Chapter 1 The Debut

"Youngster Arnold comes on as a substitute, replacing Moreno, who wasn't quite on form today."

"He's been famous in Merseyside since he was a kid, and at 17 years and 10 months, he finally gets his Premier League debut!"

"The Liverpool fans in the stadium are giving him a warm round of applause."

"For them, a young player from their own club's youth academy... is like one of their own children."

The Premier League has seen many homegrown talents emerge over the past few years.

Tottenham's Alli.

Manchester United's Lingard and Rashford.

Aston Villa's Grealish.

Southampton's...

All English fans are full of confidence in the future of the national team.

....

The game resumes.

Firmino kicks off, passing it sideways to Coutinho.

Coutinho passes it back to Henderson.

The players aren't discouraged by being two goals behind, and are still running like crazy on the pitch.

Klopp is waving his fists and roaring non-stop.

The formation steadily advances past the halfway line, and the ball comes to young Arnold's feet.

The black tide invades the Gunners' half once more.

"When Arnold gets the ball, you get the feeling that he's much stronger than Moreno and Clyne."

"His grandmother was Fergie's first love when he was young."

"His uncle is Manchester United's secretary."

"Look at this ball!"

...

The Arsenal coaching staff don't know enough about Arnold.

They didn't expect Klopp to bring on a young player from the youth team at all.

Facing the aggressive Sanchez.

Arnold pushes the ball gently with his right foot.

The ball actually goes through the Arsenal winger's legs!

The Liverpool fans instantly forget the misery of being two goals behind and cheer hysterically!

"Wow!"

"The 17-year-old humiliates a top Premier League winger with a nutmeg!"

"Silky smooth!"

Sanchez is both ashamed and angry. He doesn't know it yet, but soon all the stars in the Premier League will be nutmegged by this Liverpool youngster.

....

Arnold is showing a maturity beyond his years, as well as incredibly smooth dribbling.

He's not your traditional, clumsy English Premier League full-back.

Nor is he a showboating wizard from South America, La Liga, or the Portuguese league.

His technique is simple.

His positioning is sensible.

He and Coutinho are playing the simplest passing game,

Gradually.

After tasting the bitter fruit of several failed pressing attempts, the Arsenal defense has to retreat and narrow, giving up space on the right flank.

It's a bit tiring.

While defending the right flank, they also have to keep an eye on Mané's movements on the left.

It's not that Koscielny and Mertesacker are bad... but Klopp really has a way of training the team's attack.

After all.

If the opponent's attacking system can completely make up for its shortcomings in the next two years, it could very well reach the Champions League semi-finals.

None of the Premier League's Big Six are pushovers.

...

Time passes by, minute by minute, and it comes to the first half's stoppage time.

Wijnaldum isn't just staring at Li Kang anymore.

He raises his hand to signal Arnold to be more aggressive, while he protects the space left behind by the youngster.

"Klopp's substitution is very effective."

"In the past five or six minutes, Liverpool has threatened Arsenal's penalty area several times."

Snap!

The ball leaves Arnold's right foot, angled towards Firmino.

The defensive center forward's pivot role is obvious. With his back to the goal, resisting Cazorla's interference, he's still able to steadily pass the ball to Coutinho in the diagonal front!

"Is he going to unleash another thunderbolt?"

"Koscielny's pressing block is very timely, he didn't let the opponent shake him out of shooting space like Giroud did!"

"Arnold is very fast, and he's supporting again!"

"Cross from the wing!"

"There are several high points inside the Arsenal penalty area!"

"It turns out he's looking for Mané on the left!"

...

Arnold's eyes are on the center of the opponent's penalty area.

But the pass he sends is skewed to the left!

What about Li Kang?

He's been involved in the defense for a long time.

In his vision, Nesta's phantom raises his hand and points to the edge of the arc of the penalty area.

The minds of the man and the phantom have never been so unified: Liverpool's attack doesn't pose a threat, prepare to take the second ball.

As a result.

Something unexpected happens.

The short Mané actually uses his terrifying explosiveness to squeeze past the burly Mertesacker!

Unbelievable.

You have to know that the German center-back is 23 centimeters taller than him.

And their weights aren't in the same class either.

Visually, it's close to: a primary school student squeezing past a high school student.

"Mané receives Arnold's pass!"

"Arsenal is in danger!"

Monreal and Walcott quickly make up the defense to block.

Mané changes direction continuously, shaking past the two of them, and also shaking out a shooting angle.

Bang!

The dark right foot suddenly exerts force.

Unleashing a low shot!

Čech's timing for diving to save is perfect, and his prediction of the ball's path is also accurate.

Slap!

The light yellow glove touches something, but it can't change the outcome.

The ball bounces off the post and into the net.

2:1!!!

The Emirates Stadium erupts instantly.

The Islington fans have conflicted expressions.

The Liverpool fans frantically wave their scarves and team flags, cheering hysterically.

...

"Mané!"

"The left winger, who just joined Liverpool from Southampton, has contributed an exciting goal performance."

"He's helped the Reds pull one back!"

"Arnold's long pass assist from the wing."

"Klopp's substitution is like a new knife!"

"Will Liverpool's comeback drama be any less?"

"The referee blows the whistle to end the first half! We look forward to the exciting moments to come."

...

Livestream room.

-【Arnold has a future! Mané is also good, two European T0-level talents.】

-【Klopp has polished Liverpool's attacking system too well, now all that's missing is a right inside forward, where can we find one?】

-【Leading by two goals isn't stable.】

-【In the Premier League's Big Six, besides Chelsea, no one can win against the others with 100% certainty!】

-【Try leading Liverpool by three goals?】

-【Wenger's pre-match deployment was good, but he didn't expect Klopp to have an Arnold up his sleeve, if Arsenal doesn't make changes in the second half, it will be very troublesome.】

....

Mané doesn't celebrate.

Instead, he turns around full of apologies to check on Mertesacker's injury.

As early as his Southampton days, he was ridiculed as a "dirty honest man."

He's not dirty, and his temper is very good.

But in actual confrontations, some instinctive movements can be a bit large.

Just now, his elbow accidentally hit the German center-back's abdomen hard.

Monreal angrily yells a few words at the Liverpool winger.

Mané retreats two steps in confusion, opening his arms to indicate that he didn't mean to do it.

Arnold has already rushed to the corner flag with his teammates to celebrate.

Referee Oliver doesn't say anything, he judges that this was a normal and reasonable confrontation.

The half-time whistle has already blown.

What are a bunch of people doing here?

...

God's perspective replays the opponent's entire attacking process.

Even if Li Kang has watched all of Liverpool's videos, it's difficult to contain the opponent's attack.

Klopp sending on Arnold has made the team's attack very diverse.

Nesta's phantom looks a little annoyed, he also misjudged...

This is the confrontation between the Premier League's Big Six.

The reason why it can become the league with the highest global broadcast revenue split is not just because of its blood-pumping, fast pace, but also because of the tactical craze that leads European football...

The dense little arrows in God's perspective stop stretching and shrinking.

Li Kang notices the blank areas in Liverpool's attacking formation.

It's not that hard.

Klopp still needs to find a few more pieces to complete his dream Liverpool lineup.

....

A moment later.

The players from both sides return to the locker room.

Li Kang looks at Mertesacker, who's jumping around... and is inexplicably a little disappointed.

How could he have the idea of hoping that his teammate would be injured?

He decisively stifles the messy thoughts.

[Ding, no teammates are injured, unable to trigger the "Turn the Tide" module!]

Morata is very familiar with his teammates, and many of the young substitutes are blushing from his teasing.

Gradually.

Everyone quickly forgets the unpleasantness of conceding a goal.

It's enough to just attack around Li.

Bould roughly replays the details of the first half, then urges the players to quiet down and take the time to rest.

There's a bouquet of flowers in a bottle on the table.

The petals correspond to Liverpool's colors.

Wenger stares at the tactical board, lost in thought.

A few minutes later, he laughs self-deprecatingly, and then calls Li Kang aside.

...

Liverpool locker room.

The wooden cabinets are trembling slightly from the sound.

After Klopp finishes his 'speech,' he punches Arnold in the chest.

"You did a great job."

"Play like you do in training, and we'll definitely come back!"

"Remember, don't get provoked so easily."

The Liverpool coach knows very well that this disciple is good in every way, the only downside is that he has a bad temper.

After all the players drink the 'chicken soup,' their confidence is doubled.

Only two people are unmoved.

Coutinho is smiling, imagining the scene of putting on the Barcelona red and blue jersey.

Karius has a somewhat bitter expression, and looks out of place with the atmosphere in the locker room.

Is it so easy to come back against a team that Li is on?

....

The fifteen-minute break ends quickly.

The players from both sides return to the pitch.

"Good afternoon, viewers, welcome back."

"We're now broadcasting the first round of the 2016-17 Premier League season for you."

"Arsenal is hosting Liverpool."

"The two sides went back and forth in the first half, and the current score is 2:1!"

"Arsenal has made their first substitution!"

"Xhaka replaces Walcott!"

"A young player from Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga."

"This is a signal to strengthen control of the midfield!"

...

Xhaka excitedly pats Li Kang on the butt... this is a common greeting in the Bundesliga.

"Li, I never dreamed that I'd be able to partner with you so soon."

"Rest assured and leave your back to me!"

Li Kang smiles, and can't help but recall the game against Mönchengladbach.

The Bundesliga old-timers have very distinct characteristics: although their turns are slow, their ball-out speed is slow, they're afraid of confrontation, they're still the midfielders with the most turnovers in the top five leagues, and their defensive interceptions are prone to getting heated... but their bodies can take a beating, and they're almost immune to injuries.

Suddenly.

A tender neigh.

The Little Foal phantom suddenly appears, circling Arsenal's number 10 happily.

[Detected that there is an established star from Borussia Mönchengladbach in the lineup, the duration of the North Rhine Phantom Beast is increased by 20%!]

...

Beep!

Along with the referee's whistle.

The second half of the game officially begins.

Liverpool has possession.

Without too much fancy stuff, Klopp is still directing the team to push forward from the right!

"Arsenal's current formation has changed to 4-4-2!"

"Cazorla and Xhaka are partnering as double defensive midfielders."

"Li Kang's position is more inclined to the wing on the left half of the field."

"Sanchez has switched to the right wing."

"No, it's 4-5-1! Morata has retreated!"

....

Arsenal isn't retreating all the way this time.

They no longer have a disadvantage in midfield numbers.

The players are using the most familiar interception method: cutting off the opponent's frontcourt.

Arnold isn't quite used to it.

He can still dribble past people.

But the passing lines are also blocked by the opponent's two new midfielders.

What about Wijnaldum?

That guy has a heavy task, on one hand he has to keep an eye on Li Kang, and on the other hand he's always thinking about protecting the defensive gaps left behind by the young full-back.

...

"Liverpool's push forward isn't very smooth during this period."

"A very important reason is the change in the number of Arsenal's midfielders."

"Li Kang's positioning is very reasonable, directing Xhaka and Morata to cut off the opponent's passing connections."

"Even if Liverpool lets Firmino retreat to receive the ball, it's difficult to replicate the fast push forward of the first half."

"The advantage of running like crazy isn't obvious either."

52nd minute of the game.

Forty-meter zone.

Arnold encounters Xhaka.

A simple feint.

He doesn't get past.

Why doesn't he fall for the fake move?

Xhaka's reactions aren't that fast...

He stretches out his foot somewhat stiffly, and completes the steal.

"Wonderful!"

"A perfectly natural stealing opportunity!"

Snap!

Xhaka passes the ball to Cazorla, who's supporting from behind.

Everyone knows how to pass in the next push forward.

Because Li Kang has taken Wijnaldum away.

The gap left behind by Arnold is open.

Morata magically appears in the most reasonable position.

...

On the sidelines.

Wenger sits on the coach's bench, smiling.

"If Li becomes a coach after he retires, he'll be even better than me."

Bould can't respond for a moment.

He always feels like what the head coach said isn't right, but he can't find where it's wrong.

On the other side.

Klopp's hair is scratched into a mess.

He's roaring loudly on the sidelines, directing Henderson to quickly make up for the position.

...

Henderson is too late.

Cazorla's pass is perfect, Morata's positioning is perfect.

In an instant.

The connection between the two penetrates Liverpool's left flank!

"If Arnold participates in the frontcourt attack and his midfield teammates can't provide support, then the defense on his side will be very dangerous!"

"Henderson can't catch up."

"Morata's burst speed is too fast."

In the shot.

Morata sprints all the way.

Lovren and Klavan retreat frantically.

How can they make up for such a big gap?

It's a wide open prairie!

...

Amidst the cheers of the entire stadium.

Morata reaches the edge of the penalty area.

He's very calm, and observes his teammates' runs.

"Good opportunity!"

"He can cut inside and shoot himself!"

"Choosing to pass is also very reasonable!"

With a snap.

The ball leaves the ground.

Transferring to the other side.

Thigh Sanchez, waiting for an opportunity.

The moment the ball lands.

Clyne is bumped and staggers back, watching helplessly as a stocky, sturdy figure touches the ball and slips into the penalty area!

"Karius's positioning is perfect!"

"Klavan's reaction is fast!"

"Giroud's position is also blocked by Lovren."

"Is Sanchez going to blast it?"

The Chilean winger doesn't blast it.

He sees Giroud's finger pointing to remind him.

Choosing to pass it back!

...

The camera moves quickly with the trajectory of the ball.

At the arc of the penalty area!

A figure rushes in!

It's Arsenal's number 10 again!

A tactical system for playing ball with the leader!

Bang!

Li Kang scores with one strike.

Pushing into an empty net!

The ball is like a sharp blade, piercing sharply into the blank area.

3:1!!!

"Hat trick!"

"The two-hundred-million-dollar man delivers on his price tag in his Premier League debut!"

"His grasp of the timing of forward runs is perfect!"

"Arsenal once again extends its lead!"

Karius's eyes are dull, and he slumps to the ground.

Wijnaldum is panting, bending over with his hands on his knees, he's confused: how does Li Kang seem to have gotten faster again after that kid Xhaka came on?

...