No one could believe what they were seeing.
Arnold had already sprinted into the Liverpool supporters' section to celebrate. He is Liverpool's crown prince, a true hogrown heir!
Anfield is ablaze!
Liverpool fans roar out the anthem, while Klopp remains composed on the touchline. It's only the 20th minute. Far too early to celebrate.
Krawietz stands beside him, practically trembling with excitent.
"Boss."
"It's going too smoothly. Way too smoothly!"
Klopp steadies him with a hand.
"Easy, Krawietz. As the saying goes, keep thunder in your chest, but your face as calm as still water."
Krawietz nods.
"If you're the general, I'll be your deputy."
At the sa ti, Leo Lin is talking to his teammates.
"Stay calm, boys. Stay calm!"
"There's still plenty of ti left. If we want to be Premier League champions, we have to win this match. One goal isn't enough. We need more!"
After the celebration, Leo Lin throws an arm around his teammates, doing his best to keep everyone composed and maintain control of the tempo.
The players may be calming down, but the fans are already losing it.
The broadcast cuts to the stands. Faces are flushed red, and so young fans are already in tears.
"If Liverpool win this match, they won't just complete a treble this season, they'll also end nearly 30 years of waiting and lift their first-ever Premier League trophy!"
"This will be a historic mont, a true milestone in the history of Liverpool Football Club!"
Jon Champion's voice trembles slightly with emotion.
"So Liverpool must stay calm. The more crucial the mont, the calr they need to be. Only then can they get over the line."
Liverpool fans in the live chat are completely torn. They want to celebrate, but force themselves to stay composed. They're afraid of conceding, yet desperate for more goals.
"Enough. I can't take this. I'm stepping away for five minutes to calm down."
"We scored first in a match like this, and it's only 20 minutes in. This is perfect!"
"If Liverpool really win the title, I'll pick ten people from the comnts and give each of them a Huawei triple-fold phone. This is legit!"
Plenty of neutral fans have also flooded into the stream, drawn in by a match that could decide the Premier League title.
On the sideline, Conte is speaking with Kanté, who has been assigned to mark Leo Lin.
"Do you rember the plan? Take away his right foot. Force him onto his left for everything. Passing, control, shooting."
"And if you can't block him head-on, then show him the left. Give him space on that side, but shut down his right completely."
Kanté nods and heads back onto the pitch, quickly relaying the instructions.
Conte doesn't look particularly concerned. Liverpool scored too early.
There are still over 20 minutes left in the first half. Plenty of ti for Chelsea to equalize.
Besides, his plan was always to hold back first, then surge later. The final 20 minutes of the half are when Chelsea are ant to explode!
Play resus, and Anfield is absolutely boiling.
Liverpool still have possession, but Chelsea's shape and approach have clearly shifted.
Giroud and Hazard push up on either side, initiating a high press!
The wide midfielders step forward as well, targeting Liverpool's half-spaces and making central runs to open up passing lanes for Fabregas.
Having spent the first 20 minutes focused on long balls and defensive shape, Chelsea are fresher. Now, they're ready to unleash everything.
"Conte is very shrewd. He knew Chelsea were away at Liverpool, so he set them up to absorb first, then strike later."
"The plan was to survive the opening 20 minutes. They conceded, yes, but now it's their turn to push!"
Jon Champion quickly reads Conte's intentions. Liverpool are now facing greater pressure.
But Liverpool refuse to give ground. Their high defensive line and pressing structure remain intact.
29th minute!
Leo Lin keeps scanning the field. He's the one deciding when the back line steps up.
Fabregas finds space under Bakayoko's cover. He looks up briefly, then lifts a perfectly weighted through ball!
It's aid at Hazard!
The delivery is inch-perfect!
Just as Fabregas's left foot connects with the ball, Leo Lin suddenly shouts:
"Move!"
Liverpool's entire back line, led by Lovren, steps forward in perfect unison!
That single step is enough to instantly catch Hazard offside!
The ball drops to Hazard anyway. He's clean through, drives into the box, and finishes.
But the flag is already up!
Offside!
Hazard doesn't protest. He knows he was off.
"Leo Lin is orchestrating Liverpool's offside trap. That's a brilliant execution, shutting down what could have been a dangerous Chelsea attack!"
The replay shows it clearly. The mont Leo Lin shouts "Move," the entire defensive line steps up together.
Jon Champion sounds genuinely surprised.
"I expected Lovren or Matip to be organizing the line, but Klopp has handed that responsibility to Leo Lin."
"He's already been the core of Liverpool's attack. Now he's becoming the defensive leader as well."
"Controlling both ends of the pitch. That's what a complete midfielder looks like!"
Klopp entrusted him with that responsibility because of his football intelligence and vision.
He believes Leo Lin can read the ga and choose the perfect mont to spring the offside trap.
Play resus. Chelsea continue to push forward aggressively, but Liverpool's offside trap remains razor-sharp.
36th minute!
"Another long ball toward Giroud, flicked on with a header!"
"Nicely done!"
"Liverpool players all appealing for offside, Hazard making a late run into the box!"
"He shoots from a tight angle!"
"It hits the side netting. Not in!"
"But the flag is up again. Giroud was offside."
"That's the third ti Chelsea have been caught offside in this first half. Surely Conte has to rethink this approach. Right now, the long-ball counter is getting them nowhere."
"Because Liverpool have a very young on-field commander."
"Running the show in the Premier League at just 18. Can you handle that?!"
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