The first half of the Merseyside derby came to an end with Liverpool leading by 2: 0.
Everton's players looked solemn, and Moyes looked even more worried. Liverpool, on the other hand, did not get carried away. After going through five rounds without a win in the Premier League, everyone seemed to be more careful about protecting their lead in the game.
It had to be said that the players' mentality was like walking on thin ice as they went from smooth-sailing to slumping. They were afraid that a game with a lead would eventually turn into disappointment.
Comain praised the team's performance in the locker room and continued to cheer the team on. Finally, he pulled out the tactical board and asked the team to play more ground passes and cuts in the second half of the game.
Whether Liverpool was at the bottom or at the top, Comain's transformation plan and thinking would not change.
When the team began to adapt to Qin Xiong's role change, Comain would start to speed up the transformation!
Liverpool's tactical design to really use Qin Xiong as the offensive soul must be completed before 2010!
Because at that time, whether it was the European competition, the FA Cup, or the league tournament's intensive schedule would not give him enough time to adjust. In other words, he would not be allowed to make mistakes!
A mistake at that time could ruin a key battle and a championship title!
In the second half, the two sides changed sides again. Everton seemed to have received a morale boost in the midfield. They increased their defensive aggressiveness at the beginning of the second half of the game and played more directly.
Everton, who was trained by Moyes, was simple and direct. There was nothing outstanding in terms of tactics, but he repeatedly honed simple and effective tactics. It was difficult to say that he had achieved great success, but it was also extraordinary.
However, in the face of a stronger opponent, Everton was still unable to play convincing results. This had to do with the limit of the power of simple tactics. No matter how strong they were, there were still limitations.
In the 52nd minute of the game, Pienaar passed a pass from the side. Ruo Ruo snatched a header in the penalty area and almost broke through Reina's ten fingers. Fortunately, Reina's fingertips touched the football. In the end, the football hit the crossbar and bounced out to be rescued by Mascherano.
There was a huge sigh in the stands at Goodison Park. The Toffees fans felt that God was looking out for their arch-rivals, Liverpool.
When Liverpool needed a hero the most, Qin Xiong made his comeback. When Everton needed a goal, even the crossbar at their own home ground kept the ball out!
God seemed to be too cruel to Everton, lacking a trace of compassion for the weak.
Liverpool patiently played a pass and cut attack to reduce individual breakthroughs. Even Qin Xiong was no exception. He understood that it was a better way to improve the team's overall strength.
Although Liverpool's passing and cutting offense at the beginning of the second half was not particularly outstanding, after 60 minutes, Liverpool, who had regained their confidence, began to play a positional offensive that Everton found difficult to resist.
In the 65th minute of the game, Bilyaletinov tried to break past Aurelio on the right flank of the front field, but the ball was intercepted.
After Aurelio successfully intercepted the ball, he passed the ball straight ahead. Qin Xiong directly diagonally passed the ball back to the midfield when Fellaini ran towards him.
Cahill was retreating. He rushed towards the football, but before he could, Alonso stepped forward to pass the ball away.
The composed Alonso did not wait for Cahill to get close before he passed the ball to the right flank.
Johnson strode forward in a straight line and controlled the ball on the flank.
After he dribbled and advanced ten yards, Liverpool's attack had left Everton's attacking group behind. Liverpool only had to face Everton's midfield and defensive line.
When Benayoun and Baines were very close, Johnson's intention to pass the ball to Benayoun would be too obvious if he passed the ball to him!
Therefore, when Cahill moved to the flank to close in on Johnson, the latter passed the ball across the middle.
Gerard rushed forward under the double team of Heitinga and Fellaini. Heitinga and Fellaini hesitated whether to intercept the ball because Gerard had a better chance. But when the football rolled over, Gerard did not touch the ball!
The football that was missed rolled to the feet of Qin Xiong, who cut across the middle.
Hibbert came up in a panic and closed in on him to snatch!
The moment Qin Xiong touched the ball, he directly used his heel to knock the ball diagonally behind him!
After the ball, Qin Xiong rushed forward and passed Hibbert!
The ball that Qin Xiong passed to the back returned to Alonso's feet.
Alonso also kicked the ball out!
He used the arch of his foot to push out a precise diagonal plug!
Hibbert was about to turn around to chase after Qin Xiong when he saw the football rolling towards his area. He stopped again and could not support his body's center of gravity. He slipped and bent down to support himself with his hands, while the football quickly rolled past his eyes!
He turned his head to look and saw Qin Xiong running slightly to the left, and then stopped the football with his right foot when it rolled to his side. It looked so smooth and natural, without any sense of awkwardness. And Qin Xiong did not seem to look back from beginning to end to observe.
Everton's midfield line exploded!
Liverpool, who had advanced to the front of the penalty area, launched their final pass and cut offensive.
At this time, Kuyt ran to the right of the middle of the penalty area, driving Distin and Jabot's defensive attention. Gerard ran to the left of the penalty area, obviously to maximize the opponent's horizontal defensive area in the forward thrust attack, making it difficult for the opponent to take care of both sides!
Fellaini and Heiting stepped up to follow Gerard, and at the same time, Fellaini obviously wanted to stop Qin Xiong.
Before Qin Xiong and Gerard crossed the ball to the front of the penalty area, he suddenly kicked the ball out!
He passed the ball across!
Fellaini and Heitinga were surprised to see Qin Xiong kick the ball, because the ball was obviously not passed to Gerard.
They turned their heads to look and saw that the football, which had rolled across the front of the penalty area, was received by Liverpool's right flank attacking player, Benayoun, who cut inside!
Benayoun had the angle and space to shoot before he touched the ball. He was undisturbed. Distin and Baines immediately rushed to Benayoun, but Benayoun also kicked the ball!
He stuffed the ball diagonally into the middle of the penalty area!
Distin was desperate. He knew how big the defensive gap between him and Jabot was.
Benayoun's straight pass would definitely kill Everton's team!
As a matter of fact, when Jabot was about to move laterally to intercept Benayoun's straight pass, someone inserted diagonally from two meters away from him and kicked the ball away first!
Qin Xiong!
This was the last pass and cut that he completed with Benayoun!
After crossing the ball diagonally into the penalty area to the right of the penalty spot, Howard, who had abandoned the goal, saw Qin Xiong's calm and even cold eyes and expression that made his heart tremble. Before he was ready to take a gamble, Qin Xiong raised his foot.
Howard raised his hands in surrender. He stood in place and spread out his hands to show his helplessness.
Qin Xiong did not make any move to shoot at all!
He seemed to naturally make a mistake with the ball and suddenly kicked the ball out with the tip of his foot. The football rolled over more than a meter to the left of Howard's body.
By the time Howard reacted, it was too late!
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