At the end of the season, regardless of the depth of the bench, most teams would more or less have important players unable to play in the game. Injuries or physical exhaustion were the biggest factors.
Arsenal had important players absent from the game. Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, no one could bring out the strongest and complete lineup.
May 8th.
Arsenal and Liverpool played the 37th round of the Premier League game at Highbury.
Benítez sat calmly in the technical area and waited for the game to start. He would still let Liverpool play defense in today's game, but he was not sure how they would play. After all, it was almost impossible to prepare for two key games in a week!
They had just finished with Chelsea, and now they had to face the strong Arsenal. Liverpool's strength was a one-line battle. How could they defy the heavens in a two-line battle?
Moreover, they were not involved in the competition for the league title. They only had two opponents now, Bolton Wanderers and Everton!
The competitive environment was very different from Arsenal's in the league.
The importance was similar. Arsenal was the champion, and Liverpool was the Champions League qualifier.
Henry and Pires were still sitting in the stands, hand in hand, to watch the game.
Arsenal and Liverpool players began to enter the field. Highbury was filled with thunderous cheers. The fans' enthusiasm was unquestionable. Everyone knew that the biggest obstacle in Arsenal's road to defending the league title was today's game!
"The penultimate round of the Premier League season is about to begin. If fans familiar with the Premier League see that Arsenal has 91 points on the scoreboard, they may think that Arsenal has already won the title in advance. But if they see how many points Chelsea has in second place, the fans will be very surprised. Yes, Chelsea also has 91 points! Arsenal is only at the top of the list based on their goal difference advantage!
Liverpool may have reached the Champions League final this season, but they still have to fight for a place in the Champions League. The most unbearable thing for the Red Army fans is that the team in front of them is their arch-rival, Everton!
This is a game that both teams must win. I believe the game will be very exciting!
Let's introduce the starting lineups of both teams.
Arsenal 4-33.
Goalkeeper: Lehmann.
Defenders: Lauren, Toure, Campbell, Ashley Cole.
Midfield: Silva, Vieira, Fàbregas.
Forwards: Ljungberg, Bergkamp, Qin Xiong.
Liverpool 442.
Goalkeeper: Dudek
Defenders: Finnan, Carragher, Pellegrino, Warnock.
Midfielders: Kewell, Alonso, Gerard, Riise.
Forwards: Cisse and Morientes. "
In fact, after seeing Liverpool's starting players in the players' tunnel, Qin Xiong looked for an opportunity to communicate privately with his teammates.
Pellegrino had been famous for a long time. He was Benítez's old general when he was in Valencia. Furthermore, he was playing as a center back, so it was not surprising that he was there. With Hyypia unable to play, his appearance was considered normal.
There was also Morientes, who joined Liverpool in the winter. He was also an opponent that Qin Xiong had played against before. Last season, the Real Madrid player played for Monaco.
The only one that Qin Xiong was curious about was Warnock.
Fàbregas was also asking his teammates about this player.
The England international player, Ashley Cole, answered their doubts.
Warnock was a Liverpool youth player who played as a left back.
Qin Xiong and Fàbregas muttered for a while.
"I want to focus on attacking the right flank from the start and hit Warnock's point!"
"No, Cesc, that's exactly what we want! The opponent must also know that the weak spot in the defensive line is Warnock. They will definitely strengthen the defense there. "
"So what do you mean?"
Fàbregas still trusted Qin Xiong's view in terms of strategy.
Qin Xiong communicated with him in a low voice for a while. Fàbregas nodded repeatedly, and the two finally reached an agreement.
After the start of the game, the tired Liverpool team was obviously not as fast as Arsenal's running rhythm, and they mainly focused on defense.
From the start of the game, Liverpool focused their defense on the left flank. They were indeed worried that Warnock would be blown up by Ljungberg!
Benítez frowned on the sidelines. His prediction was wrong!
He thought that Arsenal's forward on the left flank would be Robin van Persie or Reyes!
Then the flank attack would be more effective on Ljungberg's point on the right flank. His arrangement today had a bit of the idea of luring the enemy deep.
He put out a very conspicuous point for Arsenal to attack and lure Arsenal's main force to attack there. Then he deployed the defense of the rear defensive line around this point. It looked weak, but in fact, all the defenses around it were ready.
When Arsenal could not break the situation, Liverpool's counterattack would come in handy.
But Benítez did not expect that not only did Arsenal's forward on the left flank was Qin Xiong, but from the start of the game, when Vieira and Fàbregas sent the shells to the front field, they also focused on attacking Liverpool's right flank!
In other words, they let Qin Xiong and Ashley Cole stir up trouble on the left flank!
Finnan was repeatedly beaten by Qin Xiong and Ashley Cole, but the quality of the passes to Bergkamp or Fàbregas, who plugged in from the back, was not satisfactory.
Liverpool's several counterattacks were also no threat.
Arsenal's running was obviously more active and flexible than Liverpool's overall. After the opponent's counterattack situation, Arsenal's defensive line in the backfield adjusted, and the players' pressing and marking work was very successful.
It was not Arsenal who was faster.
It was Liverpool who was slow!
Just like how Arsenal challenged Chelsea with exhaustion, they were not at the same pace as their opponents at all!
In the 19th minute of the game, Ashley Cole ran across the half of the field again, and Fàbregas diverted the ball to the side. This time, Ashley Cole did not dribble the ball again, but passed straight ahead.
Qin Xiong almost scared Finnan out of his wits. As soon as Qin Xiong touched the ball, Finnan retreated. He had tried to intercept three times before, and Qin Xiong broke through two of the three times. One time, Ashley Cole went to the bottom line, and Qin Xiong sent a straight ball.
In short, in less than 20 minutes, his defense was completely destroyed!
After Qin Xiong saw Finnan's retreat and wanted to block the space in the bottom line, he immediately dribbled the ball horizontally. Finnan was stunned. He did not expect Qin Xiong to suddenly not go to the bottom line again!
Qin Xiong quickly dribbled the ball horizontally, and Gerard could not return in time to defend. Alonso was the only one at the back of the waist line, and Carragher did not dare to move forward at all on the rear guard line. He could not determine the best time to intercept.
Alonso quickly retreated, and wanted to cut in front of Qin Xiong to intercept the ball.
When he rushed over, Qin Xiong suddenly paused, and then watched as Alonso rushed over. When Alonso braked and was about to turn around, Qin Xiong brushed past him again!
He changed direction and headed towards the penalty area!
When Qin Xiong was only three meters away from Bergkamp, he passed the ball to Bergkamp.
Bergkamp's back was against Pellegrino, and the arch of his foot gently passed the ball horizontally. Pellegrino could not reach it with his foot, so Qin Xiong went around the side and turned into the penalty area. He received Bergkamp's cross pass and went forward. It was a one-on-one!
Facing Dudek, Qin Xiong did not hesitate at all. He did not consider to hit the far corner, and directly shot out with his foot!
The football flew into the goal from the top corner of the near post!
The crowd at Highbury cheered. Qin Xiong had a cold and proud look on his face. His right hand gently beat the team badge on his chest, and he constantly nodded to the fans in the stands, as if announcing the arrival of the champion!
Countless Arsenal fans laughed proudly.
In their eyes, this kid had become the indispensable soul of the team!
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