Football giants

Chapter 341
Exactly as everyone expected before the game.

Southampton's away game against Liverpool was really a battle between dragons and tigers.

Is it intense?

No, it should be described as tragic!

As soon as the two sides showed up, it was a bloody bayonet fight. There was no fancy, no opportunism.

Liverpool, who are playing at home, are the main players.

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

The midfielder is Henderson, Spilling and Gerrard, and the front trident is Downing, Suarez and Dirk.

Downing and Dirk said they were wingers, but they actually retreated into the midfield, forming a five-middle tactic to ensure the control of the midfield.

Southampton still adopts four-three-three tactics, but the specific position and tactics have changed.

The goalkeeper is Courtois, and Neuer has a rest for this game.

The defense is David Alaba, Nastasic, Gary Cahill and Clini.

Since the beginning of this season, Southampton has had three main central defenders, Harvey Martinez, Gary Cahill and Varane in rotation, but this time Varane is injured, and Harvey Martinez rotates and Nastasic is on.

The Serbian teenager has played many times this season, and his performance is very stable and powerful.

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

Three midfielders, Isco, Toni Kroos and Vidal.

The front trident is Neymar, Ibrahimovic and Lavelle Morrison.

Since the kidnapping incident last season, England's bad boy has completely changed his mind, his attitude has corrected, his performance has also improved, and his strength has improved rapidly.

At first glance, the two sides looked like four-three-three against four-three-three, but in fact it was not the case at all.

Liverpool played at home, but took a defensive position. The midfielder used five players to contain Southampton's offense.

But the Saints' offense is not vegetarian.

After attacking for a while at the beginning, seeing that it didn't work, Bielsa made adjustments.

Isco's position went up and directly suppressed Liverpool's midfielder Spearing.

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

Once Spilling was pulled away, Neymar decisively hit Spilling's point.

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

Just kidding, if it is one-on-one, Ibrahimovic can suppress any central defender in the world, and it takes two people to defend to be more at ease.

This is also where Bielsa is smart, grabbing one of Liverpool's weaknesses and playing desperately.

If Spilling defends against Isco, he will definitely leave his position and expose the weakness in front of the penalty area.

Neymar retracted very hard, almost leaving the entire left side free, which is equivalent to a No. [-] midfielder. Once the front of the penalty area is exposed, he will decisively insert it, and he is a threat as soon as he catches the ball.

But if Spilling doesn't follow the defense, after Isco holds the ball, he will be the No. [-] player.

Whether it is passing the ball or dribbling in, Isco can handle it with ease!

Yang Huan was in the stands, seeing Southampton making threats again and again, he couldn't help applauding.

"smart!"

Charlene Lahiri on the side couldn't help but admire.

"Ibrahimovic, Neymar and Isco directly encircled Spilling. Ravel Morrison was alone on the wing, gaining more room for movement, and also restraining Liverpool's wing defense, creating space for the center."

When talking about this, Charlene Lahiri also shook her head and smiled wryly.

"Liverpool's move is pathetic!"

Who said no?
In his own home court, he was overwhelmed by a British Championship team, and he had no power to fight back. It would be sad to change anyone.

Yang Huan was smiling and waiting for the goal.

In his opinion, in a game that has an overwhelming advantage, it should be a matter of time before a goal is scored.

However, anything can happen on the football field.

Southampton shot again and again, but Reina seemed to be possessed by Qin Qiong today, throwing Southampton's shots beyond the goal line again and again.

This was the case in the first half, and it will be the same in the second half!
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 for the ball, and kept gesturing to his teammates when he got the ball to control the rhythm.

Liverpool's retraction tactics also gave Toni Kroos more space to play in the midfielder position.

At No. 60 minutes, he still had a sudden long shot from behind.

It's a pity that he missed the goal slightly.

"Your Mr. 6000 million is indeed quite good!"

Charlene Lahiri also felt that after a few months in the English league, Toni Kroos has become more mature and more general-like, and his defense has improved a lot.

It's just that the style of play is still a little bit classical, not concise enough.

But this change of style of play cannot be done in a short while, and he needs to be given more time to take his time.

Yang Huan was a little complacent after hearing this, "How is it? Does anyone still say that we have suffered a big loss?"

"In terms of function, Toni Kroos is indeed crucial to Southampton, but 6000 million pounds is still a bit outrageous, unless..." Charlene Lahiri stared at Yang Huan with a pair of wonderful eyes smiling.

"...Unless what they said is true, Abramovich paid for it for you!"

"How is it possible?" Yang Huan couldn't admit it even if he was beaten to death, right?

"Tell me, is Abramovich so good? I'm not his father, and he's not my son. How can he help me pay for it? If you really want to buy it, it's for them Chelsea. How can you buy it for me?"

Seeing his reaction so intensely, Charlene Lahiri laughed.

"Okay, okay, don't pretend, pretending to be so wronged in front of me, isn't it a waste of your performance?"

Yang Huan is also happy now.

In fact, many things cannot be hidden from people.

But no one has evidence for this kind of thing. Occasionally someone reveals the inside story or something. How many people will believe it?

Most of them are just like gossip news, just laughing.

While the two were talking in the stands, a sudden change occurred below the stadium.

Southampton stepped in after one attack. After Isco attracted Spilling and Gerrard, he passed the ball through the gap between the two to Neymar. The latter dribbled the ball inside to the front of the penalty area.

Reina, as steady as ever, flew to save the ball to the bottom line, a corner kick!

"This is already Southampton's fifth corner kick in this game, and it is still taken by Toni Kroos!"

Toni Kroos, wearing the No. [-] jersey, quickly ran to the corner area, and after setting up the ball, he slowly backed away.

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

In fact, there are really not many highs.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gary Cahill and Nastasic, just these three!
"Liverpool's set-piece defense this season is not a small problem, but this game has defended four corner kicks and a few free kicks well. It seems that they have done targeted training!"

Charlene Lahiri said while taking advantage of the corner kick.

Yang Huan saw under the stands, Bielsa and Martin Hunter pointing to the tablet and talking about something, and then Martin Hunter quickly ran to the sidelines, making certain gestures towards Toni Kroos and the players in the penalty area.

"What does Martin's gesture mean?" Charlene Lahiri couldn't figure it out either.

Yang Huan pouted, "How do I know?"

This is considered a team secret, right?
Except for the coaching staff and players, I am afraid no one else knows.

Soon, both sides are ready.

I saw Toni Kroos rushing towards the ball quickly, swung his right foot, and sent out a curved ball with a strong spin.

Everyone in the restricted area was in a mess.

Liverpool's defensive players have to guess where the ball will fall, and they have to guard against Southampton players, and the scene is chaotic.

Southampton's attacking players were also running cover.

If one is not careful, the person will be missed!

By the time the Liverpool players reacted and realized that they had missed someone, Ibrahimovic had already leaped high, ahead of everyone else, and was just a lion shaking his head.

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

Reina reacted quickly and flew to save, but in the end he couldn't stop the ball from entering the net!
One to zero!

With referee Jones's effective whistle for a goal, the entire Anfield stadium was boiling!
All 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 court, Zlatan Ibrahimovic rushed out of the court excitedly and rushed towards Toni Kroos in the corner.

It was a slippery kneeling, and he came in front of Toni Kroos, lifted the German teenager's feet, and wiped his football boots.

This season, Toni Kroos has assisted his teammates to score goals time and time again by virtue of his excellent set-pieces.

And besides the set ball, he also kept passing the ball and using scalpel-like 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 Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has the most proud personality, said in an interview before that Toni Kroos' role in the team is crucial!
There are really not many players who can win the affirmation of the Swedish center!
"The two center forwards took turns to score goals. Your Championship team is really extravagant!"

Charlene Lahiri was amazed!

In the last FA Cup game, Drogba scored!

But this time in the League Cup, it was Zlatan Ibrahimovic who scored the goal!
Plus Sturridge, who is known as England's future center forward!
Who says Southampton's striker configuration is not extravagant?

Yang Huan smiled complacently.

"What is this? Just wait. After we are promoted to the Premier League, we will definitely sign up again. At the very least, we must ensure that there are two high-level stars in every position, and that will be enjoyable!"

Charlene Lahiri smiled wryly, how extravagant is this?
But she knew very well that if she talked about thrift with Yang Huan, she was playing the piano against the cow.

This guy is such a luxury in everything he does.

But the reason why many fans like the Saints and pursue the Saints is not precisely because of Southampton's boldness?
Don't look at Southampton is still in the English Championship now, but in fact, many, many fans have begun to look forward to Southampton's return to the Premier League.

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

At the very least, when Professor Wenger wants to keep his top four safely, I'm afraid it will not be so easy!

(End of this chapter)