Chapter 1 I Just Want to Forge

Gotze has finally started to actively approach his new teammates and try to integrate into this new environment, instead of passively waiting for the new environment to accept him as he did before.

But he still had to live with Chen Hero, because his English level was not good enough for him to live independently. Chen Hero himself was a little worried about letting him go out like that.

Chen Hero would occasionally take him to activities with the Eat, Drink, and Be Merry Gang. Of course, not every time to those kinds of nightclubs. The Eat, Drink, and Be Merry Gang's activities were not as lewd as people imagined—sometimes they would go to ordinary bars, and everyone would just find a place to sit down, drink, and chat.

Because Thornton joined the Eat, Drink, and Be Merry Gang, he integrated into the team and the new environment very quickly.

He now seemed to be in his element in the team.

McCarthy and Kelly didn't have any problems because they were from the British Isles themselves.

Pepe got Reina's help, and he integrated into the team quite quickly. In addition, Pepe was not a dull person in the first place, which was different from Gotze. When he was at Real Madrid, he and Marcelo were a pair of jokers. When he arrived at Liverpool, although he no longer had Marcelo, there were still many jokers, so he would always have a place to play.

Agger was injured last season, and his injury has not yet fully recovered, so Pepe naturally firmly occupies a main position. His performance is also good, and he has not disappointed anyone. From the warm-up matches to the Community Shield Cup, he has been very stable.

Pepe's characteristics are excellent physical fitness, fast speed, strong explosive power, good one-on-one defense ability, and also very good aerial defense ability. His prediction ability is especially outstanding, because many of his defenses are initiated in advance to grab the opponent's ball. If his prediction ability is not good, he would have been easily shaken past by his opponents. If it weren't for his temper, he would have become the well-deserved world's number one center back long ago.

After he joined the team, judging from his usual training and warm-up performances, the problem of Liverpool's center backs' slow turning speed and poor defense against through balls has been solved. Under Martin O'Neill's arrangement, Pepe is responsible for pressing forward, giving full play to his accurate prediction and strong explosive power. Even if he makes a mistake in pressing forward, he can still chase back with his speed. And Skrtel provides protection and support for him from behind.

With such a center back combination, even if Agger recovers from his injury, he will probably only have to accept the fate of rotation…

Only Gotze was left, but Gotze was gradually integrating into the team, so there was actually nothing to worry about.

Moreover, Liverpool did not have any major injuries during the entire preseason training. There were some minor injuries, but they were all injuries that would be fine after three to five days of rest. This is a major benefit for Liverpool.

They can usher in the first game of the new season with a fairly complete lineup.

In the first league game, they will challenge Tottenham Hotspur away from home.

This is not going to be an easy game.

The first game of the season is not easy to play in the first place, because the players may not be able to immediately adapt to the atmosphere and rhythm of the league, and they perform awkwardly, as if they have not warmed up yet. In addition, it is an away game, which will affect their condition even more.

Finally, their opponent is still a team like Tottenham Hotspur.

Although Gareth Bale and Modric have both left the team, a dilapidated ship still has three pounds of nails, and a skinny camel is bigger than a horse. Tottenham Hotspur is still a traditional strong team, and they may not be able to pose a threat to Liverpool at their home ground.

You know, they drew with Liverpool away from home last season, and almost pulled Liverpool down from the top of the league and let Manchester United take over.

Even with good players like Chen Hero, Martin O'Neill does not dare to be proud and underestimate the enemy. He still takes every game seriously and tries to play well.

※※※

The match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur was the last match of the first round, and the match time was also the latest. The opening match of the league was Chelsea against promoted team Hull City, which kicked off the curtain of the 2014-2015 season of the English Premier League at noon on August 15th.

In the end, Chelsea defeated promoted team Hull City 2:1 at home, winning the league's opening game.

Then, starting in the afternoon, various Premier League matches kicked off one after another.

As Liverpool's title rival, Manchester City also won their first victory. They easily defeated Blackburn 2:0 away from home.

Arsenal defeated Everton 5:1 away from home, causing an uproar in public opinion. Everyone knew that Arsenal was stronger than Everton, but they didn't think they could be so much stronger…

Some media said that it seemed that the impact Liverpool had brought to Everton in the Community Shield Cup had not yet been eliminated.

The next day, August 16th, Manchester United defeated Birmingham, which was also a promoted team, 1:0 at home.

So far, all of Liverpool's competitors have won, without exception.

Everyone turned their attention to Liverpool. As the defending champion, they were the last to play in this round of the league, playing away from home, facing a strong opponent Tottenham Hotspur. What kind of answer sheet would they hand in?

※※※

In the White Hart Lane stadium, which was full of noise, in the away team's locker room, Liverpool coach Martin O'Neill was giving his men the final speech.

"Starting today, lads. We will begin our new season as defending champions. What's the difference between the identity of defending champions and our previous identity? I won't say 'there's really no difference', because there is indeed a big difference. Because our every move will be taken under a microscope and watched by everyone with wide eyes. Some people have high hopes for us, and some people want to pick out even the slightest fault. What's the difference? The difference is that our pressure is greater, and we can't make mistakes, not even the slightest mistake! Because we are the defending champions! I hope you can always remember this, we are the defending champions, which is both a huge honor and a heavy burden. Don't let down those who support you, and don't be crushed by the pressure!"

Chen Hero raised his hand, indicating that he had something to say.

Martin O'Neill called his name, and he stood up: "Boss, I don't think it's that serious."

He actually stood up to contradict him. Martin O'Neill rolled his eyes in his heart.

"We were ranked first most of the time last season. Wasn't the pressure even greater for us at that time? We had never sat in the first position for so long before. Logically speaking, the pressure should have been greater every time we played a game. But we also persisted to the end and didn't drop the ball. So boss, don't worry, this season's league title will definitely still be Liverpool's! Everyone, is that right?"

He turned around and asked the other players.

Having just won the Community Shield Cup, and having added many good players and strong reinforcements in the summer transfer window, the morale of the entire Liverpool team was at an unprecedented high.

What Chen Hero said was actually what they were thinking: We are the defending champions, what are we afraid of? Others should be afraid of us!

So when Chen Hero asked, everyone responded loudly: "That's right! We are the champions!!"

Martin O'Neill looked at these excited players and really had no way to deal with them. He spread his hands and shook his head with a smile.

It was a good thing that the players had so much confidence and fighting spirit. Wasn't the reason he said so much earlier to encourage the team? Now that the goal has been achieved, what else is there to say?

No, he still had to add a sentence.

He waited for the players to finish shouting before saying: "This is the first league game, and we are the last to play. Now everyone's attention is focused on us. Some people are full of expectations for us, and some people want to see us make a fool of ourselves. This game is a good opportunity to give those people a standard answer!"

※※※

There were indeed many questions from the people watching Liverpool.

As the defending champion, would their performance be affected by this title and underperform?

In the first league game, would Liverpool win, lose, or draw?

After changing their identities, can Liverpool's players adapt to this new identity?

There were too many questions.

And the answers were all in this game.

Therefore, when the match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur began, whether it was ordinary fans, news media people, or their opponents, everyone widened their eyes, wanting to see what kind of answer this Liverpool could give.

Their answer was…

A goal!

"Steven Gerra——rd!!"

Accompanied by the commentator's sudden increase in volume, Gerrard drew his bow and set his arrow outside the penalty area, and fired a long shot!

The football flew towards the goal like a cannonball!

Gerrard shot suddenly, and the football flew directly to the upper left corner of the goal.

This was a dead corner. If he hit it within the frame, it would be a goal in all likelihood.

Gomes flew to save the football.

But he was not able to touch the football. Gerrard's long shot was too fast…

But the football did not fly into the goal just like that, but slammed heavily on the crossbar!

A crisp sound made Gomes feel relieved.

The ball didn't go in, that's good…

Just as he had this thought in his mind, he felt that something was wrong—why were his teammates still fighting, what were they fighting for?

Joël Luka, who was 1.93 meters tall, was fighting with Chen Hero for the second landing point.

After hitting the crossbar, the football did not directly bounce out of the baseline, but bounced back, and it didn't bounce far, it was right in the penalty area!

And Gomes had lost his balance and position, so the Tottenham Hotspur defenders were even more nervous now.

Chen Hero and Joël Luka were fighting for their favored second landing point in the penalty area. If Joël Luka could hold his position and clear the football, it would be a very successful defense.

But could he?

In this item of fighting for headers, Chen Hero was not afraid of anyone.

His initial fight with Joël Luka for the position of the second landing point was just a feint. He tricked Joël Luka into putting all his attention on fighting with him for the landing point, and then he suddenly withdrew his strength and jumped!

Joël Luka was originally squeezing towards where he was, but he didn't expect Chen Hero to suddenly withdraw his strength. He was immediately squeezed by himself, and all his strength was used to maintain his balance. At this time, how could he still jump up?

He could only watch Chen Hero rise from the ground!

Then, without any interference in the air, he headed the football into the goal…

"gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooAL!!!"

Old Hatson screamed sharply. He had been holding this breath for more than twenty minutes. From the beginning of the game until now, he was finally able to release it!

This was the voice of the defending champion!