The player tunnel was narrow.

So narrow that after the players from both sides stood in two rows, the referee team had to squeeze through the crowd sideways.

It was also very short.

So short that Morata's head accidentally hit the small speaker hanging on the wall.

The older players insisted on the old-fashioned Premier League tradition of not greeting their opponents before the game.

The younger players, on the other hand, shook hands and hugged each other enthusiastically.

At this time, Lukaku was still very "thin," his hair was still thick and lush, and although he looked fierce, he was very gentle, fluent in eight languages, and would not complain about anything to the club.

"Li, Van Gaal called me last year and said that we would be teammates, so I specially learned sign language."

"You won't win the mid-season championship that easily."

The Little Beast shook his fingers naively and said seriously.

Li Kang smiled.

A mechanical system prompt sounded quietly.

[Ding! Task triggered: Every Second Counts.]

[Task Description: The suspense of the mid-season championship? Chelsea are already 3-0 up against Sunderland, and Arsenal must take a win away from Goodison Park.]

[Task Reward: Everton Legend · Golden Treasure Chest.]

...

Goodison Park Stadium.

The staff waving blue flags quickly left the field.

The director's camera focused on the stands, where many burly men had flushed faces.

Unlike the Bundesliga.

Since 1985, the Premier League has stipulated that fans are not allowed to drink alcohol in football stadiums.

"Ctv5! Ctv5! Good evening, audience friends."

"We are now broadcasting live the final match of the Premier League mid-season!"

"Everton vs. Arsenal at home!"

"Can the Toffees stop the invincible Gunners?"

"The Premier League mid-season championship, the battle of suspense begins!"

...

The referee team led the players from both sides out of the tunnel.

Tens of thousands of fans on the scene cheered in unison.

"Next, we will introduce the starting lineups of both sides."

"Everton's formation is 3-5-2!"

"Goalkeeper: Robles."

"Defenders: Holgate, Williams, Mori."

"Midfielders: Coleman, Tom Davies, McCarthy, Barkley, Baines."

"Forwards: Lukaku, Mirallas."

The number of viewers in the live broadcast room is increasing.

-[All are the midfielders that I like to use in the game.]

-[No wonder they were able to beat Manchester City 4-0. There are no shortcomings in this lineup configuration.]

-[Wasn't that loss because Guardiola had a fever and messed around?]

-[The forward combination is also very stable: one tall and one fast.]

-[You're wrong. Although Lukaku is tall and mighty, he's afraid of physical contact and is an atypical "running forward." Mirallas is short and weak, but he has a good ability to hold the ball with his back to the goal and is an atypical pivot center forward.]

-[What a magical forward combination?]

...

"I don't know what magic Wenger used, but the club's injury crisis has been greatly alleviated recently, and many main players have returned to the field."

"Arsenal's formation is 4-3-3!"

"Goalkeeper:..."

The coin toss is over.

With a whistle from the main referee.

Everton has possession.

Mirallas passes the ball back to Tom Davies.

The latter is only 18 years old this year and is a treasure of Everton's youth training. Except for the slow speed of advancement, he has almost no shortcomings.

Facing the aggressive Giroud.

Little Tom decisively passed the ball to Williams behind him.

Williams is also only 19 years old this year and is also a genius produced by Everton's youth training. He can play in all positions in the midfield and backfield except for the goalkeeper, and has an accurate long pass.

The way for ordinary football clubs to survive is that youth training camps represent the hope of the club.

"Last season, the Everton youth team won the Premier League U23 Championship!"

"Many young players have taken this opportunity to be promoted to the first team."

"Beautiful diagonal long pass, found captain Baines near the center circle!"

"Everton's fast break!"

...

Baines is 32 years old this year and is nicknamed "Golden Left Foot."

He became famous at a young age.

He is the most comprehensive "left wing" in British football after Ashley Cole.

He stops the ball with his chest, unloads the ball and turns around, and accelerates.

The growing Xhaka can't stop him at all.

"No too much redundant passing!"

"Everton's left-wing attack is simple and brutal!"

"Lukaku ran into space!"

"He can pass the ball!"

He can't pass it.

At this time, Lukaku's ability to hold the ball with his back to the goal was a pile of crap, and his judgment of the landing point of the pass was even worse.

...

Baines dribbled the ball past Arsenal's half, into the forty-meter zone.

Pa!

A ground pass was sent out with his left foot.

Mirallas retreated, touched the ball with one foot, and gave it to Lukaku on the wing.

Yes.

A short pass is needed to transition the ball safely to the Little Beast's mouth.

At the same time.

Two young midfielders... McCarthy and Barkley launched a fierce charge from the center.

They are like two strong calves, trampling on Arsenal's backyard.

...

On the sidelines.

Bould scratched his bald head dejectedly.

"Boss, we really can't stop them. The frontal impact of these little guys is too strong."

Wenger looked calm and said, "Don't panic, we still have Maguire."

On the other side.

Koeman bowed and waved his fist, encouraging the young players.

The sound was quickly drowned out by the cheers of the home fans.

He is a firm believer in the concept of total attack and defense, and likes to let midfielders take turns to insert and participate in finishing.

McCarthy, who became famous at a young age, is known as Gerrard II.

Barkley, with unique talent, is a magical midfielder with double-digit goals and assists last season.

The common point between the two is: they are very strong and have explosive impact.

...

Lukaku isn't completely afraid of physical contact either.

He is afraid of physical contact with strong and sturdy opponents.

Bellerín is coming head-on.

In the Little Beast's eyes, he is a piece of cake.

After receiving the ball, he takes a burst of speed!

Like a beast out of its cage.

He fiercely greeted the weak Arsenal right back.

At the moment of close contact.

He quickly pushed the ball to the front diagonally with his left foot!

His butt arched violently!

Poor Bellerín was squeezed out of the boundary line.

"Oh!"

"The visual impact is too strong!"

"This is the Little Beast! Lukaku!"

"A crazy night!"

...

Maguire called for Cazorla to retreat and fill in.

He rushed towards Lukaku excitedly!

Head-on confrontation?

Old Ma has never been afraid of anyone in the Premier League!

Damn it!

How is that guy so fast?

In the blink of an eye, he stepped into the penalty area line?

"Running forward!"

"Lukaku is not the kind of striker who waits for his teammates to feed him the ball!"

"His ability to create chances is very strong!"

"Those long black legs!"

"His steps are very light!"

"Can he get past Maguire?"

"His teammates' support has arrived!"

"Huh?"

...

Clang!

Along with the fierce hand-to-hand combat.

The football flew out of the baseline.

Lukaku fell painfully in the penalty area.

Bip!

The main referee, Clattenburg, raised his hand and pointed to the twelve-yard spot.

Penalty!

The whole place was in an uproar!

The Arsenal fans protested angrily.

The Everton fans cheered excitedly, and some busybodies even booed!

Maguire looked confused.

He stretched out his hand to indicate that he had not fouled.

Mustafi and Cazorla also surrounded the main referee to argue for the first time.

The two were the closest witnesses to the incident.

The main referee ignored them and maintained the penalty.

...

"From the slow-motion replay, the physical contact between the two was very intense."

"Maguire cleared the ball out of the baseline, but... there was a pulling action on his hand."

"Impossible."

"This degree of pulling can't bring down the Little Beast."

"In previous games, Lukaku was the kind of striker who would never fall to the ground. This quality of character may have given Clattenburg a reference point!"

Live broadcast room.

The barrage was flying.

-[Exploding Little Beast, penalty area Lin Daiyu (a fragile character in Chinese literature).]

-[Don't talk nonsense. I watch every Everton game. Lukaku hasn't learned to dive yet.]

-[Damn it, if Everton scores the penalty, Arsenal's mid-season championship will be gone.]

-[Is Li Mingdeng (a character known for giving good advice) invisible again?]

-[He's not invisible. Look at the replay. He just retreated to the center of the penalty area to participate in the defense.]

-[Koeman's attacking routine is good. There are so many finishing points in the middle.]

....

Lukaku got up, patted his butt, and did not forget to argue with Maguire.

The Little Beast, who scores double-digit goals in a single season, never grabs penalties.

Baines placed the ball at the twelve-yard spot.

He had broken through the goal guarded by Čech many years ago.

Back then, he was facing a Chelsea team that was in its prime.

"Everton's Golden Left Foot has a set-piece skill!"

"The pressure is on Čech!"

...

Bip!

With a whistle from the main referee.

Baines began to run up.

He came to the ball.

And lashed out with his left foot!

Pa!

The football flew lightly towards the center!

Čech misjudged the direction and dived to the right side of the goal.

Arsenal's net was lifted.

Goodison Park Stadium erupted in a tsunami of cheers in an instant!

The sky over Merseyside is blue!

1:0!!!

"No pressure!"

"The veteran Baines has a very high penalty kick conversion rate in the last two seasons!"

"Whether it's De Gea or Čech, the old and new Premier League goalkeepers can't stop him from scoring!"

"If he had been willing to join Bayern back then, his career might have reached new heights."

"People commented on him like this: a hero delayed by loyalty."

"The goddess of victory sent an autumn wave to the Toffees!"

"We have to praise Lukaku!"

"A new template that subverts European football: a running forward!"

...

Baines ran excitedly towards the corner flag area.

While running.

He lifted his collar and kissed the team badge on his chest.

He is a local of Merseyside.

A synonym for Toffee loyalty.

He has been selected to the Premier League's best team many times.

He has repeatedly rejected the olive branches thrown by Manchester United, Bayern, and other giants.

Everton teammates followed closely behind.

Their morale is high.

They will not only bloody Manchester United, but also stop the Gunners!

Mid-season championship?

Goodison Park Stadium doesn't want to be a witness!

Not far away.

Maguire looked a little frustrated and was making an apologetic gesture to his teammates.

Li Kang picked up the football from the net and patted him on the shoulder.

A bit unsolvable.

Everton seems to have figured out Arsenal's low-position defense.

By narrowing the midfield and shrinking the depth, they played an extremely fierce overlapping tile-style attack.

That's right.

The slimmed-down Lukaku's wing play is of great offensive significance.

...

On the sidelines.

Bould frowned.

"Boss, Everton is really a tough nut to crack."

Wenger's face was still calm, and he turned around and began to analyze with the coaching staff.

On the other side.

Koeman didn't revel in the joy of leading, but quickly made gestures to his players.

Even though he had repeated it more than a dozen times before the game, he still hoped to deepen his disciples' memories.

The Barcelona legend still felt a little unwilling in his heart.

"Damn it."

"If I were the Barcelona coach, how could I lose to Arsenal!"

...

The game restarted in the center circle.

Giroud kicked off and passed back to Li Kang.

Everton's two forwards pressed forward frantically.

Only when pressing aggressively.

Lukaku and Mirallas will return to their most primitive characteristics.

Li Kang sent a diagonal pass to Morata!

Then the whole person immediately rushed forward!

After Morata received the ball, he turned around and took a few steps.

Before McCarthy's fierce flying tackle arrived.

He passed the ball to the wing smartly!

Walcott!

The Little Tiger, who has recovered from his injury, still has top-notch advancement ability in the Premier League.

"Everton's defensive width is very open! Tom Davies and Barkley have retreated very deeply, almost maintaining a parallel stance with the three defenders!"

"Arsenal's fast break must be widened."

"Giroud's speed is still a bit slow."

"The game may turn into a positional warfare phase."

.....

Walcott did not encounter any obstacles.

Their Coleman is a wing gatekeeper with first-class tackling ability, but his speed and explosiveness are very poor.

He was directly beaten behind by Morata's pass.

Arsenal's Little Tiger started a burst of speed on the wing!

At the same time.

After Maguire noticed Li Kang's gesture, he also rushed past the center circle.

...

From God's perspective.

Li Kang frantically deconstructed Everton's defensive system.

A compact single-layer parallel defense line.

Why can't Guardiola's Manchester City break through it?

Too simple!

...

Walcott dribbled the ball to the front edge of the left side of the penalty area.

He slowed down slightly.

And gently pushed the ball horizontally!

The intention to cut inside is too obvious!

Barkley and Tom Davies immediately gathered their arms, adjusted their steps, and blocked the near corner!

Goalkeeper Robles's position is closer to the far post, his eyes fixed on the Little Tiger's foot shape!

"Giroud hasn't arrived yet!"

"Oh!"

"Maguire!"

"When did he insert forward?"

"Terrible impact!"

"He plunged into Everton's penalty area!"

As soon as he finished speaking!

Walcott adjusted.

Contrary to everyone's expectations!

He did not rub out a cross arc or a through ball!

Instead, he knocked the ball back!

A close-up lens was suddenly pulled!

Following the trajectory of the football, the audience saw two frantically running figures!

Li Kang and Morata!

Two dragons go out to sea.

They dispersed Everton's returning defensive forces!

....

On the sidelines.

Bould was confused: "Boss! Wouldn't it be over if Walcott passed the ball to Maguire?"

Wenger couldn't sit still and quickly left the coaching seat, his eyes fixed on Everton's half.

On the other side.

Koeman angrily pinched and flattened the mineral water bottle.

How could this kid Li think of ordering a stupid, big center-back to insert forward during the autonomous offensive phase?

What happened to the sharp passing and cutting?

According to the original design of the Everton coaching team: a compact single-layer parallel defense line is more conducive to limiting the opponent's penetration attack and making the opponent's width and fan-shaped advantage disappear!

...

Just as Li Kang received the ball with his left foot.

His speed slowed down.

Baines crashed in from behind!

The Arsenal fans covered their mouths in horror!

The main referee's hand also subconsciously reached for the whistle.

The result was a little different from what they expected.

The close-range sound equipment did not make any sound.

Li Kang's left foot gently dialed the ball, lifted it off the ground again, and his figure turned nimbly with his steps.

Baines, who had been an "Everton hero" for a few minutes, lunged in vain and fell flat on his face.

"Wow!"

"Two consecutive left-foot landings!"

"Only Robben and Messi can make such extreme moves!"

His center of gravity still couldn't adapt to the Messi module.

Li Kang's figure staggered and made a passing tendency.

Everton's defense line was a little panicked!

Robles reacted quickly, he predicted Arsenal's offensive intention:

Li can't shoot from distance, and Lukaku is about to take his position!

Maguire is being eaten to death by Williams and Mori, and poses no aerial threat.

Yes, there will definitely be no aerial threat.

Arsenal's number 10 will definitely pass the ball to the nearest Morata! Yes! That must be the case!

The Everton goalkeeper quickly adjusted his position, preparing to resolve Arsenal's attack!

....

The next moment.

Robles couldn't help but want to curse.

Li Kang did not pass the ball in time.

Instead, after making another adjustment, he stubbornly withstood the impact of the strong Little Beast.

He swung his left foot and sent out a through ball with extremely high concealment!

It was a ground-skimming sharp knife stabbing towards the far corner of the goal!

It was an incredible ball speed!

It easily broke through Everton's single-layer parallel defense line!

In the eyes of everyone on the field.

Maguire squeezed away the Everton youngster, awkwardly drilled into the small penalty area, and after receiving the ball, used a slightly stiff shooting posture... to rewrite the score!

1:1!!!