No Suspense

The first match of 2009 was in the FA Cup.

Liverpool's opponents were Preston of the Championship. It was also Benitez's first match back with the team after taking time off to recover from surgery.

The Reds traveled away with a full-strength reserve lineup. Thanks to goals from Gareth Bale and Benayoun, they beat Preston 2–0 away and got 2009 off to a winning start.

Three days later, Liverpool welcomed Burnley at home.

It was the first leg of the League Cup semifinals, with Liverpool playing the first leg at home and the second away.

The Reds showed no mercy at home, dispatching their opponents 4–0 and effectively sending Burnley out of the League Cup.

But in another clash, Manchester United suffered a shock 1–0 away defeat to Derby County.

There was no denying that it was a real shock.

Still, everyone firmly believed that, given the strength of the Red Devils Manchester United, Derby County would have few chances once the match returned to Old Trafford.

In the twenty-first round of the Premier League, Liverpool traveled to face Stoke City.

Stoke City's home ground was a difficult place to play. That was the consensus in the Premier League this season.

They might have been a newly promoted side, but Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur had both stumbled here. Manchester United had nearly suffered an upset here as well, while Chelsea had also endured a tense battle.

Before the match, Benitez repeatedly warned Liverpool's players that they had to be extremely cautious away against Stoke City.

After entering January, Yang Yang resumed a period of fitness training according to the coaching staff's arrangements. The purpose was to adjust his physical condition for the second half of the season, which would cover the next few months.

He did not need to