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Chapter 289: Fight to the death?

Chapter 289: Fight to the death?
The eighth round of the Premier League has all ended.

Liverpool is now the only team in the league with a perfect record.

After defeating Manchester City, they got 24 points and topped the list.

After losing to Liverpool, Manchester City has eight games, seven wins and one loss, and 21 points, ranking second.

In third place is Chelsea.

Chelsea has only lost to Liverpool this season, and their record is six wins, one draw and one loss, with 19 points, ranking third.

In fourth place is Arsenal, with six wins and two losses, ranking fourth.

Manchester United has also been unable to recover from the quagmire it faced in the second half of last season.

Mourinho's team is facing a major crisis.

After eight rounds of the league, they only won three games. With three wins, two draws and three losses, Manchester United only got 3 points and ranked ninth in the league.

This caused many Manchester United legends to criticize Mourinho.

For example, Scholes believes Mourinho should be sacked.

The media also continued to report news about Manchester United's locker room.

For example, the relationship between Mourinho and Pogba has reached a freezing point. For example, English players such as Rashford, Luke Shaw, and Lingard have also begun to sing against Mourinho in the locker room.

At this moment when Liverpool is on the rise.

Their arch-rivals Manchester United are stuck in a quagmire.

This makes Manchester United fans very painful.

This pain also made them vent their anger on Mourinho.

The Portuguese coached Manchester United in his third season and fell into a major crisis again.
After defeating Manchester City.

Liverpool travel to challenge Shakhtar Donetsk.

This is the third round of the Champions League group stage.

In this game, Yang Guang came on as a substitute and scored a goal.

Since the team had just played a high-intensity match with Manchester City, they flew another 9,000 kilometers to the easternmost part of Europe.

The team's overall condition is not good.

The game ended with a score of one to one.

After three rounds of group matches.

Liverpool's two wins and one draw.

Get seven points.

Currently at the top of the list.

After the game.

Many media are shouting that Liverpool's form has improved.

They were glad that Liverpool didn't continue to win.
after all.

Including various competitions.

Community Shield, European Super Cup, Champions League, plus eight league games.

Liverpool has achieved the terrifying record of twelve consecutive wins.

If the winning streak continues.

Then the pressure they put on other teams is really too great.

Although this was a draw that took place in faraway Ukraine, Liverpool rotated their lineup.

But this is enough to give those teams that are being overwhelmed by Liverpool a sigh of relief.

Another person who breathed a sigh of relief was Everton head coach Marco Silva.

He can now tell his players with some confidence.

Liverpool is not invincible.

Shakhtar Donetsk can draw with them.

Then
So can Everton.

Marco Silva's interest in Liverpool is certainly justified.
because.

The reason why Liverpool rotates in the Champions League.

Because of.

It was the third day after they returned from Ukraine.

The ninth round of the Premier League.

Liverpool will face Everton at home.

It's a Merseyside derby.

Everton's new head coach Marco Silva certainly doesn't want to mess up his first derby game.

This game is important for Everton and also for Marco Silva.

because.

After eight rounds of league matches.

Everton's performance was really bad.

They only won two games, drew three and lost three.

Everton, with only 9 points, ranks th in the league.

If we drop one more place, we will be directly relegated to the relegation zone.

Everton is considered a strong team in the Premier League no matter what.

The number of English top-flight titles they have won in history.

Second only to Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Even Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham are ranked behind Everton - Everton has nine old English League One titles.

Even Manchester United.

If it weren't for the Premier League era, Ferguson would have won 13 Premier League titles.

Before the Premier League era began.

Manchester United will be behind Everton.

This is a team with a strong foundation in the Premier League.

If it really gets downgraded.

That would be really embarrassing.

not to mention.

Everton's performance is so bad now.

There is no hope for the league rankings.

Especially at this time.

The more you care about the outcome of the game with your mortal enemy.

This is a bit similar to Liverpool back then - Liverpool was always lingering in the middle of the league, unable to be relegated, and powerless to go further. At this time, for Liverpool fans, the biggest wish of this season was to defeat Manchester United!
The opposite is actually true.

When Manchester United was in decline.

Didn’t their fans also shout out “beating Liverpool twice this season would be a success”?

There is no pursuit of achievements.

Then we can only pursue some spiritual victory.

Before the game.

Everton players showed very strong fighting spirit.

From head coach Marco Silva.

To the players.

To the fans.

They all expressed that they must have a good fight with Liverpool away from home.

They not only have to prove their strength.

A greater purpose.

It is to interrupt Liverpool's winning streak.

They themselves cannot go further.

Then let's just hope to bring down our mortal enemy.

Marco Silva is also studying his opponents.

He is very clear.

The chances of beating Liverpool away from home are too slim.

Moreover, in terms of technical and tactical skills and individual player abilities, Everton is a little behind Liverpool.

therefore.

The only place where he could exert his strength.

It's about spiritual fighting spirit.

Liverpool are now on an eight-game winning streak and it is time for them to be proud.

Moreover, they will certainly be thinking about beating Everton and getting their ninth consecutive win.

Everton is in such a bad state now.

Liverpool may be looking down on Everton in their hearts.

"All they can think about now is the ninth consecutive victory! This is our chance!"

"They will definitely underestimate us. All we have to do is defend and counterattack!"

The routine is not new.

But this is the common practice when facing a stronger party.

Same tactics.

That test.

It's the team's willpower.

so now.

What Marco Silva has to do is to inspire the fighting spirit of Everton players.

A Merseyside derby.

There is no need for mobilization.

But Marco Silva still has to build on this basis.

Add more fire!

In this Mosesside derby at Anfield, Marco Silva only needs his team to defend well.

A draw is something Everton can accept.

If they could have taken advantage of the opportunity to steal a ball, Everton would have been even more satisfied.

Of course, it is not easy to defend Liverpool away from home.

Marco Silva also made special arrangements for this purpose.

When players from both sides come on the field.

Marco Silva sat in the coaching booth.

Every Everton player received a "warm welcome" from the fans. On the other side, Klopp was still frowning.

Because Everton's starting lineup for this game was beyond his expectations.

"Three central defenders, they want to defend but Everton never mentioned three central defenders before?"

Kravitz said on the sidelines.

"Forget it, let's see what tricks they play. Whether it's three central defenders or four defenders, the whole thing is to defend and counterattack away from home." Klopp's brows relaxed.

In fact, there are three central defenders and four defenders.

These initial formations and positions are likely to continue to evolve during the game.

On the offensive end and the defensive end, the formations deployed are completely different under different circumstances.

During the game, the team formation is adjusted according to changes in the players' positions.

This has long been the most common means of tactical change for modern teams.

The teams that are best at doing this are the Serie A teams.

Sacchi, an Italian coach known as the originator of modern football tactics, was the first to flexibly arrange the positions of players in the game and win space by creating a numerical advantage in a certain area.
A more famous variation is the 3.5 defenders.

That is, switching between a back four and a back three.

Especially represented by the older generation of head coaches such as Lippi.

One full-back moves inside and one full-back moves forward.

A simple change of position can complete a change of formation.

Such a formation change certainly makes sense.

It allows opponents to constantly face new situations.

At the same time, it can sometimes provide an attacker in the frontcourt.

By changing the number of people, the balance of the court can be changed to gain advantages in certain aspects.

This game.

Everton fielded two strikers.

Richarlison and Walcott
Richarlison is a Brazilian who is very fast and very strong.

Needless to say, Walcott is a representative of the speed type of player.

It was obvious that letting him play was designed for counterattack tactics.

However, whether he will be positioned forward or on the right side of midfield remains to be seen.

And in the midfield.

The players who appeared were Sigurdsson, Andre Gomes and Guy.

On the defensive line.

Right back Coleman, left back Digne, three central defenders Zouma, Michael Keane and Mina.

Judging from the personnel structure that appeared.

This appears to be a 532 formation.

Of course.

If Walcott retreats to midfield.

That's a 541.
As for the specific positions of Everton's players in the game, Klopp is still a little unsure.

but.

He also decided not to dwell on this issue.

For Liverpool.

All they have to do is score as quickly as possible.

Once Liverpool broke Everton's goal.

Then it doesn’t matter what Marco Silva plans.

Anyway.

If Everton presses out.

Then it is entirely possible that Liverpool could achieve a big win.

Klopp has this confidence now.

In the crazy atmosphere at Anfield.

Yangguang kicked the ball to Wijnaldum behind him.

Then he turned around and ran forward.

The cheers from the audience suddenly rose.

at the same time.

Everton players also had their rights revoked.

Instead of pressing forward, they retreated to the front of the penalty area.

Intensive defense.

The goal was completely blocked.

Klopp knew the opponent's strategy when he saw this scene.

A complete and final defense.

Then find an opportunity to fight back, right?
Walcott does have that speed.

But can you push the counterattack so far while shrinking your defense like this?

Klopp was sceptical.

He crossed his legs in the coaching booth.

"It looks like our derby opponents want to defend this stadium to the death."

Kravitz beside him nodded.

"There's nothing new about Marco Silva doing this."

He pouted.

There really isn’t anything too new about Marco Silva.

He placed his hopes on the team's resilience and the "spiritual strength" that the players could unleash in the derby.

It sounds a bit mysterious.

But it's a football game.

sometimes.

You have to rely on metaphysics to win.

Amid the cheers of the home fans.

Liverpool took the initiative from the start of the game.

Everton took the initiative to recover the penalty area.

The dense defensive players completely occupied all the space.

Facing such dense defense.

Liverpool's players are not in a hurry. They are now one of the strongest teams in Europe. Many teams will adopt a solid defense when they meet them. Whether it is active or passive, attacking densely and defending, Liverpool's players are already very experienced.

The most important thing when attacking a defensive formation is patience.

Any team that sets up a solid defense cannot rely entirely on defense.

They will definitely plan a counterattack.

Richarlison did not participate in the defense.

He was at the front alone.

But even so.

Liverpool doesn't dare really ignore Richarlison.

At least someone has to keep an eye on him.

Richarlison’s presence does not necessarily mean he can score goals.

But it can definitely tie down the two Liverpool defenders.

and.

Even if it's two defending one.

Once Everton really passed the ball to Richarlison's feet.

Offensive players have a much greater advantage than defensive players.

He can create a huge threat as long as he successfully breaks through the defense once.

Or simply create a set piece in the frontcourt.

Then Everton's players pressed out and carried out a set-piece attack and defense - this is an offensive method that minimizes the gap in tactical and personal abilities between the players on both sides.

If the set-piece tactics are appropriate.

The Chinese national team might be able to score against the German team through a set piece in the frontcourt.

Even Richarlison could protect the ball, so that Everton's back row players could take the opportunity to rush forward.

Let’s not talk about whether he can score a goal or not.

If they have a few such offensive opportunities, they can successfully disrupt Liverpool's offensive rhythm and relieve the pressure on their team.

Liverpool's players are clearly aware of this.

So they were very patient in controlling the ball.

There was no rush to attack, avoiding giving Everton an easy chance to counterattack.

The pace of the game became very slow under such circumstances.

Liverpool's pass from left to right

And then pass from the right to the left.

There is no absolute chance.