Green Life

After Arsenal re-kick-off, they obviously felt the difference when advancing. Liverpool's pressing was more fierce, and the confrontation gradually became more intense.

After more than 30 minutes of the game, the Liverpool team finally became more excited, mobilized their tired body and spirit, and became more aggressive.

The fatigue at the end of the season, the lack of enthusiastic stadium atmosphere, and conservative tactics made them a little drowsy for a while. Hey, Gonners in the stands, it’s okay to scold us...

We are not drama actors on the stage, we don't need to be quiet, and the Red Army soldiers who are used to the atmosphere of Anfield really feel a little uncomfortable.

The remaining ten minutes of the first half passed quickly. Arsenal did not always play an attack similar to scoring a goal. It is considered generous for Liverpool to give them a chance.

You must know that they have conceded less than ten goals in all games after the New Year.

Most of the credit should go to Sami Li. Not to mention offense, he is indeed a top coach in training and defense. Perhaps because he has received the influence of Italian defensive concepts, he pays special attention to the protection of defensive players.

Now the team's defensive training is basically arranged by him. Benitez spends most of his time on offense and counterattack routines. The two cooperate really well.

"The first half of the game is over. The two teams each scored a goal. They both seized a chance for the opponent to make a mistake. Please guide Zhang to comment on the performance of both sides in the first half." Zhan Jun was summarizing the game in the midfield.

"Well, good," Zhang Lu said, "The score is basically in line with the strengths of the two teams, but both teams have some problems. It seems that Liverpool is not excited enough. It may be after the battle with Manchester United, followed by the Merseyside derby. , a little tired"

"Only Torres and Mark Qin performed well. The others are so-so. Arsenal still have their old problems. They make too many mistakes in the defense, and they are frightened in the frontcourt. They are always worried about losing the ball and being counterattacked. This is why they lost the ball. It doesn’t seem like a firm enough reason”

In fact, once the UEFA Champions League reaches the quarter-finals, it is difficult to have too exciting games. The home and away game elimination system, every team is unwilling to concede a home goal. An away goal sometimes equals two goals, so the home team will definitely work hard. Defensively, even at the expense of offense.

In the Arsenal locker room, Wenger kept nagging "We want to score goals", "We need to play faster", "The defense needs to be more stable", but the problems of this group of people It cannot be solved with a few words, it is a systemic problem.

It is impossible to change all of a sudden. At the beginning of the second half, the lineup and style of play of both sides have not changed, as always.

Arsenal just type out the content of their usual training. Wenger is a good player in training. This is why their young players are rushing out in batches. It is the same idea as La Masia.

Liverpool still insisted on playing their steady defense and counterattack. Arsenal was a little hesitant to attack.

"Beep...", the referee blew the whistle in the 60th minute of the game.

"Hey, Mr. Referee, I'm back," Alonso said to the shiny topaz.

A breakthrough by Fabregas was tripped by Alonso's outstretched leg, and Alonso's stride was a bit big.

"Alonso, he got a yellow card." Zhan Jun flipped through the information and said, "This is Alonso's third yellow card. He has two yellow cards in the group stage. He will be suspended for the next home game. It's not good news for Liverpool."

Alonso himself was also very depressed. If he had known about it, he would have dismissed the yellow card against Schalke 04.

Benitez frowned on the sidelines. He also ignored this problem, which affected his plan a bit. If Alonso can't play, what will happen to the midfielder.

There is no shortage of midfielders in Liverpool, but they must re-drill their tactics in advance. Let Mark Qin come back, or let Gerrard come back? He was a little undecided.

Both have their own advantages, Mark Qin has stronger organizational skills, and Gerrard has stronger impact.

Benitez thought about it, and then made a decision. When the game was almost 70 minutes into the game, he replaced Mark Qin with Lucas.

"Oh? We see that Mark Qin was replaced by Lucas. Is Benitez planning to defend the draw?" Zhan Jun asked.

Ma Keqin was taken aback, he still wanted to score a goal to win the Golden Boot, but the tactics of this game made them relatively inferior in possession of the ball, and he never found any good opportunities.

Unexpectedly, he was replaced. After hugging Lucas, he walked to the bench and sat down, looking a little unhappy.

In this game, he had no assists, no goals, and only a flash of light when he missed the ball. Generally speaking, he was quite satisfactory.

"Hey, Mark," Sami Lee sat next to him and patted him on the shoulder and said, "Don't be upset, Rafa will arrange you to play the core of the midfield in the second round, which is why you were replaced in advance."

Sammy Lee came over and explained to him that he was afraid that the young man would be misunderstood if he was suddenly replaced when the wind was going smoothly. This is the difference between him and Benitez. He has a good relationship with everyone in his team. .

"Huh?" His eyes lit up all of a sudden, "Then?"

"Alonso banned!"

"Understood," he nodded.

Finally got Alonso going, even though it was because of a suspension, whatever, as long as he can play the core.

Hearing this news, all the cells in his body came alive, and the little dissatisfaction with being replaced in advance has long since disappeared.

Core, it’s been a long time since I’ve tasted this. It’s been almost a year. The last time he played the core was in last year’s Champions League. It was also that time that he showed his excellence to many people.

The first team is not easy to mix, for the opportunity to play, he is also very hard, playing almost all the positions in the frontcourt.

If it weren't for the highlight performance of the two double red games, maybe he would still be on the bench for the left and right wingers.

Playing nine and a half really made him famous, and let many people see his ability to score goals and assists.

But his place should be at the core, where he was born to belong, just like Cesc Fabregas today.

He can decide where the ball goes, he can direct his teammates, and he can see the overall situation.

It was a feeling of being in control, not comparable to one or two goals and assists.

Make him tremble with excitement!

So he looked at the game on the field and it was very bright, even though the two teams played really not good-looking!

The final score was still 1:1 at the end of the game, and Liverpool successfully achieved their strategic goal.

Wenger shook his head after the game and said to the camera: "I am very dissatisfied with our performance, we did not show enough desire to win, this performance is not enough for us to enter the semi-finals, we must show attitude! "

"And our fans, they should be more enthusiastic in order to inject more energy into the players on the field"

...

In another Champions League quarter-final match, Chelsea beat Fenerbahce 2-0 cleanly at home.

The only suspense in these four games is Arsenal and Liverpool. Arsenal is a guest in the second round, but Liverpool midfielder Alonso is suspended.

It can be said that in terms of advantages and disadvantages, both sides are equally divided, and the result will not be determined until the end of the game. Both sides have a chance to advance.

Liverpool returned to Melwood immediately after the game, and they had to come back two days later. Fortunately, the journey would only take three or four hours at most.

"Miss me?", Isabella stood at the door and looked at Mark Qin with a surprised look on her face, and said playfully.

She sent Amin home, and couldn't help but ran over by herself, and Mark Qin had just packed up from Melwood.

Ma Keqin pulled her into the door without saying a word, hugged her and began to kiss her passionately.

"Um~", Isabella patted him twice, her hands gradually became weak, and after a while, she subconsciously hugged her neck and responded enthusiastically.

As the saying goes, a little farewell is better than a newlywed, and the two haven't seen each other for more than ten days, so it's naturally a fire.

After Wushan, the clouds and rain have just stopped...

"Honey, why are you so domineering today?" Isabella asked with a flushed face.

"Is there? Maybe it's because I miss you so much, and I'm a little excited..."

"Why are you excited? You didn't win today," Isabella wondered.

"Because the next game, the coach asked me to play the core," he said happily.

"Really?", Isabella looked surprised, and Mark Qin often nagged him about the position at home.

She knew that he always wanted to play that position, but the coach has the final say on this matter, not her.

"Great", she held his face and kissed him vigorously, "I knew it, you are the best"

"Hey hey, my wife is also the best," he smirked happily with his arms around her.

Two days later, they embarked on the journey to London again, but this time Mark Qin did not go, he was not included in the big list, and took a rotation, and Benitez brought most of the substitute lineup.

Arsenal also have no desire for this game, it is impossible for them to win the championship, and the fourth place is very stable, there is no need to fight with the main force and Liverpool's substitute.

Mark Qin was watching the live broadcast at home. In the end, the score was the same, 1:1. Manchester United won this round of the league, which caused them to be overtaken by two points.

But they are not worried, because in the next three rounds, Manchester United will face Arsenal away and then Chelsea away, and they are likely to lose points. At that time, it is the best time for Liverpool to win the championship. They are likely to win the championship two rounds ahead of schedule. !

In the past few days, in the team's training, Benitez has made it clear that Mark Qin will play the core position of the midfielder in the second round of the Champions League, and has been rehearsing the lineup.

Even in this league game against Arsenal, he was prepared to lose, for the final battle at home.

He knows that Arsenal will definitely not look forward and backward in the second round, and will work hard, otherwise they will go home.

Melwood has been completely closed these days to prevent the outside world from guessing their formation for the second round.

The fans outside Melwood are very lively. Every day, many people spontaneously come to cheer for the team. This season, they have played a full game and there are less than ten games left.

The team has gone hand in hand in the league and the Champions League. It can be said that the team has had one of the most glorious seasons in the past ten years. They are even fantasizing about the double crown.