I'm 198cm tall. Are you giving me a Maradona template?

Chapter 294 The Key to Victory

December is the month with the most packed schedule for the English Premier League.

League, League Cup, FA Cup.

Various competitions followed one after another.

The Christmas season is a headache for all Premier League teams.

December has arrived.

Klopp is also making rotations.

Because he couldn't guarantee that the team's players wouldn't get injured under such a packed schedule.

This match received a lot of media attention.

However, Klopp had already begun to cool down the team's morale quite early on.

He emphasized in the media that this was just an ordinary league match.

Something like tying the record.

Liverpool doesn't care.

He said the same thing to the players.

He didn't want his players to bear too much pressure in this game.

A winning streak is certainly a good thing.

But with victory after victory...

This is for Liverpool.

It's also due to the accumulation of pressure.

If there is nowhere to release the pressure.

In the end.

It will crush you.

Therefore, Klopp did not emphasize any records.

He was strong in front of the players, but the game was played as scheduled.

The last tactical meeting before the war.

Klopp looked at his players and said, "I know that everyone is inevitably influenced by the media right now, and everyone is thinking about records."

"That would reduce your focus on the court, which is not what I want to see. I hope that once you step onto the court, you can put all thoughts about keeping score out of your minds and just focus on your opponents!"

Klopp wants to cool things down.

但老实说。

It won't drop at all.

Game day.

Even the media interviews around the Emirates Stadium revolved around this match.

The North London Derby happens every year.

But breaking Arsenal's proud record of an unbeaten title-winning season is a rare occurrence.

Reporters flocked to interview Arsenal fans.

Ask them for their opinions.

"We support Watford, and of course we hope Arsenal's record won't be tied; it's our Arsenal record!"

"Ideally, Sunshine would get injured before the game, hahaha. I know it's not a good idea, but that's really my thought. If Sunshine starts, I think Watford will have a hard time stopping him. But... what if? The ball is round."

Come on Watford!

"To be honest, I was even prepared to wear a Watford jersey to watch this game. God, please bless Watford to win!"

"If Watford can beat Liverpool, no, if they can prevent Liverpool from winning, I will buy a Watford jersey. Believe me, no, no, no, I certainly won't become a Watford fan. I'm still an Arsenal fan, but I will buy their jersey!"

Arsenal fans do not want their record to be shared by Liverpool.

They all expressed their opinions.

Vicarage Road Stadium.

The crowd was full of people.

For Watford fans...

They don't care about Arsenal's record.

“We are not playing for Arsenal, we are playing for our own team.”

“We will give our all in the game, but not for Arsenal.”

"Arsenal, get out of here!"

Outside the stadium, some Watford fans, in interviews, expressed their dissatisfaction that the match, which should have been theirs to play, had been relegated to supporting roles due to Arsenal's record.

Although I know that the opponent I'm facing in this match is a lot stronger.

But they also hope to see a great game at home.

Ideally, they could take a piece of the pie from Liverpool, the strongest team in the league.

When the players from both sides enter the field.

Watford fans gave their team's players the loudest cheers.

When the DJ at the stadium was introducing Liverpool's starting lineup.

Their hissing vibrated in everyone's ears.

Inside the CCTV studio.

Peter Hessler's voice resonated throughout China.

CCTV had originally scheduled a live broadcast of the North London derby.

However, because this match was so popular.

and so.

This match, a highly anticipated North London derby, was featured on the sports channel.

The North London derby has been moved to Sports Channel+
"Both teams are coming onto the field, and Watford is undoubtedly fielding their full starting lineup. The starting goalkeeper is Joe Hart, with Cathcart and Kabasiri forming the central defensive partnership. Janmaat is at right-back, Holebas at left-back, Doucoure and Capoue are the two holding midfielders, Deulofeu, on loan from Barcelona, is on the left wing, and Roberto Pereira, on loan from Juventus, is on the right. At center forward, Deeney and Gray form one of the most efficient attacking duos in the Premier League."

"For Liverpool, Van Dijk is still injured, and Salah has been relegated to the bench. Klopp seems unwilling to risk using him, as he has just recovered from injury. Alisson remains in goal, with Joe Gomez partnering Matip at center-back, Robertson at left-back, and Achraf Hakimi replacing Alexander-Arnold at right-back. Henderson, Keita, and Wijnaldum form the midfield trio, with Mane on the right wing, Shaqiri on the left, and Sundrow as the striker."

Just as the commentator was speaking...

The referee blew the whistle to start the match.

Sunshine stood in the center circle, kicked the ball to Keita when the whistle blew, and then suddenly turned around and ran forward.

The wingers on both sides were also charging forward just like him.

The two full-backs also pushed forward immediately.

Liverpool's kick-off tactics.

Extremely aggressive.

The ball was passed to Robertson's feet.

The Scotsman glanced at the field ahead and immediately launched a long pass.

Find the sun overhead.

Sunlight had already rushed into the penalty area. He turned his back, pinned the center-back Cathcart behind him, and then chested him down.

Cascata stood against the sun's back, his eyes fixed on its feet, but just then, he felt his defender suddenly take a step forward and then turn around abruptly.

Before he could react.

boom!
The sunlight turned, and then shot!
Before the ball even touched the ground, he slapped it towards the goal.

Cascata instinctively stretched out his head to block, and the football grazed his cheek as it flew past.

The high-speed ball skin almost scraped off his face.

Before he could react.

The football slammed against the crossbar with a thud and flew out of bounds.

All the Watford players felt a chill run down their spines at that moment.

The boos from Watford fans on the pitch suddenly stopped, startling the entire stadium, and everyone gasped in surprise.

Joe Hart stood on the goal line.

My scalp felt numb.

Almost
Almost there.

He became just a background figure.

"Yang turns and shoots! Ahhh! The ball hits the crossbar! Just a little bit off!"

Watford escaped disaster!

"Look at that long pass from the backfield, chest control, and a direct turn and shot before the ball even hits the ground! Wow... that's what a superstar is! This is a superstar!"

"Joe Hart almost became a background character again!"

"The game has only just begun, and Watford's defense almost conceded a goal. It seems that Watford's chances of stopping Liverpool at home are going to be extremely difficult!"

In the commentary box.

All the commentators were taken aback by Yang Guang's actions.

Courtside.

Watford manager Gracia was so shocked he almost knelt down.

His heart was pounding.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the ball go out of bounds.

"I'm crazy"

Gracia spat.

Couldn't help but frown.

They hit me like that right at the start.

Gracia's confidence has already started to decline after this match.

The Vicarage Road Stadium, which was as hot as a boiling hot pot before, has now cooled down as if several blocks of ice had been suddenly thrown in.

Watford fans immediately silenced the cheers of the away Liverpool fans with boos.

However, their voices were clearly less loud than before the referee blew the whistle. This was a show of force.

It really startled them.

This also startled Arsenal fans.

"A volley...and the crossbar!! What a pity!"

He Wei, who was in the studio, couldn't help but lean back and exclaim in surprise.

Many Chinese fans watching on screen were ready to jump up and celebrate, but they were disappointed when they saw the ball hit the crossbar and go out of bounds.

"Holy crap! So close!"

"If they make it in, the suspense will be over."

"such a pity."

"It's okay, the competition has only just begun."

"Don't forget, Hart is on the other side!"

"Yes, just guess randomly."

"He wasn't just guessing."

The fans were buzzing with discussion.

In Liverpool.

In every pub where Liverpool fans gather.

Liverpool fans erupted in cheers.

Even if the ball didn't go in.

They were also shouting.

Clinking glasses of beer.

Passion permeated every corner of Liverpool.

"Well done! Hahaha! Yang performed as expected, we're guaranteed to win!"

"Watford can't stop us!!"

"Oh oh oh oh! Long live the sunshine!!"

All of a sudden.

Songs that praise the sunshine.

The sound rang out in every area where Liverpool fans gathered.

North London.

Many Arsenal fans were shocked when they saw this.

They all frowned.

Arsenal's match also started at the same time.

Arsenal's match this time is an away game.

Therefore, many Arsenal fans can only watch the game from outside the stadium.

But in those pubs where Arsenal fans gather.

Many businesses wisely set up two TV screens.

One channel is broadcasting the North London derby.

Another device was simultaneously broadcasting Liverpool's match.

For Arsenal fans...

The league has now gone through more than ten rounds.

Arsenal have no hope of winning the title now, so they can only fight for fourth place and try to qualify for the Champions League.

This kind of limbo.

Arsenal fans are used to it.

However, to be honest.

before this.

Although Arsenal cannot compete for the title, they are still guaranteed a top-four finish.

But with Pochettino's Tottenham starting to lift the trophy, they are very competitive.

Arsenal's fourth-place position is far from secure.

Especially now that Liverpool has suddenly become so dominant, they've gone from being Arsenal's rival for a top-four finish to the biggest favorite for the title.

This makes it even more difficult for Arsenal to finish in the top four.

For Arsenal fans...

They can only reminisce about the glorious era that once belonged to Arsenal.

A fourteen-game winning streak.

There's also a 49-game unbeaten streak spanning multiple seasons!
These are all the glories of Arsenal.

Any team that has lost hope in terms of results often seeks solace in its past glories.

But now they have their past glory.
It is also about to be broken.

Arsenal fans are even more frustrated.

Yang Guang's shot was like a fuse.

This ignited a furious attack from Liverpool away from home.

Watford, playing at home, were dominated from the start of the match.

The goal became precarious.

Arsenal fans were eagerly cheering for Watford.

They seemed even more enthusiastic than Watford's fans.

After all, Watford fans know their place.

Even when playing at home.

Given Watford's strength.

They defeated Liverpool with a strong shot.

That would really be asking too much of someone.

therefore.

Before the game.

Watford fans were mentally prepared to lose.

Their team has always lost more than they've won since coming to the Premier League.

More than thirty games in a season.

There are probably only five, six, seven, or eight games that we can win.

Fans who come to the stadium naturally hope their team will win.

However, they are also aware of the team's strength.

Winning would be great, of course.

However, given the team's strength, losing the game is not unexpected.

No Watford fan would expect their team to beat a team like Liverpool at home.

This is not realistic.

They can't just criticize the team, accuse the players of not taking the game seriously, lacking fighting spirit, or threaten to use death row inmates because Watford lost to Liverpool.

After all, they support Watford not because Watford wins often.

Rather, it's because they were originally Watford fans, and they are part of the club.

The fans themselves.

It's part of the club.

In England.

The reason why fans become fans of a team.

more.

It's related to community culture.

Because Watford has always been here.

They are a team that belongs to this community.

The team has fully integrated into the local community.

Their youth training system, their regular activities, and their interactions with local fans.