Chapter 131 Scoring One More Goal than Conceding Means Winning the Game!

De Bruyne helped Manchester City equalize the score with a direct free kick. The fanatical atmosphere of the Etihad Stadium was instantly ignited, and the cheers continued.

Liverpool coach Klopp, who was shown on the broadcast screen, shook his head and sighed. The team was too passive a few minutes before losing the ball. They couldn't even touch the ball. Even if they had the opportunity to counterattack, they would be destroyed by Manchester City players in the first time.

Li Qing's footwork is indeed excellent, but his two feet are no match for the opponent's three-man double-team defense. Even if he can barely maintain control of the ball, the best counterattack opportunity is lost.

Sometimes Manchester City players are very decisive in committing fouls. As long as they find that the timing is not right, they will commit fouls. The referee Michael Oliver is more willing to give the home team face, and at most a verbal warning will be given for tactical fouls in the midfield and backcourt.

Continuous pressure came, and finally caused the ball to be lost.

Li Qing didn't have much emotional fluctuations. He looked nonchalant, as if the ball had nothing to do with him.

In fact, Li Qing had seen through it long ago. As a striker who scores goals, he only cares about scoring goals. If the defense loses a lot of goals, he will score one more goal than the defense conceded number.

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

In addition, Manchester City played really well. Although this was Guardiola's first season as Manchester City coach, the players implemented his Tiki-Taka tactics very well. The game was just like a monkey in a training match. The players who tried to grab the ball couldn't touch the ball at all.

The game was only more than 30 minutes long, and there were more than 50 minutes left before the end of the game. There was no panic at all!

"Beep~"

With the whistle of the referee Michael Oliver, the game was announced to be restarted.

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

Clichy, Yaya Toure and Sane all appeared two meters in front of Li Qing. They surrounded but did not grab, blocking Li Qing's breakthrough space.

Seeing this situation, Li Qing had to pass the ball horizontally to Emre Can, who was attacking on the right rib, and the latter passed it to Coutinho.

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

The effect achieved was quite obvious, but the direct threat was not as high as on the right.

Li Qing's attack was able to hit Manchester City's defense every time, but Mane, Milner and Coutinho's left wing could not.

Klopp was a little confused as to why the left wing had more attacks but was not as threatening as the right wing, which had significantly fewer attacks.

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

Liverpool was also good at high-position pressure, approaching the Manchester City players with the ball as soon as possible to delay Manchester City's counterattack speed.

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

The long-term fast-paced attack brought a significant decline in the physical fitness of the players on both sides. In order to ensure that they could play the entire game, the offensive rhythm was constantly decreasing.

Until the end of the first half, the score of 1:1 shown on the scoreboard did not change.

Manchester City coach Conte, Tottenham coach Pochettino, Arsenal coach Wenger and Manchester United coach Mourinho, who were sitting in front of the TV, all nodded slightly with satisfaction. For them, Manchester City's home draw with Liverpool was a good result.

However, the game was only halfway through, and the score they hoped to see might not be the real ending.

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

For the other four teams in the top six, a draw is one of the best results, but for Manchester City and Liverpool, a draw is the last choice.

The fifteen-minute halftime break was neither long nor short. When the players of both teams entered the stadium, the fans sitting in front of the TV could see that the mental outlook of the players of both teams had changed a lot.

If I use two words to describe it, it would be...confidence.

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

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

Manchester City kicked off the first half, and the visiting team Liverpool kicked off the second half. Manchester City was obviously dissecting the game that Manchester United lost to Liverpool at home a week ago. They defended with all their strength at the beginning and did not give Li Qing any chance at all.

Li Qing's footwork was indeed excellent. He passed one, two, and three, but it was difficult to pass the fourth.

It's not that he was not good at it, but that Manchester City players would choose to foul.

Liverpool's offensive was fierce at the beginning of the second half. Li Qing, who was excellent at dribbling, caused Manchester City players to foul one after another. Michael Oliver, who was soft in the first half, suddenly became tight in the second half. Clichy and Yaya Toure received yellow cards in succession.

Manchester City coach 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 in succession, which will definitely affect their next defensive actions. Li Qing has strong breakthrough ability and fast speed, as if he saw Messi during his coaching of Barcelona. Conventional defense can't defend at all.

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

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

So Guardiola prepared to make adjustments to the lineup.

Kolarov, Sagna and Fernando all ran to the warm-up area to warm up. Li Qing, who was constantly looking for opportunities by running, turned his smart eyes slightly.

Manchester City's adjustment must be aimed at the left side. Clichy and Yaya Toure both received yellow cards, which means that the period before the adjustment is completed 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.

Because Guardiola had emphasized before the game and during the halftime break, even if Li Qing's long pass was very accurate, it did not cause any 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, Manchester City players had already had inertial thinking.

Li Qing's mouth corners slightly raised, and Manchester City's defensive players consciously leaned towards the right side of the defense. At this time, the inside of his left foot suddenly dunked the ball to the right front.

Sane was unable to react and was rushed by Li Qing in a straight line.

Yaya Toure made up for it. Li Qing first pretended to speed up, then stopped suddenly, pushed the ball to the left with the outside of his left foot, and went inside!

Clichy quickly moved inwards and helped De Bruyne defend Li Qing. Yaya Toure was attracted by Klein's forward run and did not follow.

"aooaoaoaooo——"

Li Qing suddenly accelerated, and the Manchester City players immediately lost their sense of proportion.

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