Chapter 640 Game

Each season, from the end of December to mid-January of the following year, due to the European weather and the fact that Christmas is equivalent to the New Year in European countries, the national football associations set up a winter break based on the actual situation.

The winter breaks of La Liga, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 all start after December 23, 2018. Serie A starts later, but also at the end of December. Teams in these four major leagues can all get more than ten days of rest time. .

However, there is no such thing as a winter break in the Premier League. It has become a tradition in England to even play games during holidays.

Of course, for the English Football Association, they are unwilling to give up any games. In England's top league, even the weakest team must play at least forty games in a season.

For teams like Liverpool, there will be more. In the past half season of 2018, Liverpool players have played in the Community Shield, League, Super Cup, Champions League group stage, League Cup and Club World Cup. More than thirty games.

This does not include games with national team assignments during international matches, so many coaches have different opinions on England's lack of winter break.

Even so, it is a rule that England does not have a winter break, especially since the Premier League still has the habit of playing games during Christmas and New Year. The battle between Manchester City and Liverpool at Tianwangshan is scheduled to be held on the first day of the 2019 New Year.

"Hell, we have to go to this damn city to play in this damn weather, those bastards from the FA!" Klopp complained while sitting on the club bus, in a bad mood.

In this case, not even the captain dared to say it on the bus, because everyone knew that Li Qing's girlfriend, Tong Shenbing, the current sports manager of Liverpool, was studying at university in Manchester.

Today's Liverpool players would really rather offend the coach than Tong Shenbing, otherwise they will definitely fail the physical fitness test that day, and the consequence of not passing the test will be three bowls of soup that is so bitter that they doubt their life.

But it’s not surprising that Klopp complained that not having a winter break will mean that his team will play more games than teams in other leagues. Teams that don’t get a rest will be worse than opponents in other leagues who have gone through the winter break. Compared with that, there will be many more wounded and sick people.

Gomez is still recovering from injury in Liverpool. The team doctor's report indicates that he needs to rest for at least four weeks. Salah's condition is more serious. It is definitely impossible to see him play at least in March.

Chamberlain is recovering well, but it is still unknown when he will be able to play. Keita is also suffering from minor injuries. Milner, Matip and others also have various problems. Although it will not affect the game, who knows when it will break out. come out.

It is really a long and arduous task to defend all the championships. Is it possible that I really have to give up the domestic cup and focus on the league and the Champions League? But fans like that...

Klopp felt a little headache and looked back inside the car. Li Qing was sitting behind him, sleeping soundly with his mouth open.

This guy! Klopp cursed in his mind, he was the only one in the whole bus who could sleep so soundly! However, Li Qing's relaxed attitude can also make many people in the team feel more relaxed.

I don’t know when it was, but Li Qing can be said to be Liverpool’s anchor. As long as he is on the court, the players’ energy is much stronger than usual, even when the team is lagging behind!

I hope everything goes well in today's game! Klopp breathed a sigh of relief and sat closer to the back of the chair.

Today's game is a battle that determines the trend of the Premier League championship this season. There is no doubt that his old rival Guardiola will definitely not let this 6-point Tianwangshan battle be messed up at his home court!

Although Guardiola praised Liverpool as the best team in Europe in a previous interview with the media, he also said, "If Manchester City loses another point in this game, it will be impossible to compete for the championship this season. ”

From this point of view, Klopp also deeply agrees. Taking it literally, Klopp also knows that Guardiola does not want to lose and cannot even accept a draw. Winning is the first priority for Manchester City in this game. Target.

It seems that this game is not easy to score points! Klopp also discovered the team's current problems through the team's intra-team competition.

But he is still hesitant. If Guardiola continues to use strong offensive tactics at his home court, will his starting lineup today be too risky?

This feeling made Klopp's heart still not settled after seeing the starting players of both sides take the field.

Just as Klopp himself and his tactical team predicted, the personnel sent by Manchester City's head coach today seemed to be playing 433.

Goalkeeper Ederson, defenders Stones, Danino, Kompany and Laporte, midfielder Fernandinho, Bernardo Silva and David Silva, forward Aqui Luo, Sterling and Sane.

But through positioning, Klopp discovered that Guardiola actually lined up a 4231 defensive counterattack formation.

The emergence of Stones, Danino and Kompany on the back line did not surprise Klopp. What surprised him was that Laporte actually appeared at the left back position.

Fernandinho and Bernardo trailed behind, David Silva was in the center, Sterling and Sane were on both sides, and Aguero advanced forward.

It seems that Guardiola really plans to compete with himself in the midfield today, and then use Sterling and Sane, the two wing sharpshooters, to attack his wing to create opportunities!

Li Qing was really fooled!

Klopp looked at Li Qing, who was standing on the court, waiting for kick-off, and murmured to himself: "Then it's up to you!"

At this moment, Guardiola, who was standing on the side of the court, looking at the Liverpool lineup on the field, was in a daze, and his eyes became a little erratic.

Liverpool's defense today was exactly what he thought, with goalkeeper Alisson, defenders Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Lovren and Van Dijk lined up.

But the choice of midfielder gave him an ominous omen. Fabinho, Wijnaldum and Li Qing actually formed the midfielder, and the forward became a combination of Firmino, Mane and Sturridge. .

This is very different from what Guardiola thought. He originally received the news that Henderson, who has returned from suspension, will definitely play in this game, and vice-captain Milner also has a high chance of starting, but both of them are now sitting on the bench. On the bench!

What particularly puzzles Guardiola is why Liverpool's ace striker appears in the center instead of the forward line. What does it mean to send Sturridge up, who has been away from the team for a long time? Guardiola felt like he couldn't understand Klopp for the first time.