With an away win over Arsenal, Liverpool reversed their opponents to reach the top of the Premier League, and the whole Liverpool city was completely boiling.

This time, they stayed in the league standings for a full 2 weeks.

Because of the national team breakday.

Two weeks later, the Premier League was back in action when Liverpool travelled to promoted Portsmouth.

It was a game that everyone felt should have been easy to win, but Liverpool drew 1-1 away from home, with Davies scoring for Liverpool in the first half and Portsmouth equalising in the 81st minute of the second half.

It's still the same old problem, the attack is too fierce, the physical energy is exhausted, plus the impact of the two weeks of national team games, at the last moment, almost Liverpool can't run up and down.

In the same round, Manchester United beat Leeds United and Arsenal beat Chelsea at home, with both teams overturning Liverpool to knock the Reds off the top of the league.

There is nothing more depressing than capsizing in the gutter.

In a front-page column on Monday, the Guardian commented on Liverpool's front-page performance as a nerve knife this season, with a strong team to perform well but a weak team to take a break, typical instability.

The Times said that Liverpool's football is full of explosiveness, but lacks endurance.

"Their performance reminds me of what Yang Cheng said when he commented on the Premier League teams, that the Premier League teams lack control, lack of adjustment and transformation of the pace of the game, which makes it easy to play against the Premier League teams because they always have a single rhythm of the game."

"Yang Cheng used two methods to beat the Premier League team, one, control the tempo, and second, defend and counterattack"

"We have to admit that Yang Cheng's words are indeed very sharp to point out the shortcomings of the Premier League team, but we have to wonder why he knows that Liverpool has such a flaw, but he has not solved this problem well?"

So far this season, 9 rounds have been played, Liverpool has 6 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss, and the results are quite good, which is already Liverpool's best result in recent years, especially considering that this is Yang Cheng's first season in the Premier League, and the team has just completed the reorganization, and it is really not easy to achieve such results.

But for Yang Cheng, the media will always give higher requirements

That's why there was a lot of dissatisfaction with Liverpool's performance after the draw away at Portsmouth.

But a nerve knife is a nerve knife, and Liverpool were quick to fight back.

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23 October, Anfield Stadium, Liverpool

When Barosh got on the back of Kuyt's knock and smashed the ball into the Olin Lubjana goal on the left side of the penalty area, the entire Anfield stadium exploded.

All the fans cheered excitedly.

On the red scoreboard, the current game time is very clearly and conspicuously marked, 83 minutes and 21 seconds, the score is 7:0, international convention, the home team is in front, the away team is behind, but the 7 quickly jumped to 8

8:0, this is definitely a bloody massacre, although the opponent is a Slovenian team, although the opponent is not famous in Europe at all, but it is not a bad team that can reach the main stage of the League Cup, and can draw with Liverpool at home.

But it was this team that was ruthlessly slaughtered by the Reds at Anfield.

A full 8 goals, Gerrard scored a hat trick, Murphy, Kuyt, Davies, Smitchell and Barosh all scored, Yang Cheng also arranged Xiao Xiaoluo in this game, the Portuguese performed very eye-catching in this game, contributing 2 assists, but this also has a lot to do with the opponent is too weak.

The Liverpool fans in the stands celebrated happily, as did the players on the pitch, the opponents in this game did not make the slightest resistance to them on the pitch, and Olin Lubjana only had 2 unthreatening shots on goal in the whole game, and the rest of the game was dominated by Liverpool. ..., after this game, the entire English media began to exclaim.

"The invincible Liverpool are back"

"With an 8-goal victory, Liverpool's attacking ability is the best in Europe"

This kind of hype was pushed to a kind of peak after Liverpool's 3-0 home victory over Leeds United three days later, and all the media began to frantically exaggerate Liverpool's powerful offensive, believing that the team that scored 11 goals in two games and did not concede half a goal has completed the run-in and reached its peak state.

"We finally saw the perfect Liverpool team in Caesar's mind, with 11 goals in two games, the most attacking power in Europe, and their defence is solid, which is simply typical of Yang Cheng's coaching style."

"We have every reason to believe that such a Liverpool team has what it takes to win the Premier League"

After Arsenal's 1-1 draw away to Charlton Athletic, Liverpool also relied on this victory to move into second place in the league, behind league leaders Manchester United.

As a result, everyone is starting to play up the English derby in two weeks' time, with Liverpool hosting Manchester United.

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On October 29, in the Premier League Cup, Liverpool challenged Blackburn away from home.

After leading by two goals in the first half, Liverpool centre-back Agger made a mistake at the start of the second half, and Blackburn scored twice in just 10 minutes to equalise and turn the score on the back in the 67th minute.

Souness's side look set to make a comeback and will be determined to break their embarrassing record against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.

However, Yang Cheng replaced Hamann with Smitchell in the 70th minute, and the team formation changed to 442, Kuyt was pushed up front to partner Drogba, and the Dutchman scored two goals in one go in the next game to turn the score 4-3 for Liverpool and eliminate Blackburn Rovers away.

On November 2, in the 11th round of the Premier League, Liverpool defeated Fulham 2:1 away.

The Reds dominated the first half, with Van der Sar, who had switched from Juventus this season, excelling with high blocks and low pick-ups, but could not prevent Steven Gerrard's goal from opening the scoring for Liverpool.

But in the second half, Fulham's defensive counter-attack came into effect, scoring a goal through a counter-attack to equalise.

The game then turned into a frustrating physical confrontation, and in the end, Liverpool beat Fulham 2-1 thanks to a controversial penalty awarded by the referee after Robben was tripped in the box.

However, Liverpool in this game did not have the momentum of the 3:0 victory over Leeds United.

And on the front pages of the major newspapers the next day, all the media were wondering, what is going on with Liverpool this season?

But in the midst of such doubts, Liverpool defeated Romania's Bucharest Stars 4-0 away in the first leg of the second round of the League Cup, and stepped into the threshold of the round of 32 knockout round with one foot.

This has undoubtedly deepened everyone's doubts about the current situation of Liverpool.

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'If you look at it home and away, there's no doubt that Liverpool have a very good home record, they've won all of them so far this season, they've been very sharp in attack and very solid defensively, but it's like they won't play away from home.

In the conference room at Manchester United's Carrington training base, one of Ferguson's helpers is analysing Liverpool's current state of the season as they travel to Anfield in three days' time.

'But their away record this season hasn't been bad, against Blackburn, against Everton, it's away, but they've won it and it's been very convincing, both offensively and defensively. Another objected.

After everyone heard this, they couldn't help frowning, this Liverpool team is really strange. ..., you say he won't win, but he can win many games, Chelsea, Arsenal have become their ghosts, and there are no problems in both games, it is not very difficult to win, the second half against Arsenal is more of Liverpool's conservative to keep the score.

But you have to say that he is very strong, but they were able to lose to Charlton Athletic, draw by Portsmouth and Aston Villa, and stumble in the League Cup with Blackburn, it is really doubtful, how can this team have such ups and downs?

Alex Ferguson sat at the top of the room, silently listening to the group analysing Liverpool's tactics.

They are all Manchester United's technical team, responsible for Ferguson's tactics and player positioning, and it can also be said that Ferguson relies on some of the assistants, but Ferguson relies most on the new assistant he hired himself, Walter? Smith.

Before Queiroz came to Old Trafford, Ferguson felt that one person was powerless, and the arrival of Queiroz immediately brought the championship to Manchester United, so Ferguson immediately invited his old partner from Scotland after Queiroz left, Walter, the famous coach who led Rangers to win seven consecutive championships in the Soviet Super League? Smith served as his assistant.

Ferguson has a good advantage in that he will fully trust the people he trusts, as was the case with Queiroz in the past, and Walter is now in the same place. The same goes for Smith.

"What do you think, Walter?" Ferguson asked.

As soon as the old man opened his mouth, the entire conference room suddenly fell silent.

Walter? Smith is definitely a good manager, his status in Scotland is not lost to Ferguson, and he won a lot of championship glory in Scotland, and he also won the Order of the British Empire, but then he did not do well in charge of Everton, but David? Moyes was brought out by him.

A right-hand man of such a big name, only Ferguson can move him through personal relationships.

Asked by Ferguson, the white-haired Scotsman nodded solemnly and analyzed: "Liverpool this season seems to be disorderly, but in fact it is not, if you carefully study his opponents, you can find a pattern." ”

Not only Ferguson, but also the members of the technical team around him immediately looked at the old coach.

The old Scottish coach paused and continued: "Where Liverpool wins or wins completely, there are no more than two reasons, first, poor defense, such as Leeds United; Second, take the initiative to attack, such as Chelsea and Arsenal"

"It's not a complete team, at least I don't see it qualifying for the Premier League, I'm sure Yang Cheng can see that, but at the end of the day, it was in the summer transfer that we sabotaged Liverpool to bring Xavi? Alonso's result, combined with Yang Cheng's inability to get Arteta, led to a lack of organisation in the midfield. ”

"Today's Premier League is not the Premier League of the past, Arsenal plays control, Chelsea is also ready to play control, Yang Cheng himself is an expert at playing control, he can't not understand this, but Liverpool is short of money and can't let him squander like Ranieri, so he can only do everything he can now to fill the gap in the midfield."

Speaking of which, Walter? Smith smiled in admiration, "Yang Cheng's tactical understanding ability is really strong, he uses midfield runs to fill the tandem problem between the front and back courts, and he is also trying to use running to solve the rhythm problem, the former has an obvious effect, but the latter can't do it." ”

"Many people describe Liverpool this season, they are describing them playing typical English football, simple, rough and direct, but this is not the case, now the Liverpool framework has come out, just one person missing" Walter? Smith raised his right index finger, "A playmaker in midfield"..., "Got that, let's take a look at why Liverpool always win against the big team?" ”

"The reason is very simple, Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton all want to win, they all want to win Liverpool, and they are not willing to defend and counterattack, so their overall formation gives Liverpool space to attack, Drogba's impact as a center forward is really scary, Robben's attack on the left flank, Kuyt and Murphy's response and running, Davies and Gerrard's back row inserted ......"

Walter? Smith shook his head and sighed: "This Liverpool team has a variety of attacking methods, once they are given space and let them rush, then no one can stop them, so Chelsea and Arsenal, who are not willing to defend and counterattack, have lost, and they have lost badly, why?" Because they made Liverpool rush up"

After hearing this, Ferguson couldn't help but suddenly realize and nodded incessantly.

"Liverpool emphasizes active attack, because Yang Cheng himself knows a little bit in his heart that the loss of control of the rhythm leads to the fact that once Liverpool slows down, that is, when their physical fitness can't keep up, it is to be slaughtered, so he always attacks frantically in the first half, and tries every way to score first."

"I don't agree with many comments on the judgment of Liverpool and Arsenal in the second half, I don't think Yang Cheng is conservative to keep the score 2:0, but because, in the second half, Liverpool has obviously lost most of its physical energy, even Davies, who has been the most eye-catching performer this season, has begun to be a little unable to run after 70 minutes, from this point of view, my inference is completely correct"

Among the most eye-catching players in the Liverpool team this season, Arjen Robben and Steven Gerrard are eye-catching because of their performances on the pitch, while Davies and Drogba are eye-catching for their consistent performances and tactical role in the team, the former has attracted the attention of countless fans, and the latter has been recognized by countless professionals.

"And Aston Villa, Charlton Athletic and other teams have an obvious characteristic, defensive counterattack, they hold Liverpool's attack first, let them attack, attack until you are exhausted, and they are all shrinking defense, not giving Liverpool to rush, not letting the pace of the game be fast."

"The end result is that Liverpool's physical fitness is worn out bit by bit, and then it is often just a sneak attack, or a counterattack, or even a counterattack at a critical moment in the second half, and then win the game," the Scottish boss made a fist gesture, showing his confidence in this analysis.

Walter? Smith analyzed it like this, and everyone present suddenly had a feeling of breaking through the clouds and seeing the sky.

"Walter, according to what you say, we can only defend Liverpool?" Ferguson frowned.

In the contest between him and Yang Cheng, no one wants to defend passively, because it has already lost in terms of momentum.

"You think the same thing as Arsene Wenger and Ranieri right now" Walter? Smith laughed.

Ferguson was stunned for a moment, and immediately understood what the assistant meant.

Wenger and Ranieri are both thinking the same as him now, and they are eager to prove their strength by winning Liverpool with scores and scenes in strong dialogues, but the final result is that they have become Yang Cheng's ghosts.

Ferguson himself is not a fool, and he is now beginning to understand this.

"Manchester United's defense, not shrinking, can it stop Liverpool's attack?"

Walter? Smith thought for a moment, smiled slightly, and did not answer.

However, the answer is self-evident.

"Yang Cheng is really good at adjusting the attack, Liverpool's group of players are very impactful in attack, especially the left and middle, and the right side is more used to connect and respond, with our current situation, I'm afraid it ......"

Ferguson nodded, he knew very well that the assistant had something to say, but he understood. ..., without playing a shrinking defensive counterattack, Manchester United is likely to fall into the same fate as Arsenal and Chelsea, but playing defensive counterattacks, he always feels as if he is going to lose to Yang Cheng in terms of momentum.

It depends on how Ferguson himself measures it, and what is the 3 points? Or do you want to overpower your opponent?

All eyes were on Ferguson, waiting for him to make a final decision.

At Manchester United, the assistants and technical teams only have the power to provide advice, and it is Alex Ferguson who really makes the decisions.

"Defensive counterattack," Ferguson gritted his teeth.

Everyone nodded in unison, and they will follow this routine in the next two days of training, and arrange some targeted tactical training, especially against several Liverpool attacking players.

"Call the Old Trafford office again and ask them to make another offer to Real Sociedad and say we're willing to buy Xavi? Alonso, see what price they're going to sell the Spaniards," Ferguson laughed as he said that.

Walter? Smith was just stunned, but he also laughed, secretly laughing at Ferguson's treacherous treachery.

Organisational midfielders are hard to find, and the hottest player in the market today is Xavi? Alonso, as long as Manchester United prevents Liverpool from taking this player, unless Yang Cheng can conjure another Pirlo, it will ............,