Plans Can't Keep Up With Change, Liverpool Scores First!

Fabregas seemed to read the doubt in Li Yufei's mind and took the initiative to explain:

"Our matches with Liverpool are always like this. They come out charging hard from the start every time."

"But don't worry, Liverpool can't keep this style up for long. Their players usually run out of steam by the second half."

"That's when we'll push hard and put the game to bed."

"As long as we get through this stretch, everything will be fine."

Hearing Fabregas's explanation, Li Yufei's eyes lit up.

He had to admit, that logic actually held up!

Liverpool's playstyle had always been like a wild calf—charging recklessly as long as they had any energy left.

This approach was indeed effective against technical teams.

After all, disrupting a technical team's rhythm with constant physical collisions, forcing them into a brawl with Liverpool, was a brilliant tactic!

Match time: 25th minute.

After enduring Liverpool's mad-dog onslaught for the first 20 minutes.

Arsenal, taking advantage of Liverpool's players' fading stamina, gradually seized control of the match.

After several passes in midfield, Wilshere suddenly threaded a through ball to Sagna, who had pushed up on the right.

Sagna received the ball, carried it toward the byline, then created an angle to send a cross into the middle for Arshavin and Chamakh.

Unfortunately, the ball was cleared by Skrtel.

But no sooner had the ball been cleared than Nasri met it with a volley.

The shot ended up sailing just over the crossbar and into the stands.

Nasri's strike nearly gave Liverpool goalkeeper Reina a cold sweat.

Li Yufei, watching from the substitutes' bench, felt a surge of excitement at Nasri's shot.

If he remembered correctly, this was the season Nasri became Arsenal's main man.

He even went on to win the 2010 France Football Player of the Year for his outstanding performances.

Although Nasri would transfer to Manchester City next season, lured by their financial firepower.

This season, Nasri's form was absolutely brilliant!

Thinking about it, Li Yufei wondered if he could convince his father to offer Nasri a high-salary contract extension.

After all, for a midfielder in his prime, if he could stay at Arsenal and keep contributing, why let him go to Manchester City?

Li Yufei clearly remembered that in Nasri's first year at City, he helped them win their first-ever Premier League title.

With such a powerful ally, how could Li Yufei allow him to strengthen the enemy?

Match time: 38th minute.

Nasri got another chance, facing a square pass from Arshavin at the edge of the penalty area.

After receiving the ball, Nasri shook off Carragher's defense with a series of feints and completed another shot.

The ball ultimately struck the right post and bounced out for a goal kick.

Seeing this, Nasri couldn't help but look up and sigh—what a waste.

Match time: 41st minute.

Wilshere slid into Joe Cole during a tussle, bringing him down.

The referee quickly showed him a yellow card.

But Joe Cole was furious over Wilshere's foul.

Three minutes later, at the 44th minute.

Just as Wilshere received the ball, Joe Cole came in from the side and behind with something like a flying kick.

This action instantly ignited the entire stadium, causing Liverpool and Arsenal players to pile into each other.

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The Main Referee blew his whistle frantically, quickly pushing everyone apart, then showed Joe Cole, the instigator, a red card and sent him off.

Seeing this, Li Yufei felt a wave of relief—it was in the bag!

With Liverpool down a man before halftime, how could they still play?

If Arsenal couldn't win this, Li Yufei would be utterly speechless.

The halftime whistle blew, and the Arsenal and Liverpool players headed into the tunnel.

On the way back to the locker room, players from both sides were still shoving each other.

If not for the assistant referees keeping order, they might have staged an "off-field match" in the tunnel.

Back in the locker room.

Wenger didn't dwell on the few mistakes from the first half, focusing instead on encouragement.

With the opponent down to ten men, he told everyone to relax—just play normally and the win would be secure.

The 15-minute halftime break flew by in an instant.

The second half kicked off.

Arsenal had planned to slowly grind Liverpool down, since they now had a one-man advantage at 11 vs 10.

Plus, Liverpool's "mad dog" style of play was bound to drain their stamina.

Arsenal's original plan was to control the game until the 65th minute.

Then start pushing hard, sealing the win in the final 30 minutes.

But as the saying goes, plans can't keep up with changes!

Who would've thought that right at the start of the second half, Arsenal would play with fire in their own half, leading to Liverpool scoring a lightning-fast goal.

Match minute 46.

Diaby was passing back when Mascherano suddenly intercepted the ball, then booted it straight between Arsenal's two defenders, who hadn't yet closed ranks.

N'Gog received the ball, faced Almunia charging out, and this time didn't waste the chance—a low shot straight into the net.

"GOOOOOOOOOAL!!!"

"Number 24, N'Gog!!!"

"Even though they went down to ten men at the tail end of the first half, Liverpool haven't given up."

"Just one minute into the second half, Liverpool capitalized on an Arsenal player's mistake to draw first blood!"

"Now the pressure's on Arsenal. How will Arsène adjust to this situation?"

"Let's wait and see!"

Conceding a goal right at the start of the second half was clearly not something Wenger had anticipated.

Though taken aback, Wenger pressed his hands downward, signaling "Don't panic, hold the formation."

Diaby was furious at his own sloppy mistake, but Wilshere quickly came over to console him.

After the restart, Arsenal tried to catch Liverpool off guard while they were still riding the high of their goal.

Hoping to equalize in a flash!

But unfortunately, Liverpool didn't give Arsenal that chance.

With Gerrard's reminders, the Liverpool players stayed sharp.

Finding no quick equalizer, Arsenal fell back into their possession control game, aiming to keep the rhythm under their feet.

Match minute 55.

After a series of passes in the final third, the ball landed at Wilshere's feet.

Wilshere took a long shot from the edge of the box, but Reina made a heroic save!

As time ticked on, Arsenal's players grew visibly restless.

That was when Wenger finally made his first substitution.