Chapter 159: Cunning

In fact, Liverpool, who were eager to attack, were largely unable to control the ball after Gerrard's long-range shot hit the plane.

Liverpool, who were playing at home, tried to take away the non-main Atletico Madrid with a fierce attack as soon as they came up, but their attack only lasted two minutes.

When Atletico Madrid started to get possession, they didn't hit the ball directly to the edge of the Liverpool penalty area like Liverpool did, rushing to create chances to shoot.

For Atletico Madrid, they are certainly qualified to do so.

After Oblak picked up the corner kick with one hand, he pressed down with both hands and motioned to his teammates to slow down.

But Liverpool's players didn't retreat either, pressing several Atletico Madrid defenders up front, preventing them from getting the ball and trying to force Oblak to serve straight away.

Sure enough, after seeing that the short play was not good, Oblak waved his hand, and then the overall formation of Atletico Madrid began to press forward.

In this case, it was useless for Liverpool to leave too many people in front of the Atletico Madrid penalty area, so Liverpool began to retreat.

But as soon as Liverpool retreated, centre-back Alderweireld, who had been given the chance to play in the game, quickly dropped back to receive the ball.

Oblak tossed the ball to Alderweireld, who took the ball and turned and distributed it to Argentine player Insua, who was a guest right-back.

After Insua got the ball, the Liverpool players were already pressing, and Insua was not in a hurry to pass the ball forward, he passed the ball back to Alderweireld.

Atletico Madrid's successive inverted feet at the back made Liverpool's pressing useless.

Although Atletico Madrid are known for their tough and direct style in La Liga, at the end of the day, they are still a Spanish team that is born with the DNA of Spanish football.

Control the ball at the feet, cooperate with short passes, and advance layer by layer.

This is a very skillful way of playing, and Atletico Madrid is very skillful. It's a good testament to their mentality, and they are the one without pressure in this game. If there are still some players under pressure, it is that these substitute players, who usually have fewer opportunities to play, still very much want to prove their ability to the manager through such a game.

Unlike the ease with which Atletico Madrid's players are relaxed, Liverpool's players are getting more and more anxious.

The game has been going on for almost ten minutes, and Liverpool, who are eager to attack and urgently need a goal difference, only had one shot on goal in the first ten minutes of the game!

Atletico Madrid is not in a hurry to step forward after getting the ball, but constantly passing in the midfield and backfield, basically as long as Liverpool loses the ball, they want to regain the ball and continue to attack, it will take at least a minute or two.

Liverpool, who were menacing in the opening stage, are now like a punch on cotton, and they don't feel like they have any focus.

Unlike Spanish football, which pursues control of short passes, the English are much more straightforward. They are most passionate about fast and direct attack, and even more than 20 years ago, players would only pass forward after receiving the ball, and any return pass would be booed by their own fans.

The upright Englishman is not used to the "cowardly" move of returning the back to the foot.

Men just have to be tough and positive!

This is the creed of the British boy.

However, with the rapid development of continental football, English football, which is becoming more and more unsuitable for the trend of the times, is also forced to learn from continental football. Under the impact of these ideas, British boys have also softened a lot.

…………

'Liverpool's attack is in trouble, they can't even get the ball down. Facing a second-tier Atletico Madrid, Liverpool couldn't come up with any good solutions. Even Liverpool, who urgently needed three points in this game, was slightly behind Atletico Madrid in terms of possession. Andy Gray was the live commentator and sat in the man's box at Anfield.

Carragher sat on his right and said with a frown: "Liverpool have to come up with something, this situation is Atletico Madrid's favorite rhythm right now, they can easily control the ball and pass the ball in central midfield. Liverpool could try to make it simpler and more direct to disrupt the opponent's rhythm. ”

"But in this way, Liverpool will have to be careful with their backline, Atletico Madrid looks careless now, but their two strikers are Mandzukic and Li Qingshan! The attack power of these two people, I believe Rogers will be very clear. "On the other side, of course, it was Carragher's nemesis, Gary Neville.

Rodgers on the sidelines was very dissatisfied with the situation on the field, and his original idea was that Liverpool used the opening stage to attack first, trying to beat Atletico Madrid with an unstable foothold.

Liverpool could then slow down a bit, dominate the ball in midfield and look for holes in Atletico Madrid's defence.

In Rodgers' view, Lucas, Henderson, Gerrard, plus the two forwards on the left and right, Sterling and Lallana, five midfielders who are not unknowns, have to have an advantage against several old and weak midfielders who are not often on the field at Atletico Madrid.

But the situation on the field told him that he was really a little too optimistic.

Liverpool not to mention controlling the midfield, they even have a slight advantage in the midfield.

Although Atletico Madrid has only four players in midfield, which looks like one less midfielder than Liverpool's 4231, Mandzukic and Li Qingshan took turns to withdraw from the midfield to participate in the reception, which made the two sides even in numbers.

Portuguese veteran Thiago wore the captain's armband for this game, and although he has not played many games this season, the veteran has been very consistent.

If the pace of the game is fast, Thiago may not be able to keep up with his age. But now the pace of the game is in control of Atletico Madrid's side, Liverpool wants to be fast, but it can't be fast.

In such a slow rhythm, the experience of the veteran can play a good role.

But Atletico Madrid hasn't always been so slow.

In the thirteenth minute, Atletico Madrid suddenly picked up the tempo.

Saul took the ball in the middle and turned around and suddenly kicked a straight pass forward, and Mandzukic, who retreated to receive the ball, knocked the ball to Li Qingshan in the middle.

Li Qingshan met the ball with a long shot, but unfortunately the angle was too positive and was blocked by Liverpool goalkeeper Mignolet.

With such a sudden change in pace, Atletico Madrid played very skillfully, which fully showed their maturity. Even the bench line-up is very mature in their tactical execution and organization.

Mignolet grabbed the ball and looked up.

Atletico Madrid's pressure in the front court is not tight, and Li Qingshan, who is at the front, symbolically stands between the two central defenders, and does not mean to come up directly to press.

Mignolet then stood up and threw the ball to Gerrard, who had withdrawn back to the back line to receive the ball.

As the core of Liverpool's midfield, Gerrard has a very large range of activities, and basically Gerrard is involved in receiving the ball in the front, middle and back lines.

After Gerrard got the ball, Li Qingshan slowly moved over and blocked his direct forward pass.

Seeing Li Qingshan blocking in front, Gerrard did not risk passing the ball through, but turned his head to look left and right at him, and then planned to cross to central defender Skrtel.

Just as he was about to pass, his left foot suddenly slipped, but his right foot had already pushed the ball out..........

Gerrard's horizontal pass to Skrtel made a mistake because of a slippage on the soles of his feet, and he sent the ball directly to Li Qingshan, who was next to him.

Of course, Li Qingshan will not let go of this great opportunity, Liverpool's two central defenders are in a state of pulling away to meet on both sides at the moment, and the door to Liverpool's middle is open.

"Gerrard....... ........ slippery !!!!!!!"

Accompanied by Li Qingshan's acceleration of dribbling to the middle, it was Andy Gray's unbelievable voice.....