Chapter 1 Although Troubled by How to Defeat Real Madrid at the Bernabéu

Although troubled by how to defeat Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, it didn't mean Liverpool wasn't doing anything else.

Before the second leg against Real Madrid, Liverpool had a tough league game, a trip to Newcastle United.

Should they give up this game and concentrate on preparing for the match against Real Madrid?

Or should they first go all out to win the game against Newcastle United, continue to maintain their three-point advantage over Manchester United in the standings, and then find a way to beat Real Madrid?

It was time for another multiple-choice question.

But in Martin O'Neill's view, this wasn't a multiple-choice question.

His answer was basically a full-strength starting lineup, with only one position adjusted—Gareth Bale rested, and Adam Johnson replaced him in the starting lineup.

Apart from him, the starting players in other positions were exactly the same as in the match Liverpool played against Real Madrid at home.

Before this game started, the media, after getting the starting lists of both sides, said that it looked like Martin O'Neill was going to give up the Champions League game. It seemed Ferguson was right... He truly deserved to be an experienced, old coach with countless championships in his hands. He saw through Liverpool coach Martin O'Neill's plan at a glance!

Unexpectedly, Ferguson wasn't happy at all when he saw Liverpool's starting lineup. Now, this result meant that Liverpool was going to give up the Champions League and focus on the league with all their strength.

But what he hoped was that Liverpool would give up the domestic league, assist in the Champions League, and then Manchester United would steal the championship in the domestic league, and they would gain nothing in the Champions League either...

If Liverpool focused on the domestic league, their three-point advantage might become an insurmountable gap!

This was the result Ferguson least wanted to see.

He really didn't expect that Martin O'Neill would bear the infamy of deliberately giving up the Champions League for the league title... It seemed that the Liverpool people really had a lot of resentment towards the league title, and they had to win this championship no matter what, to fill a blank in their team's history.

Such a Liverpool team would be difficult to defeat...

Ferguson began to worry a little.

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Martin O'Neill's approach not only surprised Ferguson, but also surprised others.

Because they felt that the normal approach should be to rotate some of the main players, let them get rest, and the other part of the main players would continue to start, so that they could ensure both rest and increase the chances of defeating Newcastle United away.

Now that O'Neill was doing this, it certainly increased the team's chances of winning Newcastle United away, but what about the Champions League game in the middle of the week?

You had to know that Liverpool had to play two away games in three days, first to Newcastle in the far north of England, and then after the game against Newcastle, spend the night in Newcastle, and then fly directly to Madrid. This kind of back-and-forth travel would have a great impact on the players' physical fitness, not to mention playing games. Playing away games was much more tiring than playing home games. In this state of physical and mental exhaustion, flying hundreds of kilometers back and forth, would Liverpool really have any fighting power left?

Were they really going to give up and ignore it?

Was Ferguson right?

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Before the game started, Martin O'Neill gave his players a final motivational speech in the locker room.

"Guys, including this game, there are seven league games left before the end of the season, and we're only three points ahead of Manchester United. For these seven games, a three-point lead is nothing at all. Every game that follows is a decisive battle. I will do this in every game—use our strongest lineup to meet the enemy. This will certainly make you feel tired, but other than that, we have no other way. Do you want the league title? Do you want to be forever remembered in Liverpool's hundred-year history? Do you want to become club legends like Robbie Fowler, Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush...? If you do, you have to pay the price! It's not so easy to become a legend! The last seven games, guys!" Martin O'Neill held out seven fingers. "Seven decisive battles! Let's go all out in every game! Grit your teeth and persevere! These may be the most difficult seven games you've ever encountered, but if you can persevere, you can be written into history! You will be the first Liverpool players to win the Premier League title! Your contribution to Liverpool's revival will make your names often mentioned even decades later!"

While the outside world was speculating about what Martin O'Neill was thinking, Martin O'Neill made his decision, which was... from this game onwards, he would no longer rotate players! Even if there were, it would only be minor adjustments in one or two positions like today.

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Just like that, Liverpool's away game against Newcastle United began.

Everyone focused their attention on this game, wanting to see if Liverpool could really get their wish and defeat Newcastle, putting pressure on Liverpool, under the guidance of this do-or-die strategy to ensure the league title.

Liverpool's players obviously also knew that the situation was very critical now.

A little carelessness, and they could be caught up by Manchester United, and then pushed by them into the abyss, falling into an irredeemable hell!

So Liverpool's players were really giving it their all in this game.

From the very beginning of the game, they were actively pressing, hoping to score first.

But contrary to their wishes, it was Newcastle who scored first.

Although Newcastle had been slaughtered by Liverpool at Liverpool's home stadium, with no power to fight back, they were still very confident at their own home stadium.

In the cheers of the home fans, Newcastle's players embraced each other to celebrate their goal.

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Manchester United's game was to be played a day later. It had been like this all this time, with Liverpool's game on the first day and Manchester United's game on the second day. It was as if it was deliberately arranged to make the competition for the league title look even more intense.

Ferguson also had the opportunity to watch Liverpool's games and understand the latest developments of this opponent.

Now he was sitting in front of the TV, watching the game between Liverpool and Newcastle United.

The TV camera swept across the faces of several key Liverpool players, and their eyes even looked a little dazed.

Ferguson smiled when he saw this scene.

Liverpool's luck had indeed been bad during this period. In the case of continuous encounters with fierce battles, they always ran into such things. No wonder they had this expression...

It seemed that even God wanted Manchester United to win!

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Martin O'Neill stood on the sidelines, looking serious.

He stood up straight and didn't walk around anxiously, or wave his arms and shout loudly.

That would only spread his own anxiety to the players, and it wouldn't be of any use.

But despite his strong and calm appearance, his heart was actually burning with anxiety.

He cursed this terrible luck in his heart!

Newcastle's goal was indeed related to luck. It was originally a long shot from Gutiérrez outside the penalty area.

Unexpectedly, Liverpool's defensive midfielder Inler touched it, and the football accidentally landed at Cissé's feet in the penalty area. And because it happened suddenly, no one was watching Cissé at all. He shot directly, and the football flew into Liverpool's goal so easily...

What else could this goal explain besides Liverpool's bad luck?

This damn luck!

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Liverpool's bad luck continued.

They launched a large-scale counterattack, hoping to equalize the score as soon as possible. But not only did they not equalize the score, but they left too many gaps behind them due to the large-scale counterattack, allowing Newcastle to seize an opportunity and score another goal with a counterattack!

"Damn it!" Goalkeeper Reina threw the football out of the goal, looking unhappy.

Being two goals behind in the first half was definitely a huge blow to Liverpool.

Many Liverpool fans couldn't help but put their hands on their heads when they saw Newcastle score the goal.

It was finally Newcastle's fans' turn to hold their heads high!

In the first half of the season, their team was beaten 1:4 by Liverpool at their home stadium, with no power to fight back.

In that game, Newcastle also scored first, and then Liverpool fans shouted Chen Hero's name in unison, and then Chen Hero pretended to raise his hand in response, and then Liverpool really won!

This made Newcastle fans always feel resentful. They felt that Chen Hero was acting like a sorcerer.

This time they were leading by two goals, and the Newcastle fans in the stands began to imitate Liverpool fans calling Chen Hero and shouted: "Hero! Hero! Where is Liverpool's hero!"

This was obvious mockery and provocation.

They didn't want to call Chen Hero out to help at all, but to mock Chen Hero and Liverpool fans. It felt like a child who couldn't beat someone, so they cried and ran home, calling their mother's name, and throwing themselves into their mother's arms to act spoiled.

This made Newcastle fans very unhappy.

Now the situation gave Newcastle fans a sufficient reason to provoke like this, because they were not afraid!

Before, they were only leading by one goal, but now they were leading by two goals, and it was still at their home stadium. They didn't believe that Chen Hero could really defy the heavens!

If you have the ability, then respond! See if you dare! Hahaha!

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Liverpool fans, hearing the shouts of Newcastle fans, naturally wouldn't be so silly and naive as to think that Newcastle United's fans were kindly helping them call Chen Hero to help.

They were stimulating and mocking Liverpool fans!

Liverpool fans were furious, especially the members of the Red Giant. But they were too few in number. In this stadium, they only occupied a small area in the uppermost stands.

Their momentum was completely suppressed by the Newcastle United fans, and they couldn't even make the sound of cheering for Liverpool, let alone fight back against Newcastle.

Who told them that they were now away from home? In other people's territory, they couldn't help themselves, and they had to bow their heads...

But this didn't stop them from feeling very unhappy.

At this moment, something happened that surprised them greatly!

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Newcastle fans were still stimulating Liverpool fans and mocking Chen Hero.

They kept shouting: "Hero! Hero! We need you! Liverpool needs you! Come out quickly!!"

Imitating Liverpool fans, they called Chen Hero's name in a pleading voice, and then burst into laughter together.

Even the commentators noticed the situation in the stands.

"Newcastle United fans have finally avenged their humiliation in the away game..."

"Newcastle United fans are really vengeful. They have now returned all the humiliation they suffered in the away game!"

"They are stimulating and provoking Liverpool and Chen Hero in this way. Ladies and gentlemen, don't think that Newcastle United fans have a good relationship with Chen Hero..."

"Liverpool fans must be very unhappy, but what can they do? This is an away game! In Newcastle United's territory!"

...

Another round of shouts from Newcastle United fans rang out in the stands.

Newcastle United's players also looked at Chen Hero with playful eyes, wanting to see what expression this person would have under such blatant provocation. Was it embarrassment or anger?

The last time the two sides played against each other, Newcastle players had a deep memory of Chen Hero responding to Liverpool fans, and then scoring a goal, which changed the atmosphere of the entire game.

At this moment, they saw Chen Hero raise his right hand, and forcefully clench his open five fingers into a fist!