champion light

Chapter 1170

Facing the fact that reporters only care about records, Benitez did not evade this time, and he answered this question head-on.

"Yes, I know that if we win this game, we can match Arsenal's record. But I will say that this game is not the last game before the finish line. Because our goal is to set a new record, not to match the old record."

Benitez's answer was beyond the expectations of many people, including that George Allen. He originally thought that Benitez would avoid this question in order to decompress his players, but in fact this decompression method has no effect.

Avoiding problems will only make people pay more attention, so what should be nervous is still nervous.

But George Allen did not expect that Benitez not only did not evade, but instead gave such an answer, he directly exposed their ambitions to everyone.

By answering the reporter like this, he was telling everyone—how could we fall before the finish line because we were about to succeed?
George Allen frowned, he didn't understand where Benitez's confidence came from.

A head coach, saying this before the game will only put more pressure on the players, if it is not to fight against reporters, it is meaningless to say so.But Benítez is not the type to get angry with the media...

Why does he say that?
Until the end of the pre-match press conference, George Allen didn't think of a reason.

※※※

That night, the TV stations were reporting the pre-match press conference, and Benitez's confident speech became the focus of everyone's discussion.

Prior to this, Rong Guang had always said that Manchester City would surpass Arsenal's record, and no one other than him had made a similar statement.

The club officials have never acknowledged this matter.

From the beginning to the end, it was the result of a war of words between Rongguang and the "North London Horn".

So it is easy to be understood as a glorious personal act.

But after Benitez made his statement, the situation was different.

This is not what Rong Guang said in a fit of anger with others. It has become the real goal of the club.

Commentators have the same doubts as George Allen - where does Benitez's confidence come from?

Does he look down on the Liverpool he once coached so much?

Although in the first round of the season, Manchester City did beat Liverpool 3-0 at home.But now Liverpool has undergone radical changes from before.

In the winter transfer window, after letting go of the Spanish golden boy Torres who wanted to leave, they introduced the hot high center forward Andy Carroll from Newcastle, and also introduced Uruguayan striker Suarez from Ajax.

The striker combination of one high and one fast has greatly increased Liverpool's offensive firepower.

The reason why Liverpool were able to beat Manchester United 3-0 at home was inseparable from Suarez's outstanding performance, in addition to the hat-trick of Kevin Dirk.

It was Suarez who juggled Manchester United's entire defense with an acrobatic heel dribble against Manchester United and set up Dirk for the goal.

So if Manchester City still looks at the current Liverpool with old eyes, I am afraid it will suffer...

※※※

On the second day of the game, the Anfield stadium was full of seats. Liverpool fans sang "You will never walk alone" in the stands. Some fans said that their relationship with Arsenal was not as close as friends when interviewed by TV before the game, so Liverpool will not fight to keep Arsenal's record.

But Liverpool will still win this game because Liverpool themselves need the three points.

"...It can only be said that Arsenal were lucky that Manchester City met us at this time!" Liverpool fans said confidently pointing at the camera lens.

As if Arsenal should thank Liverpool...

After the warm-up, the players from both sides returned to their respective locker rooms.During the warm-up, the Manchester City players have already fully felt the enthusiasm of the Liverpool fans. In addition to singing, Liverpool fans will also express their attitude to the Manchester City players in other ways.

A banner on the Anfield stadium is very representative.

The banner read: "Liverpool is not a stepping stone to records!"

It means that if Manchester City wants to set a record by stepping on Liverpool's corpse, it is absolutely impossible!

In the locker room, Benitez looked at his players, their expressions were relatively relaxed, and they seemed not intimidated by the atmosphere at Anfield.

Benitez knows why the players behave the way they do.

Because there is glory behind them!

"I've said all I need to say. You all know how to play. But please remember that this game is not a historical moment, because we are only tied with Arsenal now. The next game is our chance to create our own moment!"

Benitez did not make a long speech before the game, using extremely inflammatory language to mobilize the players' fighting spirit.

He doesn't need to.

In another dressing room, Liverpool legend Dalglish is mobilizing his players.

"I don't think any of you want to be a footnote to someone else's record, right? When people mention Manchester City's record in the future, they will say that they beat Liverpool... Are you willing to do this? Be nailed to the pillar of shame for the rest of your life!"

"Of course not!" A player shouted.

"Then beat them!" Dalglish waved to the door of the locker room.

※※※

When the game started, Manchester City quickly felt that the Liverpool players were fighting fiercely.

It can be seen that Liverpool's full-back Aurelio applied for a yellow card for himself in the first 3 minutes of the game.

When the game referee Horsey showed Aurelio a yellow card, there was a burst of boos over Anfield.

The boos were sent to the referee by Liverpool fans, who thought the referee's penalty was too harsh and did not take care of the home team.It stands to reason that during a home game, the referee will more or less lean towards the home team when making a penalty.

But Horsey showed a yellow card in the opening 3 minutes!

These Liverpool fans obviously didn't consider that Aurelio's foul just now was a flying shovel when they booed the referee.

This is a very typical dangerous action, and according to the referee manual, it must be strictly stopped.A yellow card is the best warning. If it is just a verbal warning, it will set the tone for the game-Aurelio will not get a yellow card for a flying tackle of this level. It is just a verbal warning. So what else do other Liverpool players have to be afraid of?I'm afraid that the final match will turn into a gang fight.

So Horsey is still very experienced. He stabilized the situation with a yellow card in the opening 3 minutes.This may seem harsh, but in the early stages of the game, it must be corrected, otherwise it will go to the other extreme.

He is very clear about how many people pay attention to this game as the focus of this round of the league. He also knows the stories behind this game, so he knows that Liverpool and Manchester City will definitely kill you in this game.

He must control the situation of the game and not let the game get out of control.

Aurelio's yellow card drew protests from Liverpool players, who also thought the referee was too harsh.

The referee Horsey waved away the Liverpool players who came up to protest. In the end, there was only Liverpool captain Gerrard communicating with the referee. He put forward the opinion that the penalty was too harsh.

Referee Halsey wrote down the foul call in his notebook while answering Gerrard's question: "I know what the game is about, Steph. I know how to control the game."

Very confident and tough, Gerrard couldn't do it anymore.

Had to shake his head back away.

Manchester City will take this free kick about 37 meters from the goal.

Fortunately, Aurelio is a full-back and David Silva is a winger, so the place of the foul was on the wing, and it was not aimed at the goal, nor was it a threat to the goal.

Sneijder came up to take the free kick, and it looked like he was about to kick an indirect free kick.

Although Sneijder also has a very good free kick ability to score directly, but in the Manchester City team, threatening free kicks are basically handed over to Rong Guang to take the penalty.Sneijder's free kicks are generally indirect free kicks.

Manchester City's tall, header players all ran into Liverpool's penalty area, ready to fight for the top.

Rong Guang is also among them. Although his height is not outstanding, his header ability is outstanding.

Liverpool is also very aware of this, so beside him, the experienced and seasoned Liverpool central defender Carragher followed him, raising his hand slightly, ready to pull Rongguang's jersey at any time.

※※※

The referee blew his whistle, and Sneijder kicked the football out after a run-up. The football drew an arc in the air and went straight to the goal, apparently aiming for the back point!

As he kicked the ball, chaos erupted in Liverpool's box.

Manchester City's players are rushing towards the goal, interspersed with running positions, while Liverpool's goal is trying not to be lost by their respective goals.

Carragher immediately grabbed Rongguang's jersey and ran with Rongguang at the same time.

But he missed it.

Even though he was right next to Rongguang before Sneijder kicked off, it can be said that he was defending closely, but he still didn't catch Rongguang's jersey!
The moment Sneijder touched the ball, Rong Guang ejected like a fighter plane on an aircraft carrier!

In an instant, it was out of the reach of Carragher's arm...

Carragher, who was unprepared for this, naturally couldn't hold back Rong Guang.

It was impossible for him to even run forward with Rong Guang, he could only watch Rong Guang jump up.

At the same time, the football proposed by Sneijder flew towards it with a strong rotation, and the football that drew an arc in the air happened to appear on the route of the glorious flight.

One person, one ball is about to collide!
"ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG——!!"

Amidst John Mortensen's long hiss, Rong Guang jumped high, the highest jump in front of the entire Liverpool goal, and everyone else could only look up to him at this moment.

Rong Guang jumped so high that the football that was supposed to hit the back hit him on the forehead when it hit the front!

With the posture of Mount Tai pressing down on the top, the lion shakes his head!

The football slashed down towards the goal!
Goalkeeper Reina had been defending the back all the time before, who would have thought that the sudden Rong Guang would come out from the front!
This was really beyond his expectation.

Immediately afterwards, he thought that Rong Guang would push the football to the upper corner of the balls, but he didn't expect the football to fly downwards.

He could no longer make a save.

The football hit the ground in front of him, rebounded and rushed up, flew into the goal, and didn't stop until it was caught by the net above the goal...

(End of this chapter)