Chapter 285

Despite Chen Hero's dramatic return filling many with confidence in Liverpool, it didn't mean everyone believed Chen Hero could help Liverpool.

There were quite a few who held the opposite view.

Their reasons were simple, yet persuasive.

Chen Hero had flown from Manchester to Beijing in the past few days, then from Beijing to Chengdu, only resting for one night. It was questionable if he had even adjusted to the time difference before arranging a birthday banquet for his father. Immediately after, he took a plane to Beijing, then flew back. This constant rushing, with irregular meals and rest, would definitely take a toll on his body.

Even if he made it to Liverpool smoothly, there was no guarantee his form would be as before. Otherwise, why would there be a concept of a "FIFA virus"? It was precisely because the fatigue of travel affected a player's performance, leading to underperformance after returning to their club following international duty.

Moreover, Chen Hero's situation was more than just travel fatigue.

Due to the volcanic ash, he had to make an emergency landing in Frankfurt. Then, he had to drive over a thousand kilometers from Frankfurt, Germany to Liverpool. This journey undoubtedly encountered various unexpected events, such as rain, snow, and traffic jams.

Being in a cramped car, it was impossible to get good rest. It was even questionable whether he had three regular meals a day.

After spending over thirty hours in a car, how could he not be exhausted?

What kind of form or fighting strength would such a Chen Hero have?

Some commentators had questioned it right from the start of the match.

They believed that even if Chen Hero returned, he shouldn't have been in the starting lineup. Martin O'Neill's actions were too indulgent and reliant on Chen Hero, not the actions of an excellent manager.

In fact, Martin O'Neill had considered all these problems and reasons.

He was worried too, but he really had no other choice but to trust Chen Hero.

Ever since witnessing Chen Hero score five goals against Manchester City at their home stadium, Martin O'Neill had been determined that if he wanted to achieve success at Liverpool, he had to maintain a good relationship with Chen Hero.

Since Chen Hero had rushed to Anfield before the game, he certainly wasn't there to be a substitute. If he used "travel fatigue and unstable form" as an excuse to keep him on the bench, his relationship with Chen Hero might develop in a very bad direction.

This was something he didn't want to see.

Anyway, he was planning to put all his eggs in Chen Hero's basket.

Even if this game proved that Chen Hero was completely out of form and caused the team to lose, he would have no regrets. Liverpool was currently first in the league, and even losing one or two games wouldn't affect the overall situation. He and the team could afford to lose.

Chen Hero's trust, however, was the most important thing.

Although he had mentally prepared himself to be okay even with a loss, everyone hoped their team could win.

So, if Liverpool could defeat Newcastle at home under these circumstances, Martin O'Neill would be very happy.

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After his initial shock at seeing Chen Hero, Alan Pardew had gradually regained his senses. After calm analysis, he felt that even if Chen Hero played, it wouldn't necessarily be the end of Newcastle. Because the journey must have been very difficult for Chen Hero, otherwise he wouldn't have had to rush directly to the stadium.

Under such difficult circumstances, his form and physical condition would be greatly affected. Therefore, the Chen Hero in front of him was definitely not the Chen Hero everyone was familiar with.

As long as his team paid a little attention, they could completely freeze him.

With this thought, he shouted at Stephan Taylor from the sidelines, gesturing incessantly: "Stephan! Mark him tightly! Don't give him a chance! Keep putting pressure on him!"

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Stephan Taylor heard his manager's shouts and nodded.

That's right, Chen Hero must have arrived in a hurry, his physical condition couldn't be that good, and his form would be affected. As long as he could hold on for the first fifteen minutes of the game, there was a great chance to freeze Chen Hero…

How ridiculous… I was almost scared out of my wits by such a hotshot kid! It's really embarrassing to say it out loud! No matter how good he is, he's just a human. I don't believe that after flying back and forth for more than twenty hours and driving for more than thirty hours, he wouldn't feel tired! Having not trained once in the past few days, what kind of form could he maintain!

Stephan Taylor mocked himself inwardly.

He rebuilt his confidence when facing Chen Hero.

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"Although Chen Hero returned to the team before the start of the game, his form and physical condition must not be as good as before. This game is still a tough battle for Liverpool… and Chen Hero's condition might even hinder the team's performance…"

Some commentators also expressed doubts about Chen Hero's hasty appearance.

Although many people doubted whether his hasty start would really help the team, Chen Hero had never doubted it.

He had rushed back so quickly not just to participate in a game. If the team couldn't win, if he couldn't score, he might as well have found a hotel in Frankfurt and spent more time with Cabreara, sightseeing around Frankfurt, and continuing his vacation. He could have waited for the volcanic ash's impact to dissipate before returning.

He wanted to score, he wanted to win.

The task of his career was to surpass Messi, which was not an easy task to accomplish. The task color was the most difficult red, which showed how difficult this task was.

In order to complete such a difficult task, he couldn't relax his demands on himself, even if it was a natural rest, he didn't need it.

He had been actively running and looking for opportunities from the start of the game.

However, this approach, in the eyes of those who doubted his form and physical condition, had another meaning—wasn't Chen Hero afraid of exhausting his stamina faster by running so hard? It seemed he knew he didn't have much stamina left, so he was running so desperately, because if time went on, he wouldn't be able to run anymore…

This was another ironclad proof of his poor physical condition!

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Newcastle's defense had just regained confidence and composure, thinking that Chen Hero was just a paper tiger who looked intimidating but was actually vulnerable, nothing to be afraid of.

At this moment, Liverpool launched a quick counterattack.

Sanchez dribbled the ball and suddenly cut inside from the wing. After successfully attracting the attention of Newcastle's defense, he suddenly sent a straight pass!

Suarez cut in diagonally and received the ball, but Newcastle's center-back Coloccini followed him closely, and he had no chance.

At this moment, Suarez suddenly used a backheel pass, knocking the ball in the direction behind him.

Chen Hero and Stephan Taylor rushed towards the ball from two different positions. The two arrived at the ball almost simultaneously.

Chen Hero didn't touch the ball with his left foot, but stepped over it directly!

Stephan Taylor thought Chen Hero would take the opportunity to dribble past him, or shoot directly.

He never expected Chen Hero to flash past!

So he followed Chen Hero and flashed past too…

Chen Hero quickly stepped on the ball with his right foot, and at the same time, made a sudden stop, thus dodging Taylor!

After dodging Taylor, his right foot gently flicked the ball outwards, followed by adjusting his body's center of gravity. His left leg exerted force, allowing his body to move horizontally. Then, he swung his right foot!

The whole action was done in one go, very fast. From this sudden stop and restart, you couldn't tell at all that he was someone who had experienced dozens of hours of travel fatigue, or someone who had been drenched in the drizzling rain…

His movements were very powerful, and his figure was very agile.

Then he swung his right leg… and hit the ball hard!

The ball was a little far from his supporting foot, not particularly in line with the standard shooting action in textbooks. But how could there be so many standard actions on the football field?

As long as you can score, who cares if it's as standard as a textbook?

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With a bang!

The ball was kicked by Chen Hero towards the goal.

Newcastle's goalkeeper Tim Krul jumped up and lunged towards the ball!

He would have been able to save the ball if the ball hadn't bounced in front of him…

The ball bounced in front of him, then flew up, bypassing Krul's hand, and then fell into the goal behind him!

"Goal! Hero—Hero! God! He's simply not human!"

Accompanied by the commentator's violent roar, Anfield Stadium seemed to explode.

All the home fans jumped up from their seats and raised their arms to cheer.

"Hero! Hero! Long live, Hero!!"

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Phil Gibbs had just driven the car into the parking lot of Anfield Stadium, and the game had already started for more than ten minutes. If Chen Hero was still sitting in their car, he definitely wouldn't have been able to start in this game.

"Fortunately, Hero ran over, otherwise he definitely wouldn't have made it…" Tom Jackson said.

Suddenly, a cheer came from the radio, exploding.

"Hero… Hero! Beautiful! He stops suddenly! Turns around! Shoots—"

The attention of the three people was completely drawn to the commentator's voice, and Tom Jackson also shut his mouth instantly, for fear of missing something wonderful…

"Goal—gooooooooooal!!"

"Goooooooooooooal!!!"

"I knew he could do it! Hahaha, he definitely can!"

"Long live! Hero! Well done! We will always support you!"

"Too damn awesome! Hero is too damn awesome!"

The three young men also raised their arms and cheered at the same time.

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Stephan Taylor was almost sprained by Chen Hero's dodge—when he realized Chen Hero suddenly stopped and was about to shoot, he quickly turned around forcibly, intending to block the shot with his body. It was this forced turn that almost sprained his ankle, but fortunately he reacted quickly and immediately abandoned all his weight and fell to the ground.

Now he was lying on the ground, turning his head to look at the ball that was already in the goal, and the goalkeeper Krul who was lying on the ground.

In his heart, the fear that he first felt when he saw Chen Hero slowly emerged again…

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ps, today is still four updates, during the double monthly ticket period, every day is four updates!