When Liverpool hoped to restore their traditional dominance in the Premier League, the Red Army Kop's expectations for the team were simple: to overturn Arsenal's rule!
They wanted to see the result of Liverpool defeating Arsenal in Anfield.
In that case, Liverpool would not dare to say that they had to aggressively attack when they were at home, but at the very least, they could not back down.
In particular, Chelsea played a defensive counterattack against Arsenal in two consecutive home league games at Stamford Bridge, but obtained a record of one draw and one loss. Last season's draw was a key battle in losing the title, and this season's defeat also seemed to be a wake-up call for other teams.
Benítez could clearly see Arsenal's stance in today's away game: defensive counterattack!
The reason why Liverpool's Alonso was beaten by Qin Xiong one after another was that his starting defensive position was far away from the rear defensive line.
Arsenal's main defensive area was in the back half of the field, and Alonso had to take on the responsibility of organizing the offense. He could not stay in the danger zone 40 yards in front of the goal all the time. The reason was obvious: the closer the distance, the higher the success rate of the pass.
When he was not under pressure, he had to press forward and then carry out the pass to organize the offense. He also had to seize the opportunity to plug in at the right time to assist. Therefore, his position was a little far from the rear defensive line when the offense and defense were switched.
The rear defensive line did not dare to give Henry the space to sprint forward, and Alonso was a little isolated.
It was not unreasonable for Qin Xiong to challenge him one-on-one. Before Alonso could withdraw to his position to form a tight defense with his teammates, Qin Xiong forced Alonso to make a defensive choice, and then broke through him with his individual ability. It was a very smart approach.
Benítez gestured to Sissoko. He could not let Liverpool withdraw to play a defensive counterattack. This was Anfield. If Liverpool did not show the determination and will to defeat Arsenal at home, then the Red Army's restoration on home soil would be empty words and would be treated as a joke by the outside world.
In the 32nd minute of the game, Qin Xiong and Pirès cooperated on the left side and cut across the middle. They rushed past Alonso and then turned into a straight path. At this time, he was directly knocked to the ground by Sissoko, and the referee whistled for Sissoko's foul.
This was Benítez's adjustment. If Alonso could not form a defensive barrier, then Sissoko must contain Arsenal's offense, no matter what method!
Qin Xiong took charge of the direct free kick in the middle of the penalty area. He kicked out an elevator ball and the football once again hit the crossbar after falling and bounced up to the stands!
The hearts of the Red Army fans were about to explode!
False alarms, false alarms, false alarms, false alarms too many times, it was scarier than a real scare!
Alonso was a little frantic.
He had always been calm and steady, and his ability to withstand pressure was very strong, but he could not withstand the pressure of Qin Xiong repeatedly crushing in front of him. This was simply putting him under a microscope and letting the whole world see him as a joke!
Sissoko hesitated in his heart.
In terms of restricting Qin Xiong, Liverpool had deployed and targeted before the game, but it was disrupted by Arsenal's defensive counterattack tactics. The ideal scene should have been Gerard, Alonso and Sissoko compressing the space in the middle, and then forming a triangular defense to absolutely contain Qin Xiong's play!
But Arsenal was now playing a defensive counterattack. In the positional game, Qin Xiong did not exert his strength at all. Instead, he decisively sent out a threatening straight ball with a little cooperation with Fàbregas in the midfield. The success rate was very low, but Arsenal did not care.
Arsenal's real offensive was in the counterattack, which first made Gerard unable to turn back to catch up with Qin Xiong after plugging in. Alonso also pulled away from Sissoko. Qin Xiong almost staged a performance of consecutive breakthroughs, but most of it was targeted at Alonso, making the isolated Alonso useless.
Although the foul tactics adopted now seemed to be effective, another problem followed: give Arsenal more direct free kicks. Who could guarantee that Arsenal would not change the score with a set piece?
Sissoko's hesitation was here.
Liverpool's offensive play was not ideal, and they also lacked the means to break through the intensive defense.
Morientes, whom Benítez had high hopes for, did not play well. It seemed that the Spanish striker had gone downhill and was not as powerful as he was a few years ago.
Flamini's change to a full-back did not make him very good in the offense, but his desperate defense was still convincing. He did not suffer in front of Garcia at all.
Ljungberg's assistance to Lauren to stifle Zendeng's play was also more effective. Liverpool's offense was cut up by Arsenal's layers of defense, and after it became fragmented, it was difficult to play with the expected power.
Seeing that Liverpool's offense in the front field was not effective, the full-back, Arne Riise, boldly went up to assist. His forward assist at least provided an unexpected point of attack. Alonso passed straight to the left side of the front field. Zendeng controlled the ball and tore to the side. Lauren kept his distance and did not go up to intercept. When the time was right, Zendeng passed the ball across. Riise cut into the inside line and directly blasted the goal before Fàbregas could close in!
The ball was too straight. Lehmann reached out to block it, and the football bounced back. Touré half turned and swept the ball to the front field before Morientes.
Qin Xiong nimbly turned directly and rushed forward. The football rolled towards him. When he ran to the front field, Liverpool's defenders in the middle and back field were retreating at full speed.
Qin Xiong continued to move forward after he controlled the ball. He did not choose to break through Alonso again. Instead, he directly sent out a kick with his right foot that was close to the ground!
The ball was not passed to Henry, nor did it pass through the defensive line. It only passed through the defensive zone where Alonso and Sissoko were misplaced.
The football rolled past Alonso's body on the right and Sissoko's body on the left. At the same time, Pires cut into the middle forcefully from the side and emerged from behind Sissoko to stop the ball from Qin Xiong!
The Gunners fans cheered for the ball because Alonso and Sissoko were only one step away from intercepting the ball, but they could not do anything when the football rolled past them.
Qin Xiong immediately ran forward after he passed the ball. He ran towards the empty space on the right side of the front where Riise was not.
Alonso gritted his teeth and quickly retreated. He wanted to curb Qin Xiong's threat to plug in.
Pires slowly dribbled forward. When Sissoko came from behind to intercept, he immediately passed the ball to Henry in the middle.
Henry had little space to play in the game. He was often caught in a double-team defense by the two top defenders.
It was no exception now. He did not choose to use force. When he was blocked, he had to find ways to create opportunities for Qin Xiong, who plugged in from behind. This was the tactical thinking instilled by the entire team from top to bottom by the coaching staff.
He crossed the ball to the right side.
Qin Xiong, who rushed forward as fast as lightning, stepped into the penalty area. Alonso also returned to the penalty area. He kept standing in front of Qin Xiong.
The moment Qin Xiong stopped the ball, he turned the ball back. Alonso subconsciously went forward to intercept, but after taking a step, Alonso felt as if he had done something wrong!
The next second, he was stunned.
Qin Xiong's next move after he turned the ball back was to poke the football forward again. The football rolled between Alonso's legs when he stepped forward!
Alonso was just about to turn around when Qin Xiong rushed past him. Alonso did not have time to harass Qin Xiong before the tiger-like Qin Xiong blasted out with a kick!
The football flew straight to the bottom left corner of the goal with a force that could destroy everything!
Reina could only look at the ball and sigh!
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