Chapter 131 If you score one more goal than you concede, you win!

De Bruyne helped Manchester City equalize the score through a direct free kick. The fanatical atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium was instantly detonated, and the cheers came one after another.

Liverpool head coach Klopp, shown in the broadcast, shook his head and sighed. The team was too passive in the few minutes before conceding the ball, and could not even touch the ball. Even if there was a chance to counterattack, Manchester City players would counterattack immediately. destroy.

Li Qing's foot skills are indeed excellent, but it is difficult for him to defend against the opponent's three-man defense with both feet. Even if he can barely maintain control of the football, the best chance to counterattack is lost.

Sometimes Manchester City players are very decisive in fouling. They will foul whenever they find that the timing is wrong. The referee Michael Oliver is more concerned about giving face to the home team. Tactical fouls in the midfield and backcourt will at most give a verbal warning.

Continuous pressure came and finally resulted in a goal conceded.

Li Qing didn't have many mood swings. He looked as if nothing had happened, as if losing the ball had nothing to do with him.

In fact, Li Qing has already seen through it. As a forward who scores goals, he only cares about scoring goals. As many goals as the defense concedes, he will score one more goal than the number of goals conceded by the defense.

Then... isn't that also a win?

In addition, Manchester City did play very well. Although this was Guardiola's first season coaching Manchester City, the players implemented his Tiki-Taka tactics very well. The game was completely like a monkey in a training match, and the players who grabbed the ball were not able to do anything at all. Just can't touch the ball.

The game only lasts for more than thirty minutes, and there are still more than fifty minutes until the end of the game. Don't panic at all!

"Beep~"

With a whistle from the referee Michael Oliver, the game was announced to restart.

Liverpool, who had a kick-off advantage, tried to open up the situation quickly. The football passed through a few kicks and naturally came to Li Qing's feet.

Chrissy, Yaya Toure and Sane all appeared two meters in front of Li Qing. They surrounded him without grabbing him, blocking Li Qing's breakthrough space.

Seeing this situation, Li Qing had no choice but to pass the ball horizontally to Emre Can, who was on the right side of the attack, and the latter passed it to Coutinho.

Liverpool's attack on the right was in a slump, and Coutinho, who controlled the offensive direction of the game, consciously assisted Mane and Milner on the left to attack.

The effect achieved is more obvious, but the direct threat is not as good as that on the right.

Li Qing's attack can hit three inches of Manchester City's defense every time, but Mane, Milner and Coutinho can't on the left.

Klopp couldn't understand why the left wing, which had more attacks, was not as threatening as the right wing, which had significantly fewer attacks.

The attack from the left ended with Milner's cross. Firmino in the middle of the penalty area failed to beat Stones, and Manchester City switched from defense to offense.

Liverpool are also good at high-pressure, getting close to the Manchester City player holding the ball immediately and delaying Manchester City's counterattack speed.

When the Manchester City players holding the ball had an easy chance to get the ball, the Liverpool players also filed back into their own half, set up a defensive formation and waited for Manchester City to attack.

The long-term fast-paced offense has brought obvious physical decline to the players on both sides. In order to ensure that they can play the entire game, the offensive rhythm is constantly decreasing.

Until the end of the first half, the scoreboard showed no change in the 1:1 score.

Sitting in front of the TV, Manchester City coach Conte, Tottenham coach Pochettino, Arsenal coach Wenger and Manchester United coach Mourinho nodded lightly with satisfaction. For them, Manchester City's home draw A good result for Liverpool.

It's just that half of the game has passed, and the score they hope to see may not yet become the real ending.

Guardiola and Klopp, who appeared on the broadcast screen one after another, had relatively normal expressions, just a little more solemn.

A draw would be one of the best results for the other four teams in the top six, but for Manchester City and Liverpool, a draw is the last option.

The fifteen-minute intermission is neither long nor short. When the players from both teams enter the stadium, the fans sitting in front of the TV can see that the mental outlook of the players from both teams has greatly improved.

If I could describe it in two words, it would be...confidence.

When the broadcast screen showed Li Qing, he was on the court high-fiving his teammates.

That confident smile affected every teammate. Even the Liverpool fans watching the game in front of the TV were refreshed and full of confidence in the next game.

The first half was kicked off by Manchester City, and the second half was naturally kicked off by the visiting team Liverpool. Manchester City was obviously conducting an anatomical study of the match that Manchester United lost to Liverpool at home a week ago. They defended with all their strength in the beginning and did not give Li Qing a chance at all. .

Li Qing's skills at his feet were indeed excellent. He passed one, two, and three, but it was difficult to think about the fourth one.

It's not that he's not technically good, but that Manchester City players will choose to foul.

Liverpool's offensive was very fierce at the beginning of the second half. Li Qing, who was an excellent dribbler, caused fouls by Manchester City players one after another. Michael Oliver, whose whistle was relatively soft in the first half, suddenly became tighter in the second half. Clichy and Yaya Tou Lei received consecutive yellow cards.

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola walked to the sidelines and paced back and forth, thinking about how to reverse the unfavorable situation in the second half.

Yaya Toure and Clichy received yellow cards one after another, which will definitely have an impact on their next defensive actions. Li Qing has strong breakthrough ability and fast speed. It seems that he saw Messi when he was coaching Barcelona, ​​and conventional defense was basically impossible. Can't guard against it.

A foul is likely to result in a second yellow card, resulting in non-combat casualties.

How can we defeat the menacing Liverpool with one less player?

As a result, Guardiola is preparing to make adjustments to the lineup.

Kolarov, Sania and Fernando all ran to the warm-up area to warm up. Li Qing, who was constantly looking for opportunities through running, rolled his eyes slightly.

Manchester City's adjustment must be for the left wing. Clichy and Yaya Toure both received yellow cards, which means that the period before completing the adjustment is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Li Qing, who received the ball, faced two defenders and did not break through. He directly made a long pass with his left foot.

As Guardiola emphasized before the game and at halftime, even if Li Qing's long pass was very accurate, it did not pose an actual threat.

This situation occurred three times in a row within five minutes. When Li Qing raised his foot to prepare for the fourth long pass, the Manchester City players already had inertial thinking.

The corners of Li Qing's mouth raised slightly. The Manchester City defensive player consciously leaned towards the right side of the defense. At this moment, he slammed the ball forward to the right with the inside of the instep of his left foot.

Sane didn't react in time, and Li Qing rushed straight at him.

Yaya Toure made up for it. Li Qing first made a false impression of accelerating, then stopped on the spot, moved the ball to the left with the outside of his left foot, and went inside!

Clichy quickly moved in to help defend Li Qing with De Bruyne. Yaya Toure was attracted by Klein's advance and did not follow.

"aooaoaoaooo——"

Li Qing suddenly increased his speed, and the Manchester City players suddenly lost their sense of proportion.

Guardiola, who was standing in front of the home team's coaching bench, raised his eyebrows and felt faintly uneasy.