Chapter 35 League Round Thirty-Five

After the FA Cup semi-final came the thirty-fifth round of the league.

Liverpool had already secured the championship before this round of matches.

So this game had lost its meaning—at least for Liverpool.

Given the circumstances, instead of exhausting the first team, it was better to rotate the squad appropriately.

Thus, before the game, Carlton Cole was once again called up to the first team and trained with them.

Then, the day before the match, he learned that he had been included in the squad list.

Being named in the eighteen-man squad was no longer a rare occurrence for Carlton Cole these days.

So he wasn't too excited when he heard the news.

Having gone through a season of experience, he was gradually maturing.

At first, just being able to get into the squad list would keep him awake all night.

But as it happened more often, he got used to it and wouldn't be too surprised.

Now, for Cole, being in the squad list was just "that's it."

He still longed to participate in official Premier League matches.

He wondered if he would have a chance this time.

He felt that the chances were slim. Although he had performed well in the FA Cup semi-final three days earlier, scoring the opening goal for the team, that goal was brilliant and fully demonstrated his speed and skill.

If Liverpool's goal was really just a league title, then in the remaining few rounds of the league, probably not just him alone, but all his teammates in the reserve team, would have the opportunity to enter the first team and represent the first team in the Premier League.

Just like in the final stages of last season. After winning the title in advance, Martin O'Neill transferred many reserve team players to participate in the league. This was not to reward the Liverpool reserve team players, but to provide them with practical opportunities to accumulate experience to deal with the FA Cup final.

Last season, Chen Hero was determined to lead the reserve team to the FA Cup podium, so on the team side, Martin O'Neill used these methods to support Chen Hero.

If that was the case, then Liverpool's reserve team this season would also have a chance, but why was Carlton Cole so unconfident?

In fact, it was very simple. Liverpool last season didn't have anything like trying to win the championship undefeated... They lost a game last season. Although they only lost that one game throughout the entire season, they still couldn't achieve the feat of winning the championship undefeated.

What about now?

Carlton Cole often trained with the first team players in the first team, and everyone was familiar with him, so they naturally talked about everything. So he also knew that the real goal of the Liverpool first team was to complete the feat of winning the championship undefeated this season.

In that case, in the last four rounds of the league, the Liverpool first team players would definitely still play, it was just a matter of how many starters and how many substitutes would play, and it had nothing to do with whether the reserve team would play at all.

With the current strength of the Liverpool first team, even if more substitute players played, they could still win, and also allow the main players to rest in order to prepare for the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.

But if the reserve team played, it would be uncertain whether they could win...

Therefore, in order to ensure that the team could win the championship undefeated, the Liverpool reserve team players probably wouldn't have much chance to play in the next four rounds of the league.

※※※

Carlton Cole guessed right. In the starting lineup announced by Martin O'Neill, the name of Carlton Cole, the only player from the Liverpool reserve team, did not appear.

O'Neill rotated the squad in the starting lineup, with only four absolute mainstays from the first team in it, and the rest were rotation players and substitutes.

Liverpool were playing Wigan Athletic at their home ground. The opponent was not strong, so there was no suspense in the match.

The only thing worth looking forward to might be a Premier League awards ceremony after the match.

A simple awards ceremony would present them with the championship trophy, which symbolizes the highest honor in the Premier League.

Carlton Cole sat on the bench, turning his head to look at both sides of the center line on the field with envious eyes.

There, the Wigan Athletic players were lined up in two rows.

Every fan knew what they were going to do—they were welcoming the Liverpool players who were about to take the field with a guard of honor!

This was a scene that could happen in any country's league. The team that wins the championship will receive this kind of courtesy from their opponents in the next game—of course, if the two sides are bitter rivals, then it is not a courtesy, but a kind of humiliation.

At that time, the Liverpool players would run out of the players' tunnel, and then, amidst huge cheers, pass through this welcoming honor guard composed of Wigan Athletic players. At the same time, the Wigan Athletic players would also applaud to pay tribute to the champions.

This feeling... it's really hard to describe unless you've personally walked through it!

Carlton Cole was now very envious of his first team teammates.

If he could start the game, then he would also have such an opportunity. To run past the opponents with his head held high was simply the coolest thing a young player could think of.

It's a pity that he can only watch from the sidelines now.

Watching those teammates who had already run out of the players' tunnel one after another and passed through the welcoming queue formed by the Wigan Athletic players, he felt that their figures were so tall and straight, and so... cool!

I wonder when I will have such an opportunity?

The young Carlton Cole thought enviously, clapping along with the people around him.

※※※

The game against Wigan Athletic was not very suspenseful.

Liverpool's war god Chen Hero's goal in the tenth minute of the game was like an appetizer on this championship celebration feast.

Next, goals came one after another.

Those substitute players were full of fighting spirit, which made Liverpool's fighting power even higher.

Wigan Athletic originally had no fighting spirit, it wasn't that they were free from relegation worries or that they had no hope of qualifying for European competitions. It was too early to say that, as there were still four rounds left in the league.

The reason they had no fighting spirit was very simple, because they were playing away from home and their opponent was Liverpool.

Since Aston Villa in the 2013-14 season, no team has been able to win against Liverpool at Anfield.

Whether it is a team from England or a giant from the European continent, it is the same.

So before knowing that they were going to play Liverpool away from home, Wigan Athletic lost their fighting spirit.

Facing Wigan Athletic, who had lost their fighting spirit, Liverpool had no intention of "showing mercy."

They just gave Wigan Athletic a good beating.

Who told them that the only game they lost last season was away to this team?

It would be really hard to dispel the hatred in their hearts if they didn't get their revenge!

In the first half of the season, they swept Wigan Athletic 4:0 away from home, but this did not satisfy the Liverpool players. After returning to their home ground, they continued to ravage their opponents.

Chen Hero completed his hat-trick in the fiftieth minute.

Suarez also scored a goal.

In addition, Inler also scored a rare goal with a long shot.

Seeing everyone scoring goals until their legs were weak, Carlton Cole was still envious on the sidelines, wondering when he would have such an opportunity to beat a drowning dog...

Just then, he heard assistant coach Sammy Lee calling his name.

"Carlton! Carlton! Go warm up!" He waved to the warm-up area.

Carlton Cole was stunned for a moment, then quickly ran out.

He was a little expectant and nervous—could it be my turn this time?

But the next second he was disappointed, because behind him, assistant coach Sammy Lee followed closely and called out the names of several players, asking them all to warm up.

For a time, the Liverpool bench was empty—all the substitute players ran to the warm-up area.

Carlton Cole rolled his eyes, knowing that he had been sentimental again.

With so many people warming up together, who knows if it will be his turn.

Obviously, this was just to prevent the substitute players from sitting on the bench for too long, and they were called up to give them something to do.

Who knows who will actually be able to play then?

Forget it, why think so much?

Let's warm up honestly!

Carlton Cole lowered his head, no longer looking at the fascinating game on the field, but warmed up seriously.

※※※

Five minutes later, assistant coach Sammy Lee came to the warm-up area.

At this time, even the dumbest person knew that he was going to call people back and prepare to play!

Sure enough, Sammy Lee began to call names.

He only called two names.

"Thornton and Cole."

He said it simply, and Thornton didn't have any special reaction to it. As a Liverpool substitute player, this identity was quickly accepted and adapted to after he came to Liverpool. Since he is a substitute player, he will naturally have to come on as a substitute.

But Cole, who was called, was taken aback.

He didn't expect happiness to come so quickly, and it just fell from the sky and hit him on the head...

Seeing his appearance, Sammy Lee laughed.

He stepped forward and patted Cole on the shoulder forcefully: "This is a reward for your excellent performance in the FA Cup semi-final, Carlton. You deserve it."

Cole then reacted and said to Sammy Lee with an excited look: "Yes!"

※※※

Two minutes later, Carlton Cole and Thornton stood on the sidelines, next to the fourth official, who was entering numbers on the electronic display board.

In the first team, Cole's number was forty-five, a very large number. This also shows that he is just a tender newcomer in the first team.

He stood on the sidelines, his mind still echoing Martin O'Neill's instructions to him just now.

"Don't think about anything, Carlton. Go up and enjoy football!"

The ball went out of bounds, and finally a substitution could be made.

The fourth official raised the electronic display board in his hand.

Number 45 on, number 16 off.

Carlton replaced Gareth Bale.

He and his predecessor clapped and hugged on the sidelines, completing the handover ceremony.

Bale touched Cole's head and whispered in his ear: "Go and enjoy the victory, kid!"

Cole nodded vigorously, then ran onto the field with his head held high.

Liverpool's most outstanding winger Carlton Cole in the future has since stepped onto a bright and magnificent stage.