Chapter 15 Tussle

Liverpool was held to a draw by Fulham, and Manchester United defeated Newcastle away. The English Premier League title, which everyone thought was a foregone conclusion, suddenly became suspenseful again.

For days, the English media had been discussing the matter.

A five-point gap wasn't much, but it wasn't little either.

It wasn't much compared to the previous ten-point gap. Manchester United only needed two games to halve the ten-point gap. How long could this remaining five-point lead be maintained?

It was enough for at least two games. If Liverpool played well in the upcoming matches, they could still maintain this advantage.

However, the two teams still had a head-to-head clash after that. It was a real six-pointer, a decisive battle for the league title.

Liverpool would go to Old Trafford to challenge Manchester United. If the two sides were still five points apart by then, as long as Liverpool could beat Manchester United, the gap would be widened to eight points again, which would be a heavy blow to Manchester United and a morale-boosting victory for Liverpool.

If Manchester United beat Liverpool at home, the gap between the two sides would be only two points. Then Liverpool couldn't afford any mistakes. As long as they lost one game, Manchester United could reverse the situation and complete an amazing comeback.

Many people regarded this game as the decisive battle for the title suspense this season.

For Mancini, this perception was a big blow. Because it meant that everyone didn't regard Manchester City as a strong contender for the league title.

Although Manchester City was indeed far behind Liverpool now... They were five points behind Manchester United, let alone the gap with Liverpool.

And his team had already finished their two games against Liverpool, so they couldn't stop Liverpool with practical actions.

Now they had one remaining Manchester derby against Manchester United.

The people of Manchester City must be very conflicted now. Should they go all out to stop Manchester United and let Liverpool smoothly ascend to the league throne, or should they let Manchester United off the hook and let them fight with Liverpool to a bitter end?

These two teams were their mortal enemies… They couldn't accept helping either of them. They hoped to see both teams unlucky, and then win the championship themselves. It was just wishful thinking now...

Manchester City was struggling.

※※※

After the league match with Fulham, the draw results for the Champions League quarter-finals were also out on another stage.

This time there was no luck. Liverpool drew the strongest opponent they could draw – Real Madrid!

"Real Madrid now has a chance to avenge the defeat in the European Super Cup at the beginning of the season!"

"Our reporter noticed that when Liverpool was drawn, Real Madrid coach Mourinho curled his lips. We don't know if he was disdainful of Liverpool or felt that the draw was terrible… But Mourinho denied it, saying that no matter what opponent they drew, Real Madrid would stick to their own style of play and would not be swayed by the opponent…"

"The most exciting match of this season's Champions League, a strong dialogue, don't miss it! For fans, this game is a must-see battle of giants! But for Real Madrid and Liverpool fans, it's obviously not a good result… Liverpool once defeated Real Madrid in the European Super Cup, so Real Madrid must be very aware of Liverpool's strength. And for Liverpool, Real Madrid is also a daunting opponent…"

"Martin O'Neill seems confident about defeating Real Madrid. He said he was very happy to draw Real Madrid because he had the opportunity to prove to everyone that Liverpool's victory over Real Madrid in the European Super Cup was not a fluke…"

Martin O'Neill threw the newspaper aside. This time the newspaper didn't make up his words. They reported it truthfully, but he himself didn't mean what he said!

He was happy to draw Real Madrid? What bullshit!

He said that to not lose in momentum first, to cheer up the Liverpool players, and to instill confidence. In fact, he would rather draw Porto, the weakest of the eight teams!

As a result, that team was drawn by Manchester United.

Was God deliberately going against him? O'Neill thought.

Manchester United drew such a weak opponent, they could easily advance to the semi-finals, and what about himself? Even if he successfully advanced, it would definitely be after two hard battles.

This consumption was not ordinary.

Could it be compared?

The game against Manchester United in the Premier League was after the Champions League quarter-finals. By then, Manchester United would be at home, waiting in full strength, while Liverpool would be exhausted. There were many unfavorable conditions for playing away, plus the situation itself… This game was simply ominous!

In fact, when O'Neill saw his team drawn against Real Madrid on the spot, he had already begun to consider whether to simply give up this season's Champions League…

It was better to work hard to win a league title than to end up with nothing.

Besides, the league title was of great significance to the people of Liverpool. If he had to choose one, winning the league title would be easier to win the hearts of the people of Liverpool than winning the Champions League, right?

He still had this idea now. He began to carefully consider its feasibility… After thinking for a while, he shook his head and threw the idea out of his mind – he dismissed the idea.

Deliberately giving up the Champions League would definitely be a big blow to the team's morale.

Because the media had already hyped up the game between Liverpool and Real Madrid to this extent, almost saying it was the "European Derby"... If he admitted defeat first, what would the players think? If he admitted defeat because the opponent was too strong, then he might as well give up the league as well, because the opponent was just as strong.

This breath, no matter what, could not be vented. If he admitted defeat now, then he might as well have admitted defeat in the game against Juventus. Otherwise, what was the point of his previous efforts, even at the expense of the league, to ensure the team's morale in the Champions League?

In order to prevent the team from losing this breath, he knew that the team was physically exhausted, but he still started with a full lineup in the second leg against Juventus, and finally won a narrow victory.

If he really gave up, what was the point of him and the players working so hard before?

The Champions League was not that they couldn't lose, not that they couldn't be eliminated, but they couldn't go home in this way, it would hurt morale too much! We could accept being inferior, accepting bad luck… and so on, but we couldn't accept the practice of admitting defeat in advance.

No matter how difficult it was, O'Neill planned to have a good wrestling match with Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.

The current Real Madrid was ranked first in La Liga, and qualified for the group stage with a perfect record in the Champions League. After reaching the knockout stage, they also had two wins, even more outstanding than Barcelona.

Under the leadership of Mourinho, Real Madrid seemed to have embarked on the right track.

If Liverpool could defeat such a team again, then it would not only be telling the outside world, but also telling its own players that their victory over Real Madrid in the Super Cup was really not a fluke!

For Liverpool, this could greatly increase the players' confidence. It was also very beneficial for the upcoming league title battle with Manchester United. Maybe just because they increased so much confidence, Liverpool could beat Manchester United away?

The principle was simple – we can eliminate such a powerful Real Madrid, why would we be afraid of your little Manchester United? Even if you are at home, so what? Does Real Madrid not have a home? Manchester United's current strength is obviously inferior to Real Madrid.

※※※

The happiest person after the quarter-final draw results came out was Ferguson, not only because he drew Porto, the weakest of the eight teams. More importantly, Liverpool drew Real Madrid, a tough nut to crack.

He knew Martin O'Neill, and he also knew Liverpool. He knew that O'Neill couldn't give up the game against Real Madrid. Even if he wanted to give up the Champions League, it wouldn't be in these two games.

So it was conceivable that Liverpool would inevitably have a fierce battle.

These two games would definitely consume a lot of their energy.

No matter what the result was, it was a good thing for Manchester United.

Like clams fighting, Manchester United only needed to reap the benefits.

No matter whether Liverpool won or lost, they would inevitably pay a heavy price. If they won, they would have to bear two more Champions League semi-finals, which was a great burden for Liverpool.

If they lost, the blow of being eliminated would not disappear so easily, and it would definitely affect Liverpool's Premier League showdown with Manchester United.

Ferguson now felt that the price he had paid before was worth it, because it had brought such good luck. It was really getting rid of the clouds and seeing the sun!

With such good luck, God was helping Manchester United.

Liverpool, you are doomed!

※※※

Before the Champions League quarter-finals against Real Madrid, Liverpool had two more league games to play.

They were the 30th round of the league, away against West Ham United, and the 31st round of the league, home against Tottenham Hotspur.

Especially the game against Tottenham. After this game, Liverpool would face Real Madrid at home.

In the order of the home and away games of the Champions League quarter-finals, Liverpool was also very disadvantaged this time. Their luck was really terrible.

Not only did they encounter a strong opponent, but they also had to play at home first and then away. After playing the home game, they would have to hand over their fate to the opponent.

So this home game became particularly important.

If Liverpool couldn't win Real Madrid cleanly at home, and couldn't score more goals, they would be in great danger when they went to the Bernabéu for the second leg…

Therefore, the league game against Tottenham might have to be sacrificed again…

Now Martin O'Neill felt that the ten-point advantage that once made him very relieved was actually nothing at all! The opponent only used two games to catch up to only five points left…

Maybe… next time he would have to lead by twenty points to be safe?