Liverpool lost a game, and the entire English media cheered and jumped for joy, as if celebrating a grand festival.

Liverpool hasn't completely knocked Manchester United off the throne yet, but they've already tasted the bitterness of being "a tall tree catching much wind."

Although losing a game isn't a big deal for Liverpool now, it's still unsettling to see others gloating.

So, Liverpool must win the next game and use their actual performance to strike back at those who are waiting to laugh at them.

However, the "next game" that Martin O'Neill and the others are talking about refers to the next league game, not the actual next game. Because the next game isn't a league game, but an FA Cup match. Liverpool will host Aston Villa at home.

This is a quarter-final match.

If Liverpool can get past Aston Villa, they will enter the FA Cup semi-finals...

But now Martin O'Neill's mood is conflicted because he doesn't really want Liverpool to continue winning.

If Liverpool can enter the FA Cup semi-finals, then for Liverpool, the subsequent schedule will be even more intensive. The FA Cup semi-finals and finals are in April and May, and these two months are the key stages for the final sprint of various events. The two fronts of the domestic league and the Champions League are enough to give him a headache, and now there is an extra FA Cup, although there are only two games, it still requires distraction.

So, in fact, Martin O'Neill hopes that Liverpool can stop in the FA Cup quarter-finals...

There's no need to go any further. If they go any further, even if it's just one step, the media and fans won't allow Liverpool to lose. You should know that losing at that time means losing a championship.

Therefore, in this FA Cup quarter-final, he still sent out the entire reserve team plus Chen Hero.

He really couldn't command Chen Hero. He wanted him to get out of the FA Cup, but he didn't appreciate it and insisted on participating in this kind of game. Moreover, the reason he gave was also reasonable.

He said, "I haven't won the FA Cup yet, boss."

What else could he say?

Let him play...

※※※

Because of the "precedent" of the League Cup, the reserve team players are very clear that this will be their last game.

Regardless of whether the team can enter the semi-finals, this is their last FA Cup game.

Some players even had such thoughts—we work so hard, but we can't participate in the semi-finals in the end, so what's the point of working so hard? Send the team to the semi-finals, and then be invited to the stands to be a spectator?

When this emotion appears in the game, it becomes very dangerous.

After all, their opponents in the quarter-finals are not the kind of teams in the Championship and League One like before.

Aston Villa is a Premier League team, and they are ranked sixth, a team that hopes to participate in the Europa League next season, and their strength is not weak.

Facing such a team, if you are still hesitant and distracted, I am afraid you will die miserably.

Not to mention that Martin O'Neill sent out a reserve team!

After this list was released, it aroused the anger of Aston Villa.

Because they felt that they were being underestimated by Liverpool.

How to say, we are also a Premier League team, and we are ranked high. Why do you send a reserve team to send us away? Do you think we are easy to bully, and any reserve team can defeat us? Okay, then we will let you see the consequences of doing so!

If elimination is the outcome you expect, we will grant you your wish!

One side is hesitant, and the other side is full of fighting spirit. The result is easy to imagine...

In the game, Aston Villa opened the scoring and took a 1-0 lead. You should know that this is Liverpool's home game!

In the league, on this field, this season, Liverpool once beat Aston Villa 5-0, leaving Aston Villa with no power to fight back. Even in the away game, Liverpool also defeated their opponents 2-0. It can be said that if Liverpool's first team comes, they can easily defeat Aston Villa at home, even if Aston Villa goes all out like now, it will be useless.

But now Aston Villa is facing a second-tier team that is not strong enough...

"Aston Villa! They scored! They took the lead! It seems that Liverpool's 'reserve team legend' is coming to an end—whether it is the League Cup or the FA Cup, Liverpool has insisted on using the reserve team plus a Chen Hero to participate in the game. This approach has helped Liverpool advance to the semi-finals all the way in the League Cup. In the end, relying on the full main force, they won the League Cup championship. But the FA Cup is, after all, a higher-level event than the League Cup, and here they have increased their chances of encountering Premier League teams. Now it seems that Liverpool's reserve team should have difficulty getting past Aston Villa..."

The commentator is also not optimistic about Liverpool's prospects.

Not only the commentators, but many Liverpool fans in the stands couldn't help complaining after seeing the team concede a goal.

"I'm fed up with Martin O'Neill's arrangement! Why do we have to let the reserve team play in the cup games? Is it because he doesn't think the cup games are important enough? But I think the cup games are very important because we can win a championship! Since that's the case, why didn't we use the first team from the beginning?"

"Facing Aston Villa, and still delusional about solving the problem with the reserve team, should I say that Martin O'Neill is too naive or too naive?"

"How can such a team resist Aston Villa, who is going all out? Even at our home stadium, it's useless! Although we have a hero! But even the greatest hero needs help! Even if he is King Arthur, he must have the Knights of the Round Table, right? Without suitable teammates to help him, let him go and challenge the entire Aston Villa alone?"

"Damn it! I think Liverpool's FA Cup journey will end here at most!"

……

Amidst the complaints, the first half came to an end.

The score is still 0:1, with Liverpool, who are playing at home, trailing, no, perhaps it should be said that Liverpool's reserve team is trailing.

The reason why Aston Villa was unable to extend the score is related to their squandering some opportunities, but no Aston Villa player felt remorseful, because they felt that facing such a Liverpool reserve team with no fighting spirit, it was a matter of course to win, without any difficulty or suspense. They scored a goal in the first half, and then scored another goal in the second half, and the game was won. Why should they go all out to deal with a reserve team?

Even if the opponent has a Chen Hero, so what? Everyone has seen his performance in the first half. Without the support of excellent teammates, he is just alone and helpless!

Today we will defeat Liverpool and defeat Chen Hero!

Let them taste the taste of two consecutive defeats!

With this confidence, Aston Villa walked into the locker room.

※※※

Similarly, with the poor performance in the first half, the Liverpool players also walked into the locker room.

Martin O'Neill looked at these players and didn't know what he should do. He actually hoped that the team could stop here, so that in the subsequent schedule, he could concentrate on dealing with the opponents in the domestic league and the Champions League. But at the same time, he also felt a little regretful—we could have competed for an FA Cup championship...

Just as he didn't know what to say to his players, Chen Hero stood up.

"What's wrong with you guys?" he asked loudly. "Our performance in the first half was really bad, but I don't think this is our true level! So what if our opponent is a Premier League team?"

Facing Chen Hero's questioning, most of the reserve team players lowered their heads and were unwilling to face him.

Because the little thoughts in their hearts would make them ashamed if they were said out—no matter what, they are members of the Liverpool club, but they did not put the overall interests of the club first... But it is okay to think about this kind of little thoughts in your heart. It is better to be honest if you say it directly... especially when you say it in front of the first team coach, unless you don't want to continue playing in Liverpool.

Seeing that everyone was silent, Chen Hero suddenly thought of the previous question.

He understood.

He looked at Martin O'Neill standing at the door. Some words are really not suitable to be said in front of this coach. Although he doesn't care, not every player can be as fearless as him.

But should he succumb to the petty thoughts of these reserve players and then lose the FA Cup?

He doesn't know if others care about this championship, but he wants it, very, very much!

He is unwilling to let go of the championship trophy that belongs to him.

What's mine is mine, and no one can take it away!

Seeing that everyone was silent, Martin O'Neill also felt that it was inappropriate for him to stand here and not express anything.

He coughed and walked to the center of the locker room.

"I am indeed not satisfied with your performance in the first half. You must know that you are wearing Liverpool jerseys, and you are playing at Anfield. You should show some fighting spirit!"

In fact, he had somewhat guessed the thoughts of these Liverpool reserve team players.

Because they know that even if they help the team advance to the semi-finals, they will not be able to participate in the semi-finals.

Yes, if Liverpool really enters the semi-finals, then he will have to change his mind and try to pursue the second cup championship of the season.

At that time, the reserve team players will definitely not be qualified to participate in the semi-finals.

But he can't directly say to these players: "You can play as you see fit, play casually, even if you lose the game in the end, I won't care."

What kind of coach is that? If he said these words, he would not want to maintain his authority in the locker room, and he would inevitably end up like Mancini.