Chapter 102 Get off the horse

When the two sides met in the tunnel of the players, the eyes of the Liverpool players seemed to reveal a fierce light.

Manchester United's players are not to be trifled with, and they are also glaring at Liverpool's players.

In the players' tunnel, the players on both sides seemed to be on the bar.

Umpire Atkinson was taken aback by the hostile atmosphere between the two sides, and he hurriedly called the captains of both sides to his side.

"It's just a league, keep your emotions under control!"

Atkinson warned.

Li Qingshan nodded, in his opinion, Manchester United is the party that has been provoked, and it is natural to respond, otherwise the other party will think that Manchester United is afraid of Liverpool.

However, Li Qingshan also understands the other party's emotions, a team that has scored eight goals by them before, this attitude is just a distant bark of a negative dog.

He held out his hand and shook hands with the referee. He then returned to his own team.

He didn't communicate with Henderson in any way. Although Li Qingshan is not from Manchester, he knows how deep the grievances and grievances between these two teams and two cities are!

Therefore, even if he and Henderson have no personal grudges, in such an occasion, the two sides must at least express a hostile appearance.

This has nothing to do with the character of Li Qingshan and Henderson, it is purely the position of the two. As the captain of each team, he is playing for both teams.

The two teams lined up into the stadium and the United fans cheered as the stadium looked like a boiling hot pot.

"January 16, 2017! Manchester United and Liverpool!! The one hundred and ninety-seventh meeting in the history of these two of England's most successful teams!! Now both teams are in!! ”

In front of the TV, the narrator's voice came out, and the TV screen shifted to the pitch.

The players from both sides entered the stadium and the TV broadcast took the opportunity to give a close-up of those important players, starting with Li Qingshan and then Henderson on the Liverpool side. This is the captain of both teams.

This was followed by close-ups of the players in the respective positions of the two sides, and the television broadcast silently described the confrontation between the two teams in the language of the camera.

Duan Xuan sat on the commentary seat and looked down.

The commentary seats are located at the top of the top stand, just below the top row of boxes. It's quite far from the stadium. When Duan Xuan looked at the field, he could only see the players wearing Manchester United's red players and Liverpool's away white jerseys moving around the pitch like small dots, and they couldn't see the players' numbers at all.

However, he saw Li Qingshan at a glance.

"Audience friends!! The game is about to start and now the players from both sides are in their respective positions!! Before the game, the captains of both teams have to perform a ceremony to pick sides. Manchester United captain Li Qingshan, and Reds Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson stood in front of referee Atkinson! ”

"The side-picking ceremony is over, and Liverpool get the right to kick off!!"

When everyone was in their positions, Old Trafford quieted down a bit.

Referee Atkinson glanced left and right at the positions of the players on both sides, and then he stared at the timer on his wrist!

"Beep!!!!!!!"

A long whistle can be heard clearly inside Old Trafford!!

"A whistle blows!! The competition has officially begun!! Cctv!! Cctv!! Audience friends!! Good evening everyone!! Welcome to the 21st round of the 16-17 English Premier League, Manchester United at Old Trafford to host Liverpool!! ”

In Duan Xuan's commentary, Sturridge passed the ball out, Coutinho kicked it back, and the football fell at Henderson's feet!

Almost as soon as the football was out of the center circle, the two forwards Li Qingshan and Di Maria rushed out.

Manchester United's defense also needs to start from the forward, and pressing in the front court is essential!

Generally speaking, modern football now attaches great importance to the pressing of the midfield, limiting the opponent's ability to play the ball in the midfield, on the one hand, it can relieve the pressure on the back line and delay the opponent's offensive rhythm, on the other hand, if the ball is successfully broken in the front court, you can immediately launch a counterattack, which will be more threatening and more lethal!

However, Henderson looked ready for it, he stepped on the ball at his feet, and before Li Qingshan was about to pounce, Henderson launched a long pass with a big foot!!

The ball flew over the midfield, over the heads of the midfielders on both sides, and towards the weak point of Manchester United's defense on the right side!!

"Henderson's long pass!! Strike!!!! ”

Duan Xuan couldn't help but sigh in admiration, and hit behind him with a beautiful diagonal long pass!!

Coutinho was so fast that he was ready to catch the ball. On the other hand, Rafael, who finally came up to start at right-back, looked a little unprepared.

By the time Rafael was about to turn, Coutinho had already run past him and was in the ascendancy.

Rafael wanted to reach for a foul, but he hesitated and didn't do it.

In his opinion, even if Coutinho received the stop, it would have been near the corner flag area, and Rafael's speed was not satisfied, if Coutinho stopped the ball, then he would have to slow down, and then Rafael would rush up and entangle him.

If you commit a foul now, it's probably a yellow card. The game had just started, and as a right-back, he received a yellow card first, which was quite detrimental to the rest of the game.

That's what Rafael thought, and he chased Coutinho closely, sticking to him as soon as the opponent slowed down. In this case, the opponent may not be able to stop the ball!

The long ball coming from behind is really not very good to stop!

"Henderson directly launched a long pass, Coutinho cut forward, can this ball be stopped?!"

Sure enough, Coutinho has already started to adjust his pace, and the pace has gradually slowed down.

Raphael was overjoyed, he was right!!

Rafael began to pick up the pace and was ready to disrupt Coutinho when he stopped the ball.

But just as Rafael started, Coutinho arched his left foot and headed the ball towards the penalty area!

Straight cross!!

Raphael's eyes widened as he looked into the box.

At the back point!!

Firmino bypassed Ashley Young and was already leaping high!!

"Firmino Header !!"

"Dangerous !!!!!!!"

Firmino then nodded the ball to the top!!

Fortunately, De Gea was focused and reached out to block Firmino's header off the line!!

Ashley Young breathed a sigh of relief and rushed forward to hug and kiss De Gea. It was just his carelessness, who would have thought that Liverpool would create such a threatening attack as soon as they came up.

At this point, most of the United players are not yet in game. Thankfully, De Gea is as solid as ever.

Liverpool's side gave Manchester United a dismissal as soon as they came up.