The Reds of Liverpool are having a tough time. Their beloved team always seems to falter at crucial moments in the title race, often due to bizarre and unfortunate circumstances.

Financial difficulties once hindered the club's development, forcing them to sell a host of key players.

Torres.

Suarez.

Sterling.

One by one, their hopes of winning the title left, and a mountain of debt continued to suffocate the Reds.

Even with Klopp, the suffering continued.

Heavy metal rock and roll football couldn't immediately save Anfield, and the team's lineup needed time to be polished.

In the Europa League final last season, their weak defense was overturned by Sevilla.

During this period, Liverpool was a team with a strong attack but a weak defense, disappointing their own fans and costing many hopeful bettors who had faith in the Reds.

Years later, when neutral fans discuss the Miracle of Istanbul, the first team that comes to mind isn't the champion, Liverpool, but AC Milan.

....

Midday.

The red bus slowly drove towards Emirates Stadium.

"Our defenders are prone to losing their positions, and the midfield might not be able to hold onto the ball! But Arsenal has plenty of problems too."

"Wenger hasn't figured out how to use his two hundred million signing yet!"

"Let's crush them!"

Klopp clenched his fist and loudly encouraged his players.

He was met with enthusiastic shouts in response.

After ten months of hard work, the German coach had earned the respect of his players.

Mané peered through the bus window and excitedly borrowed a new phone from his teammate, only to realize that even with the ultra-wide-angle lens, he couldn't capture the entire front of Emirates Stadium.

The previous two seasons, when he played against Arsenal for Southampton, were at night, so he hadn't had the chance to admire this modern stadium.

The residents walking their dogs and jogging around the stadium didn't show the passion of a match day.

Eight giant murals on the exterior walls outlined the backs of 32 legendary Arsenal players.

"That's Bergkamp's statue."

"Henry."

"Adams."

"Mané, keep it down! You represent Liverpool now! No other player would do something so silly."

...

Arsenal's locker room seating arrangement resembled a "saddle."

Assistant coach Bould was reiterating the pre-match instructions.

Wenger called Li Kang to the side, holding a small tactical board, and said, "Integration takes time and process. Liverpool has one of the best attacking trios in Europe, but your main task isn't defense... Play according to your own ideas, especially when attacking Moreno's side."

He was good at pre-match arrangements, but his on-the-spot command and tactical changes were a notch below other famous coaches, so he was willing to give Li Kang plenty of freedom.

"Don't be bound by Arsenal's training methods."

"Don't focus too much on the outcome of the first match."

The Premier League in recent years has been hellish.

Arsenal and Liverpool always end up in a 50-50 situation, and they can be crushed unilaterally if they are not careful.

Li Kang glanced at the tactical board.

For a moment, he couldn't fully understand what the coaching staff was thinking.

....

Emirates Stadium.

Tens of thousands of Arsenal fans held up their red and white scarves.

"theArsenal~"

"goodoldArsenal~"

"weareproudtosaythatnaeonyougunners!!!"

His teammates quickly surrounded the goal scorer.

Playing with Li Kang was too easy!

The goalkeeper at the far end, Čech, suddenly understood De Gea's happiness.

Sánchez hesitated for a moment, then smiled and joined the crowd.

He didn't actually like playing alone, and he didn't like slowing down the team's attacking rhythm.

It was just that the former Premier League assist king's passing speed wasn't fully synchronized with the Chilean's running rhythm.

It seemed that the championship trophy wasn't so far away this season.

Morata patted him on the shoulder and said:

"You did a great job, the link-up between the Copa América champion and the European champion!"

"What did the coach say? Play around Li as much as possible, as if playing with him personally."

Everyone laughed.

One side rejoiced.

The other side was sad.

Henderson hugged Karius's big head, then passed the ball to Coutinho.

"Cheer up! The game has just begun!"

"Arsenal's defense is just as fragile in front of us!"

Mané looked at Li Kang's back, inexplicably excited.

...

On the sidelines.

Bould specifically imitated Klopp's celebration action: punching the air rapidly!

Wenger clapped his hands happily.

He was very happy with Li's goal.

He was also very pleased with Sánchez's pass.

He glanced at the bench and couldn't help but sigh: With Li, Arsenal had many cards to play.

"No need to make any changes."

"Let Li focus on attacking."

"Liverpool's defense has serious problems, especially on Moreno's side."

On the other side.

Klopp roared angrily.

Snap!

He accidentally knocked his glasses off onto the grass.

He quickly waved over Wijnaldum and said, "I told you many times before the game... Why didn't you mark Li!"

"The attack he orchestrated for Arsenal was so simple: a long pass from the center circle to the flank, exploiting Bellerín's speed by passing to a spot instead of a player, and indirectly utilizing Morata's aerial advantage... Did you notice Li's gestures? He only changed them twice!"

"Arsenal's subsequent passes and receptions in the frontcourt were all for him."

"They were waiting for him to insert!"

"How could this tactic, which violates the laws of attack, break through our goal?"

Wijnaldum was a bright student from Ajax, so he could understand.

But the little black egg still maintained a helpless and bitter expression: Even Kanté couldn't mark Li, so how could a midfielder like himself, who was full of attacking attributes, mark him?

That kid seemed to have eyes all over his body. He was omniscient and omnipotent on the field, and he could always get a head start.

....

The game restarted in the center circle.

Firmino passed the ball back to Henderson.

Liverpool's front and midfields immediately spread out.

As if a black torrent was madly devouring the red and white half.

You can despise Liverpool's defense, but you can never underestimate their attack.