is leading by one goal after all.

Given that Southampton was defending with all their might and rarely counterattacking, Everton still had the chance to expand the score in the first half.

If Southampton could have widened the gap to 3 goals earlier, they would have been out of luck.

Therefore, Moyes did not adjust the tactics and continued to instruct the players to attack and press.

On the other side, in the visiting team's technical area, head coach Adkins frowned, pursed his lips and said nothing.

Southampton's performance in the first 35 minutes was still very good, and the intensity of the confrontation was no weaker than that of the Premier League powerhouses. Although judging from the data, Southampton was crushed in all aspects, only fans who understand the coach can understand that the real situation in the first 35 minutes was actually fifty-fifty.

Everton attacked very well and smoothly, but Southampton defended very well and firmly.

Otherwise, the score in the first 35 minutes would not be a 0:0 draw.

If the situation continues like this, Southampton will definitely be able to launch several powerful counterattacks after 70 minutes of the second half.

But now…because of a mistake made by the midfield, which led to Everton’s quick attack, Southampton lost the ball.

This is not just a change in the score, but also a change in mentality.

Why is the first ball so important?

Can the mentality of a virgin having sex once be the same as that of a young woman having sex once?

Especially for weak teams, losing the ball too early will really trigger a series of chain reactions, and even the originally established tactics will have to be hastily adjusted.

Southampton is now under tremendous pressure.

If we only consider the strength of the two teams, it is normal and reasonable for Southampton to lose two goals. After all, strength is strength, and it has nothing to do with determination.

If someone is a millionaire and you are determined to become a millionaire, can you really become a millionaire just by being determined? No, determination alone is not enough for this kind of thing.

Southampton is not as strong as Everton, and now they have lost a goal. Everyone's mentality will be damaged, and it will be easy for them to fall into a vicious circle in morale.

Just as the players from both sides were trying to engage in physical confrontation, passing and intercepting, Chamberlain roared and pushed "Little Quick" Leon Osman, who was entangled with him, to the ground.

The referee blew the whistle and gave Chamberlain a yellow card.

Chamberlain looked depressed and tried to complain to the referee that it was Osman who harassed him first.

Chamberlain also pointed to his crotch, accusing Osman of grabbing his vital parts.

The referee ignored Chamberlain's appeal.

Chamberlain said to Gu Ran aggrievedly: "Gu, believe me, I was really caught!"

Gu Ran turned his head away, not wanting to talk to Chamberlain.

The game resumes.

Arteta made a long diagonal pass to the quick and agile Leon Osman on the left.

Osman was very fast, and Chamberlain, who was responsible for marking him, was also very fast! Seeing that Chamberlain was about to hit Osman, Gu Ran yelled from behind: "Chamberlain, don't foul! Let him go to me!"

Chamberlain was shocked! He was really a little bit overwhelmed just now, and wanted to retaliate against Leon Osman by means of a collision.

But if you really do this, you will most likely get a second yellow card within 1 minute, two yellow cards will turn into one red card, and you will be sent off the field.

I have to say that Arteta is really a tactical master on the field!

Arteta had been passing the ball to Southampton's right side before, and after Chamberlain received the yellow card, Arteta deliberately passed the ball to Chamberlain to create confrontation for him.

Leon Osman is not very confrontational, but his explosiveness, speed and ball control skills are definitely top-notch in the Premier League.

Chamberlain's normal defense is definitely not enough to stop Osman, so when Osman plays tricks in front of Chamberlain, Chamberlain can easily get carried away and commit a foul.

These are all Arteta's details!

Fortunately, Gu Ran noticed this detail and reminded Chamberlain to be more cautious and not to commit fouls.

Chamberlain really listens to Gu Ran.

Gu Ran is Chamberlain's big daddy. Chamberlain's assists and goal statistics all depend on Gu Ran's help.

If you don't listen to your dad, you won't have any chances to score goals or make assists in the future.

So, Chamberlain calmed down instantly, stopped moving his hands and feet, and just used his body to block the opponent's position.

Leon Osman was stunned for a moment, then deliberately made a fake bicycle kick back and forth in front of Chamberlain.

Chamberlain smiled contemptuously but did not kick.

Osman then accelerated and prepared to cut inside.

But at this time, Gu Ran had already rushed up at the speed of violent aesthetics.

Osman had just dribbled the ball towards his ribs when Gu Ran rushed in and intercepted the ball with one foot! The Liverpool and Southampton fans at the scene were instantly excited!

This steal may seem ordinary, but in fact it was predicted with great accuracy and was brilliant!

After stealing the ball, Gu Ran made a powerful pass to the unmanned area in front of Chamberlain! Osman quickly stretched out his legs to intercept...

His legs were too short, and he was just one step away from reaching it.

The football rolled quickly.

Chamberlain quickly started chasing the ball.

Fellaini rushed forward like a wild bull - at the beginning of the game, Chamberlain was knocked out of the sideline by Fellaini in this way.

But this time it's different!

After Gu Ran passed the ball, he directly assisted.

Gu Ran's running position did not mean to pull behind Fellaini to receive the ball, but to run directly towards the route that Fellaini was rushing towards!

Gu Ran wants to confront Fellaini head-on!

Fellaini saw Gu Ran's intention of the pick-and-roll, and he did not choose to change his line to avoid it, but continued to use all his strength to directly hit Gu Ran! Fellaini is 194cm tall and weighs 84kg!

With this kind of all-out collision, even if no bones were broken, he would probably have to rest.

The Everton team all knew that Gu Ran was the core of the Southampton team. At the beginning of the game, the core Gu Ran had been participating in the defense in his own backcourt, so it was difficult for the Everton team to do anything against the core Gu Ran. Now, Gu Ran has come out, so Fellaini will naturally have to treat Gu Ran well!

Bang! The two of them collided heavily! Fellaini, who took the initiative to collide, felt like he had hit a mountain. He was instantly bounced out and rolled on the grass for several rounds!

Looking at Gu Ran again, he seemed to be fine. He just staggered a little, and then continued to cut into the top of the penalty area! Gu Ran, with his seemingly frail body, ate Fellaini alive!

…

(End of this chapter)