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

Chapter 301 The Red Cross Meeting

"Yang Biaodu! Jones! Beautiful! Liverpool have taken the lead!"

"Although Liverpool fielded a rotated squad and their defense was not very stable, their attack was not a concern at all, as Sunshine continued to start!"

"Jones scored his first professional goal, and he probably has to thank the sunshine, which drew away almost all of the defense!"

As the commentators in the commentary booth shouted.

Fans watching on television cheered and raised their arms in celebration.

Live streaming on the Chinese internet.

The number of comments on the screen surged instantly at that moment.

"Hey, speak up!"

"Brilliant!"

"6666!!"

"They really need to rotate the roster for the semifinals!"

"To come back from two points behind! That's something only Sunny could do!"

Liverpool is too strong!

"The sunlight is too strong!"

Everyone started discussing it.

Just now.

The game has restarted.

They were leading by two goals, but were overtaken.

The Newcastle United players were somewhat bewildered.

Benitez on the sidelines shook his head repeatedly.

Actually, for Newcastle United...

The League Cup matches are even less meaningful.

If they can eliminate Liverpool and reach the semi-finals.

Perhaps Benitez will still be thinking about winning the championship.

but now.

Only the quarterfinals.

Newcastle United are also under great pressure to avoid relegation in the league.

and so.

Benitez will not feel sorry for the team's elimination from the League Cup.

He stood up.

Arrive at the sidelines.

Wave your hands.

"Attack! Attack! Push forward and attack!"

One-time deal.

They eliminated Liverpool.

He then considered continuing to invest resources in the League Cup.

If they are eliminated by Liverpool.

Then the team won't have to worry about the meaningless League Cup.

The two sides then engaged in a back-and-forth offensive.

however.

Play an offensive game against a team with a sunny disposition.

Unless you're very lucky.

otherwise
Conceding goals is not too surprising.

The match ended in the 71st minute.

Sunshine was fouled when he received the ball near the edge of the penalty area.

He then took advantage of the set-piece opportunity and blasted the ball into the goal.

Three to two!
Liverpool secured the victory.

Klopp couldn't help but applaud Sunshine's performance after seeing the goal.

finally.

The score remained unchanged until the very end of the match.

When the referee blew the final whistle.

The cheers at Anfield Stadium immediately rose to a decibel level.

Benitez stood up from the coaching bench and shook hands with Klopp.

"Congratulations, Jurgen, your team is really strong!"

Benitez remarked.

By using a rotating lineup, they were able to come back from a two-goal deficit.

What could he possibly do?

Benitez didn't feel it was a pity that they were eliminated from the League Cup.

After all, for Newcastle United...

Staying in the league and avoiding relegation is the most important thing.

Even if they eliminate Liverpool in the League Cup and reach the semi-finals, they may not necessarily win the title—or rather, winning it would be extremely difficult.

But if this delays the league.

That would truly be picking up a sesame seed while losing a watermelon.

To know.

Stay in the Premier League.

For Newcastle, that's at least a hundred million in revenue every year!
They've been downgraded.

That 100 million is gone.

Newcastle has not yet been acquired by a major investor.

and so.

Staying in the Premier League is the most important thing for them.

The camera was firmly fixed on the sunlight.

Unsurprisingly, he was the best player of the game again.

At a later press conference.

Benitez was not frustrated by being eliminated.

He spoke at length about the role of sunlight.

"How do you beat a team with sunshine? I think that's a headache for many coaches. We didn't have an effective way to contain him, so we lost the game."

Benitez shrugged.

"It's a pity to be eliminated from the League Cup, but Newcastle's main goal is to avoid relegation in the league."

"You mean seven-time champions? I don't know if they can do it, but I wish them good luck."

Benitez, who also once managed Liverpool, certainly wouldn't resort to harsh words at a time like this.

The League Cup quarter-finals have concluded.

The four finalists were thus determined.

Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur have all advanced to the semi-finals.

The other team was quite surprising.

Burton Albion from League One have advanced to the semi-finals.

However, considering that domestic cup competitions are inherently prone to upsets.

It's not surprising that every now and then a team from a lower league makes it to the quarterfinals or semifinals.

Of course.

Burton's entry into the semi-finals is clearly a huge advantage.

However, Liverpool wasn't very lucky.

In the lottery.

They drew Tottenham.

Manchester City drew Burton.

They reached the semifinals.

It will no longer be a single-elimination tournament, but a two-legged home-and-away elimination tournament.

In this way, the possibility of an upset is very low.

This also means.

Manchester City have essentially secured a place in the League Cup final.

Liverpool and Tottenham will compete for the other spot.

The semi-final matches will not be held until January next year.

before this.

Liverpool will first play two league matches, then travel to Japan for the Club World Cup, and after the Club World Cup, they will return home immediately to catch up on the matches they missed due to the World Cup.
The schedule is extremely packed.

First, December 11th.

The sixteenth round of the league.

Liverpool are playing away against Bournemouth.

Bournemouth didn't cause Liverpool much trouble in this match.

Liverpool, fielding their full-strength squad, secured a 2-0 away victory thanks to goals in both halves.

They achieved a sixteen-game winning streak in the league!

After this round of league matches.

12 month 17 day.

The seventeenth round of the league.

Liverpool will host Manchester United at Old Trafford!

This is a highly anticipated match between the two major European teams.

Although Manchester United have been in poor form recently.

But this is a derby match.

Nobody knows what will happen in a game like this.

After all, Manchester United used to be awesome, while Liverpool was a disappointment.

Liverpool also occasionally defeats Manchester United in the Merseyside derby.

Liverpool had gone several rounds without a win.

They then delivered a harsh blow to Manchester United in the Manchester derby.

Liverpool back then.

Because they have been unable to compete for the championship in the league for many years.

therefore.

Every season is a challenge for Liverpool fans.

If we can defeat Manchester United in both legs of the league.

Even if they finish sixth, seventh, or eighth in the league, it wouldn't be considered a failed season.
but now.

The roles of the two sides seem to have been reversed.

Liverpool are currently on a tear toward the league title.

Manchester United.

They are stuck in the quagmire of the lower half of the league.

Especially recently. From November 12th.

Manchester United started the season with a 0-1 defeat to Manchester City in the Manchester derby.

This includes league and Champions League matches.

Manchester United have played eight games so far, winning only one at home against Liverpool.

The other seven games
We lost everything!
Such a terrible record.

Whether it's Manchester United's management, fans, or many club legends, none of them can tolerate this.

They lost seven out of eight games.
Even back when Manchester United was fighting to avoid relegation in the old First Division.

That's quite rare.

This clearly demonstrates just how bad Manchester United's form is.

this time.

The media is constantly buzzing with the question, "Has Mourinho been sacked?"

The Reds vs. Reds match is drawing ever closer.

The Manchester Evening News, a local newspaper in Manchester, reported that this Manchester derby was the last chance for Manchester United's management to deal with Mourinho.

They lost the Manchester derby.

Mourinho is out!

The Manchester Evening News report was very convincing.

This led many people to believe it.

This information was deliberately leaked by Manchester United's management.

They're just waiting for Mourinho to lose his last humiliating match so they can conveniently fire him.

this time.

Manchester United is indeed in a precarious situation.

It's one thing to be out of form and lose games in a row.

The key issue is that news of discord between the generals and the commanders also surfaces from time to time.

A short video even circulated online a few days ago.

Pogba was chatting and laughing with Matic.

As a result, Mourinho leaned over and said something.

Pogba's smile immediately turned gloomy.

Such a scene.

This gives everyone a glimpse into the current poor relationship between Mourinho and some Manchester United players.

And
Such videos can be circulated.

This also proves it.

Among the staff of Manchester United.

There are numerous internal spies—this long-established powerhouse is bloated and overstaffed.

They have the most employees in the entire Premier League.

But this is from inside the club.

It was like a drafty thatched hut.

Reporters always manage to get confidential information from inside Manchester United.
This team has fallen to this point.

It has little to do with Mourinho – it's unlikely any Manchester United manager could turn things around unless the club's management is completely restructured and undergoes sweeping reforms.

However, this is not easy.

Because reforms will inevitably involve growing pains.

And with so many Manchester United legends, everyone wants to say a few words.

The media throughout England also love to focus on Manchester United, the premier powerhouse in England.

The media around the world are no exception – after all, Manchester United has such a large number of fans.

According to statistics from many media outlets.

Manchester United likely has more fans worldwide than Real Madrid, ranking first in the world.

and so.

Do Manchester United news.

That means traffic, that means attention.

Reforms should be implemented under these circumstances.

difficult.

It is extremely difficult.

Now, many Manchester United legends have publicly criticized Mourinho.

After losing to Valencia in the final round of the Champions League group stage.

Scholes was in the commentary booth on Sky Sports at the time.

He bluntly stated, "If I were Mourinho, I would have resigned by now."

After losing to Southampton.

Even Ferdinand, who had previously been a staunch supporter of Mourinho, couldn't hold back any longer: "I don't know how long the club will keep losing. Mourinho may really no longer be suitable to be the head coach."

Driven by such public opinion.

Mourinho is on the verge of being sacked.

Before the start of this match.

People have already started discussing this.

They lost to Liverpool away from home.

Mourinho's dismissal is a foregone conclusion.

But many people haven't thought about it any deeper.
Even if Manchester United wins against Liverpool away from home.

Can Mourinho continue to manage Manchester United?

Does this solve the team's problems?
Manchester United fans wouldn't think about that.

For Mourinho

Even though they beat Liverpool.

He simply postponed the end of his get out of class by a tiny bit.

Anfield Stadium was already bustling with noise before the match.

In the media section.

Reporters have obtained the starting lineups for both sides.

There's not much to say about Liverpool's starting lineup.

The team's core lineup is very stable, and even if there are adjustments, they are only minor tweaks.

It is worth mentioning that.

Van Dijk finally returned to the field for this match.

Moreover, he made his first appearance as a starter upon his return.

It's clear that Klopp still trusts him quite a bit.

The key is Manchester United's starting lineup.

On this starting lineup.

Without Pogba, there is no Martial.

Mata, Luke Shaw, and others were also on the bench.

Mourinho still used a 4-2-3-1 formation.

However, he preferred to move Dalot forward to play right midfield instead of using Mata or Martial.
Mata goes without saying.

When I was at Chelsea.

Mourinho doesn't really like using Mata.

And Martial
Mourinho has publicly criticized Martial's attitude on several occasions.

As for Pogba...

In terms of ability.

Pogba is definitely a superstar player in the current Manchester United team.

But he was firmly kept on the bench.

Even in an important event like the Manchester derby.

They didn't get a starting opportunity either.

"It seems that the relationship between the two has completely broken down."

"With Lingard instead of Pogba, it seems Manchester United are going to defend desperately away from home."

"Rashford is in such poor form, yet he's still in the starting lineup."

"can't read."

While the reporters were discussing it.

Both teams' players have returned to the locker room.

Wait until they come on stage again.

The first Manchester derby of the season is about to begin.

Inside the home team's locker room.

Klopp looked at his players.

"There's been a lot of news about our opponents these past few days, and I hope you won't be affected by it. This is our home ground, and we'll play as we always have, regardless of our opponents' situation."

"We have only one goal in mind, and that is victory!"

Meanwhile, in the away team's locker room.

Mourinho looked somewhat tired.

His three years managing Manchester United.

He felt like he had aged thirty years.

"This is an away game, so our priority is to focus on defense."

Upon hearing this, Pogba couldn't help but purse his lips.

Defense.

It's defense again.

Does this Portuguese guy have anything new to offer?
After the match began.

Everyone can see Manchester United's strategy for the away game: park the bus.

"No doubt about it."