When the players of both teams lined up on the pitch for the pre-match ceremony, the singing from the Anfield stands finally stopped. Almost invisibly, the away supporters, players, and coaches all felt as if a weight had been lifted from them.
Swansea's players stood tall on the pitch, chests out and heads held high.
Liverpool's players, by contrast, looked exceptionally relaxed and natural.
For Swansea's players, today they were standing on a grand stage.
If Division Three football was like a cheap, rough, poorly made film, then tonight at Anfield, they were filming a Hollywood blockbuster!
How could such a scene not excite them?
How could it not stir their blood?
"Welco to Anfield. On this wonderful evening, the League Cup round of sixteen is about to be played here, with the Reds of Liverpool hosting Division Three side Swansea.
"As a fourth-tier team, Swansea have fought through three rounds to reach the last sixteen of the League Cup. Their performance has already been surprising enough. Even more astonishing is the complete transformation this club underwent in the sumr. From club owner to manager to the squad itself, everything about them has been renewed.
"The Welsh dia have defined Swansea's revolution as a rebirth. The rejuvenated Swans are now second in Division Three and have a real chance of reaching Division Two next season. The League Cup is clearly not their main seasonal objective, but they will earn considerable inco from today's match — television revenue, fifteen percent of the gate receipts, and so on.
"Most importantly, they have gained far more attention.
"Swansea manager Lynn is the first Chinese head coach in English football. He is a major figure in the eyes of the Welsh dia. Around half a year ago, he staged those wild pitch invasions at Old Trafford and Anfield. No one expected that this Chinese man, who was given a lifeti ban by the Football Association, would actually lead a team back to Anfield!
"It is precisely this background that has made many supporters eager to see what sparks this match might produce!
"Liverpool's starting lineup today shows that they are taking this match very seriously.
"Liverpool start in a 4-4-2.
"Goalkeeper: Westerveld.
"Defenders: Carragher, Hyypiä, Henchoz, Riise.
"Midfielders: Gerrard, Hamann, McAllister, Berger.
"Forwards: Owen, Heskey.
"It seems the Reds may be using a sledgehamr to crack a nut. Sending such a strong lineup against a Division Three team suggests Houllier also has real ambition in the League Cup.
"Lynn's starting lineup is more conservative, which is understandable. Facing such a powerful Liverpool side, Swansea can only prioritize defense.
"Swansea start in a 4-5-1.
"Goalkeeper: Glendower.
"Defenders: Gabbidon, Brunel, Friedrich, Tobias Rau.
"Midfielders: Jas Cook, Poulsen, Cromwell, Pedretti, Grosso.
"Forward: Ibrahimović.
"Can the Swans create a miracle at Anfield?
"Or will the Reds teach them a lesson?
"Hehe, let us wait and see."
After the match began, Lynn stood by the touchline. He did not shout wildly, but from ti to ti he directed his players' defensive positioning, pointing toward spaces that might be exposed or toward dangerous Liverpool runners.
Liverpool looked very relaxed after kick-off, and their tempo was rather slow.
Swansea's defensive shape was ard to the teeth.
After four months with the team, Ibrahimović had already integrated well into Swansea's defensive system under the influence of the Tracking Back P-card.
That allowed Swansea's three lines to connect tightly. Their defensive structure looked airtight, at least without any obvious gaps.
However, Liverpool's players possessed stronger individual ability, and their overall team strength was unquestionably above Swansea's.
In the midfield battle, Cromwell was like duckweed floating in the sea. In terms of physical duels, against Liverpool's McAllister, Hamann, Gerrard, Berger — their entire midfield line — he was completely crushed!
When pressing defensively, as long as the Liverpool player in possession used his body to shield the ball, Cromwell looked helpless. Even if he clung on desperately until the end, the opponent could still pass the ball away with ease.
In the fifth minute, even while attacking at a slow rhythm, Liverpool still created a chance through their stronger individual quality and team coordination.
Gerrard was still playing as a right midfielder at this stage. In the England national team, he was also Beckham's backup.
From the right-midfield position, Gerrard received Hamann's pass, then suddenly carried the ball diagonally and shook off Grosso.
Pedretti ca over to help defend, but Gerrard took position first, using his body to block Pedretti's attempt to tackle. In physical confrontation, Pedretti was still clearly weaker than Gerrard.
Just like that, after using his body to hold off successive Swansea challenges, Gerrard delivered a forty-five-degree cross from the flank.
Heskey charged into the penalty area. Like a black gorilla, he very rudely shoved Friedrich aside in the physical duel, then attacked the near post with a header!
"Heskey with the header! My goodness, that was dangerous! The ball skims just wide of the goal! Swansea escape disaster! In front of this powerful Liverpool side, Swansea look fragile. The clearest difference is physical strength. In terms of physical confrontation, Swansea are completely behind Liverpool!"
On the touchline, Lynn's expression was grave.
This was the standard of the Premier League!
Leaving tactics aside for the mont, if a team wanted to survive in the Premier League, the first requirent was physical confrontation!
The entire team's overall physical level had to et the standard.
Two minutes later, Swansea's attack from the left was intercepted by Hamann.
When Grosso encountered Carragher, he passed the ball into the middle. Cromwell had just touched the ball. Before receiving it, he had wanted to play first ti, but he could not find a suitable target, so he could only control it.
Unexpectedly, just as he stopped the ball, Hamann pressed him physically, not only winning the ball from under Cromwell's feet but also causing Cromwell to stumble and fall to the ground.
It was not a foul. Lynn saw that clearly as well.
Many Liverpool supporters in the stands burst into mocking laughter.
After winning the ball, Hamann played it sideways, switching the direction of attack and avoiding Swansea's counter-pressing group.
After passing, Hamann walked over to Cromwell and, appearing friendly, reached out to pull him up from the ground.
Cromwell knew that at his current stage, his physical strength was an absolute weakness. After all, he still had six months before turning eighteen!
So he was not angry. Instead, he was calm.
'So the Premier League standard is this much stronger than Division Three.'
That was the thought that flashed through his mind.
In truth, Lynn had originally planned to start the twenty-two-year-old Nilsson today. But after thinking it over, since he did not have much expectation for the League Cup anyway, he might as well let the young captain Cromwell test himself against Liverpool and experience a major stage.
This would be very helpful for his growth, preventing him from dominating Division Three and then beginning to see the world from the bottom of a well.
Cromwell could feel Lynn's expectations for him. He also realized the huge gap between Division Three and the Premier League. Perhaps he was only touching one part of the elephant like a blind man, but that alone was enough to excite him.
His competitive heart was instantly filled with fighting spirit.
After standing up, he glanced at Hamann. For a split second, a smile flashed across his face.
He had never seen falling down as unbearable suffering. Instead, it only stirred his ambition to overco setbacks.
Hamann noticed the fleeting smile on Cromwell's face. Originally, he had not cared about this young brat, but in that mont, he suddenly felt as though he had been looked down upon.
So he said coldly to Cromwell, "Kid, what are you grinning about?"
Cromwell was just about to go back to defend, but Hamann used his right foot to scrape a line across the grass in front of him. Pointing at that line, he said, "Listen carefully. You stay behind this line like a good boy. If you dare co over, I'll send you back crying."
Cromwell looked surprised as he faced the murderous Hamann. "But we change ends in the second half."
Hamann's anger surged instantly. "Are you really stupid, or are you pretending?"
"Uncle, you're the one who said it."
As Cromwell spoke, he retreated toward the back.
When he turned and ran toward his own penalty area, the relaxed expression on his face disappeared. Replacing it was pure fighting spirit.
He would not be frightened!
Liverpool continued to launch attacks, but the quality of their finishing was sowhat unsatisfactory.
In the 18th minute, Owen received Berger's pass in front of the penalty area. Then, using nimble footwork, he cut the ball into the box and brushed past the onrushing Brunel.
In front of Owen, Brunel looked unbelievably clumsy!
After carrying the ball into the penalty area, Owen curled a shot toward the far corner.
Glendower threw himself across the goal. His fingertips failed to touch the ball. He turned his head and only let out a relieved breath when he saw the ball roll just outside the post and out over the byline.
"Owen shoots! Wide of the goal! Liverpool's shooting quality today has been a little poor. Did they leave their shooting boots at ho?"
Just as Liverpool's repeated attacks failed to produce a goal, Swansea produced a beautiful move in the 24th minute.
Cromwell threaded the play together in midfield.
First, he moved into the left side of midfield, forming a triangular passing pattern with Tobias Rau and Grosso, causing Gerrard and Heskey's counter-press to fail.
Then, just after crossing halfway, Cromwell faced McAllister's defense and played the ball back to Pedretti on the defensive midfield line.
McAllister took a step backward, only to discover Cromwell moving laterally.
When Cromwell, now in midfield, saw Hamann charging aggressively toward him, he received Pedretti's pass and played first ti. With a half-turn, he swept the ball with the inside of his foot toward the space ahead on the right flank.
Jas Cook sprinted forward quickly.
Before Cook even controlled the ball, Cromwell was already racing forward at full speed.
Hamann imdiately stopped, turned sharply, and tried to block Cromwell's route. But Cromwell deliberately went around him, moving closer to the right side of the front line.
Riise was rushing up, ready to face Jas Cook one-on-one, but Jas Cook did not stop the ball. He played it first ti with a gentle square pass, then continued charging forward.
Cromwell reached the ball before Hamann and poked it into the space ahead of Jas Cook's run.
Hamann arrived a step late and felt a surge of self-reproach. He cursed himself inwardly for truly underestimating the opponent!
In fact, it was not only him. Riise had been beaten far too easily by Jas Cook's run — was that not also a sign of carelessness?
Jas Cook caught up to the ball, took one touch forward, then imdiately delivered a forty-five-degree cross.
The ball curled behind Henchoz.
Ibrahimović took long strides between Henchoz and Hyypiä.
As the half-high ball flew in front of him, he shot without hesitation!
A volley!
From outside the penalty area!
This was clearly an extrely difficult shot.
And Ibrahimović made it even harder by striking forward with the outside of his foot!
The mont goalkeeper Westerveld saw Ibrahimović shoot, his pupils shrank, his eyes full of shock!
The image reflected in his vision was the ball flying toward him at terrifying speed!
He had just moved one step to his right when he suddenly realized his judgnt was wrong!
The ball Ibrahimović had struck with the outside of his foot was spinning violently.
A banana shot!
The ball drew a flat curve through the air, causing Westerveld to misread it completely!
By the ti Westerveld tried to save it again, it was already too late!
Under the stunned gaze of the entire stadium, the ball thundered into the top-right corner of Liverpool's goal!
Anfield instantly fell silent.
The whole world seed to go still.
At the ho of the Reds, Swansea had struck first!
---------
Read 50 chapters ahead and support on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator
User Comments
0 comments from readers