Chapter 1 The Beginning

While Martin O'Neill was in the locker room berating his players, Ferguson was all smiles in his own. He was pleased with the team's performance in the first half. Although the team had only scored one goal, which wasn't very reassuring, considering the hostile public opinion before the game, it was already impressive that the players could withstand the pressure and score a goal.

Leading by only one goal wasn't too big of a problem. Although everyone said, "A one-goal lead is the most insecure lead in the world," wasn't there also an exclusive term in the world of football called "1:0-ism"?

In other words, a one-goal lead wasn't the end of the world, and there was no need to worry too much.

What he needed to do now was to boost the team's morale, turn the first half's lead into the players' confidence and momentum, and ultimately turn it into a victory.

"Lads, you did great! This old man is sincerely happy and proud of you! Yes, proud!" The "Hairdryer" Sir Alex wasn't just good at yelling at people and spitting on their faces. He was also capable of this kind of passionate, inspiring speech.

"You scored the first goal at the home of your arch-rivals and maintained that lead until the end of the first half! So far this season, whether in the domestic league, the League Cup, or the Champions League, Liverpool has never been behind at the end of the first half! You did it! You shattered their myth! It proves that Liverpool is no different from us! They can beat us at our home, and we can beat them at their home!"

"In the second half, we have to keep playing like this, keep defending tenaciously and counterattacking sharply, and seize every opportunity we can to score!"

"I don't want to say that Manchester United is at a critical juncture of life and death. I just want to tell you that if we keep losing, we will be further and further away from the top of the league! Every one of you is fed up with the media's incessant noise during this period! Ever since we lost that game at Old Trafford, the media has been constantly finding fault with us, publicly declaring that we are finished! The problem is that we have no way to refute them, because we did lose to them at home and lost the league title! But now, a new season has begun, and we have the opportunity to wash away our shame and tell those bastard media that we, Manchester United, cannot be defeated! So, now I demand that you defeat them here and repay the humiliation we suffered last season a hundredfold!"

"Remember, lads! We are the 'Red Devils' Manchester United! Even if this is Anfield, we can still beat them!"

※※※

The halftime break passed quickly amidst the intense arrangements and adjustments on both sides. The fifteen minutes passed almost in the blink of an eye.

But for the fans outside the field, they couldn't wait any longer.

Fifteen minutes was simply torture for them!

In these fifteen minutes, they had to endure the arrogant songs of the Manchester United fans.

Phil Gibbs and his partners were drinking beverages in the rest area while waiting for the second half to begin.

They heard the singing coming from outside.

Adam Smith listened for a while, then curled his lip and said, "It's Manchester United people."

"Damn it! They sure are arrogant!" Tom Jackson cursed angrily. "Have they forgotten whose home this is?!"

"What can you do?" Adam shrugged. "Our team's performance in the first half was really bad. They're in the lead, so of course, they're entitled to be arrogant..."

"But I can't stand it!" Tom said, clenching his fists. Then he shouted to his companions around him: "Everyone in the Red Giants! In the second half, we're going to make sure those Manchester United bastards can't utter a single syllable!"

"Silence them completely!"

"Let them see whose home this is!"

"Kill them!!"

A group of people immediately waved their fists and shouted excitedly.

People around them were startled at first, but when they turned their heads and saw that it was the Red Giants, they were no longer surprised. This fan organization was mainly composed of young people, and they were full of passion and energy, just like their idol, Chen Hero.

In the past, the Kop stand was where the most hardcore fans gathered, and it was very impressive. But now, under the leadership of the "Red Giants" organization, the Centenary Stand was gradually catching up with the Kop stand. These young people had made great contributions.

※※※

The fans on both sides returned to their seats, and the second half of the match began.

From the very beginning of the second half, the sound from the Centenary Stand was much louder than in the first half. As expected, the Manchester United fans could no longer make any sound - as soon as they opened their mouths, they would be drowned out by the huge wave of sound.

Especially the Red Giants on the Centenary Stand. They kept singing, jumping up and down in the stands, waving their arms, and never stopped for a second, as if they would never get tired.

The sound from the stands was transmitted to the field, giving the Liverpool players great courage and confidence.

Amidst the cheers of the Liverpool fans, they launched wave after wave of attacks towards the Manchester United goal.

Manchester United could only shrink into their own thirty-meter area, retreating across the board.

Seeing that his team's situation was critical, the Manchester United fans wanted to cheer for their team.

But as soon as they opened their mouths, their voices were suppressed again...

At this time, those Manchester United fans who were still singing and dancing in the stands during the halftime break and had become the stars of the show suddenly realized - oh right, this is Liverpool's home, Anfield!

※※※

"Liverpool's attack is very fierce! This period of Liverpool has shown us the Liverpool that once made the whole of England submit! Manchester United is in danger now!"

"I don't know what Martin O'Neill said to his disciples during the halftime break, but it's clear that Liverpool in the second half is completely different from Liverpool in the first half!"

"Look at the expressions on those Manchester United fans... They are biting their fingers tightly, staring at the field with their eyes fixed, forgetting to wave their arms, and forgetting to make a sound, for fear that their team will lose a goal if they are not careful... All the Manchester United fans are holding their breath..."

Smalling learned his lesson from his previous encounters with Chen Hero last season, and no longer took it upon himself to force the ball to Chen Hero's left foot, because he now knew that Chen Hero's left foot was no longer as不堪 (不堪 -不堪) as he had previously thought.

But despite this, he was still under a lot of pressure in this game, especially in the second half.

Chen Hero was like a different person. If Chen Hero's performance in the first half was 70%, then it was 120% now!

Smalling had been struggling to hold on. Although Phil Jones was helping, Phil Jones mainly had to defend Suarez, who was as slippery as an eel, so the pressure was not small. It was already very difficult for him to come over and help occasionally.

In this game, Martin O'Neill did not let Götze start. Facing their arch-rivals, he cautiously chose Liverpool's lineup from last season. Everyone was most familiar with this lineup, and their tacit understanding was the highest. Götze was on the bench. If the game fell into a stalemate, he might be able to achieve a surprise effect by coming on as a substitute.

※※※

Liverpool's bombardment of Manchester United's goal not only made the Manchester United fans very nervous, but Ferguson on the coaching bench was also nervous.

He knew very well what this game meant for Manchester United. If Manchester United could beat Liverpool away from home, then Manchester United would still have the confidence and morale to compete with Liverpool. But if Manchester United lost to Liverpool away from home, and lost twice in a row, then the blow to the team would be huge.

Most importantly, he would have no excuse or reason to convince the players that the gap between Manchester United and Liverpool was not as big as the media said.

If they lost the game, the facts would be in front of everyone, and everyone could see that Manchester United was indeed not as good as Liverpool, and the gap was widening.

What Ferguson was trying so hard and desperately to prevent was this future.

He couldn't let that breath out no matter what.

At least not before he left the Manchester United manager's seat!

He watched Liverpool's wave-like attacks on the field, chewing gum quickly in his mouth, and his heart was moving faster than his mouth!

Then, the mouth that was constantly moving and chewing gum suddenly stopped.

He saw on the field that Liverpool made a direct pass. Gerrard passed the ball directly to Manchester United's ribs.

And there was a leak in Manchester United's defense now!

Suarez, who should have been in the middle, slipped into the ribs like an eel, and received the ball, not offside!

※※※

A huge cheer erupted from the stands of Anfield.

Suarez received the ball under this cheer, turned around, and took a step forward.

The Manchester United players turned around and pounced on Suarez frantically.

At this moment, Suarez swept the ball towards the edge of the penalty area with a low shot...

Chen Hero arrived at full speed, without any hesitation, and without making any adjustments, he shot directly!

The ball was thus smashed into the goal guarded by De Gea.

The distance was too close, and the speed was too fast, De Gea had no way to make any saves...

The speed was so fast that the commentators didn't see if it had really gone in at first. It wasn't until the ball rolled up the net, and then Suarez raised his arms in celebration, that the commentators realized it.

"Eh, look at this ball... Look at this ball - this ball, this ball, this ball went in!!!"

"Hero! He equalized the score for Liverpool! Of course, he must first thank Suarez and Gerrard! Liverpool used a wonderful combination to tear open Manchester United's defense! And finally, Chen Hero made the final decision!"

"Hero has given all Liverpool fans a sigh of relief!"

※※※

Ferguson opened his mouth, forgetting to chew the gum in his mouth, and the gum was clearly visible in his mouth.

He didn't care that his image might not be very good-looking. The moment Chen Hero blocked the ball into the goal, he felt that his heart almost stopped beating!