Chapter 342 Missed

Just as everyone expected before the game.

Southampton's away challenge to Liverpool was indeed a battle between dragons and tigers.

Is it intense?

No, it should be described as tragic.

As soon as the two sides appeared, they fought fiercely with bayonets, without any fancy moves or tricks. They just clashed head-on, grinding each other down bit by bit to see who would give up first.

Liverpool, playing at home, fielded all their main players.

The goalkeeper is Reina, and the defense is Jose Enrique, Agger, Skrtel and Glen Johnson.

The midfield is Henderson, Spearing and Gerrard, and the front trident is Downing, Suarez and Kuyt.

Downing and Kuyt are said to be wingers, but in fact they retreated to the midfield, forming a five-midfielder tactic to ensure control of the midfield.

Southampton still adopts the 4-3-3 tactics, but the specific position and tactics have changed.

The goalkeeper is Courtois and Neuer is rested in this game.

The back line consists of David and Raba, Nastasic, Gary Cahill and Clini.

Since the beginning of this season, Southampton has three main central defenders, Javi Martinez, Gary Cahill and Varane, who rotate with each other. But this time Varane was injured, so Javi Martinez was replaced and Nastasic came on.

The Serbian teenager has made many appearances this season and his performances have been very steady and impressive.

Clini has replaced the injured Carvajal in the last few games and has performed well.

The three players in the midfield are Isco, Toni Kroos and Vidal.

The front trident is Neymar, Ibrahimovic and Ravel Morrison.

Since the kidnapping incident last season, the bad boy from England has completely turned over a new leaf, his attitude has improved, his performance has also improved, and his strength has improved rapidly.

At first glance, the two sides seem to be playing 433 against 433, but in fact it is not the case at all.

Liverpool played at home but took a defensive stance, using five players in the midfield to block Southampton's attack.

But the Saints' offense is no pushover.

After attacking for a while at the beginning, seeing that it was not working, Bielsa made adjustments.

Isco moved up to the position and directly suppressed Liverpool's midfielder Spearing.

This player does not have a strong sense of position and is a weak point in Liverpool's midfield.

Once Spearing was pulled away, Neymar decisively attacked Spearing's point.

Ibrahimovic was at the front, firmly suppressing the two central defenders Agger and Skrtel.

Just kidding, in a one-on-one situation, Ibrahimovic can suppress any central defender in the world. It would take two people to jointly defend him to feel more at ease.

This is also where Bielsa is smart. He seized one of Liverpool's weaknesses and played with all his might.

If Spiering defends Isco, he will definitely leave his position and expose his weak spot in front of the penalty area.

Neymar moved inward very much, almost leaving the entire left side empty, which was equivalent to a number 10 attacking midfielder. Once the front of the penalty area was exposed, he would decisively insert himself and become a threat as soon as he received the ball.

But if Spiering doesn't defend, Isco will be the number ten player after getting the ball.

Whether passing or dribbling, Isco is at ease

Yang Huan was in the stands, and seeing Southampton creating threats again and again, he couldn't help but cheer.

'So smart'

Charlene Lahri on the side also couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"Ibrahimovic, Neymar and Isco directly surrounded Spearing. Ravel Morrison was alone on the wing, which gave him more room to move around. He also tied down Liverpool's wing defense and created space in the middle."

When she said this, Charlene Lahri also shook her head and smiled bitterly.

"This is a sad time for Liverpool"

Who says it’s not?

Being suppressed by a Championship team in their own home ground and having no power to fight back, it would be miserable for anyone.

Yang Huan was waiting for the goal with a smile on his face.

In his opinion, scoring a goal was a matter of time in a game where the team had an overwhelming advantage.

But unfortunately, anything can happen on the football field.

Southampton shot at the goal again and again, but Reina seemed to be possessed by Qin Qiong today, and he saved Southampton's shots outside the goal line again and again.

The first half was like this, and the second half was also like this

In the second half, an interesting thing about Southampton was that Toni Kroos began to direct the team more actively. He was often seen raising his hand to ask for the ball, and when he had the ball he kept making gestures to his teammates to control the tempo.

Liverpool's retreating tactics also gave Toni Kroos more room to play in the defensive midfielder position.

In the 60th minute, he made a sudden long shot from behind.

Unfortunately, the ball went slightly outside the goal.

"Your Mr. 60 million is indeed quite good."

Charlene Lahri also feels that after a few months in the English league, Toni Kroos has become more and more mature, more and more like a general, and his defensive progress has also been great.

It’s just that the playing style is still a bit classical, not concise enough for practice.

But changing his playing style cannot be achieved in a short period of time. We need to give him more time and take it slowly.

Yang Huan was a little proud after hearing this, "So what? Is there anyone who would say that we have suffered a great loss?"

"From the perspective of his role, Toni Kroos is indeed crucial to Southampton, but 60 million pounds is still a bit outrageous, unless..." As she spoke, Charlene Lahri stared at Yang Huan with a smile in her beautiful eyes.

"... unless what they say is true, Abramovich paid for you"

"How is that possible?" Yang Huan would never admit it even if he was beaten to death.

"Tell me, is Abramovich so good? I'm not his father, and he's not my son, so how could he pay for me? If they really want to buy it, they should buy it for Chelsea, why would they buy it for me?"

Charlene Lahiri laughed at his intense reaction.

"Okay, okay, stop pretending. Isn't it a waste of your performance to act so aggrieved in front of me?"

Yang Huan was happy now.

In fact, many things cannot be hidden from people.

But no one has evidence for this kind of thing, and if someone occasionally reveals some inside information, how many people will believe it?

Most people just treat it as gossip and laugh it off.

While the two were talking in the stands, something strange happened below the field.

Southampton launched an attack from behind. Isco attracted Spearing and Gerrard, then passed the ball to Neymar through the gap between them. The latter dribbled the ball to the front of the penalty area, dribbled past Glen Johnson, and suddenly shot.

Reina was steady as always, flying to save the ball from going out of bounds, corner kick

"This is Southampton's fifth corner kick of the game, and it is still taken by Toni Kroos"

Toni Kroos, wearing the No. 8 jersey, quickly ran to the corner area, positioned the ball, and slowly backed away.

In the penalty area, several high points of Southampton have already rushed in.

In fact, there aren't many high points.

Ibrahimovic, Gary Cahill and Nastasic, just these three

"Liverpool have had a lot of problems defending set pieces this season, but in this game they defended all four corner kicks and several free kicks well, it seems they have done some targeted training"

Charlene Lahri said during the break between corner kicks.

Yang Huan saw Bielsa and Martin Hunt pointing at the tablet and talking about something below the stands. Then Martin Hunt quickly ran to the sidelines and made some gestures towards Toni Kroos and the players in the penalty area.

"What does Martin's gesture mean?" Charlene Lahri didn't understand either.

Yang Huan curled his lips, "How should I know?"

Is this also a team secret?

I'm afraid no one else knows except the coaching staff and players.

Soon, both sides were ready.

Toni Kroos rushed towards the ball quickly, swung his right foot, and sent a curved ball with a strong spin.

Inside the restricted area, everyone was in chaos.

Liverpool's defenders had to guess where the ball would land while also guarding against Southampton's players, and the situation was chaotic.

Southampton's offensive players were also providing cover.

If you are not careful, you will miss it.

By the time Liverpool players reacted and realized they had missed someone, Ibrahimovic had already jumped high, got ahead of everyone else, and shook his head like a lion.

The ball seemed to hit him on the head, turned an angle, and hit Liverpool's goal.

Reina reacted quickly and flew to save the ball, but in the end he was unable to stop the ball from entering the net.

One to zero

With the referee Jones's whistle that the goal was valid, the whole Anfield stadium was boiling.

All the Saints fans who followed the team to the away game stood up from their seats and celebrated the team's goal that broke the deadlock.

On the field, Ibrahimovic excitedly rushed out of the field and rushed towards Toni Kroos in the corner area.

He slid down on his knees and came in front of Toni Kroos, lifted the young German player's feet and wiped his football boots.

This season, Toni Kroos has assisted his teammates to score goals time and time again with his excellent set pieces.

In addition to set pieces, he also kept passing the ball and providing surgical assists to help the team tear open the opponent's defense.

It's only been half a season, but Toni Kroos has already won the recognition and admiration of the stars in the Southampton team.

Even Ibrahimovic, who has the most arrogant personality, said in a previous interview that Toni Kroos plays a vital role in the team.

There are not many players who can win the recognition of the Swedish center.

"Two center forwards take turns scoring goals. Your Championship team is really extravagant."

Charlene Lahiri was amazed

Drogba scored in the last FA Cup match

But in this League Cup, the goal was scored by Ibrahimovic

Plus Sturridge who is known as England's future center forward.

Who says Southampton's forward line configuration is not luxurious?

Yang Huan smiled with a smug look on his face.

"That's nothing. Just wait. After we are promoted to the Premier League, we will definitely recruit more players. At the very least, we must ensure that there are two high-level stars in every position. That will be exciting."

Charlene Lahiri smiled bitterly. How luxurious is this?

But she knew very well that talking to Yang Huan about thrift and diligence would be like talking to a cow.

This guy is so extravagant in everything he does.

But isn't it precisely because of Southampton's great spirit that many fans like and admire the Saints?

Although Southampton is still in the Championship, in fact, many fans are already looking forward to Southampton's return to the Premier League.

Everyone believes that as long as the Saints return to the Premier League, they will be able to turn the lifeless Premier League standings upside down.

At the very least, it will not be so easy for Professor Wenger to keep his top four position safely.