After play resumed, Arsenal were clearly growing anxious.
In the 40th minute.
Granit Xhaka was the first to lash out. Two goals behind, the Swiss player's anger could no longer be contained.
During a midfield tussle, he went in studs-up, lunging viciously at Rodri.
He missed the ball, but his studs slammed squarely into Rodri's shin pad.
Pawson blew his whistle and showed a yellow card without hesitation.
Granit Xhaka climbed to his feet, still cursing under his breath.
As captain, Chen Anno stepped forward to speak with Pawson. He believed that tackle warranted a red card.
But the referee firmly upheld his decision.
Fortunately, there was not much time left in the first half, and Arsenal's emotions had not yet fully erupted.
Pawson blew the whistle for halftime.
2:0.
Liverpool returned to the dressing room with a two-goal lead.
Yet the singing at Anfield never stopped.
Wenger was the last to enter the players' tunnel, and his expression was clearly grim.
He understood now that continuing to park the bus at Anfield would be useless.
They needed to attack in the second half.
As for how to attack, the Professor still needed to think of a solution.
During the halftime break, the two cramped dressing rooms held entirely different moods.
Wenger had made up his mind. They could not keep defending.
They had defended for forty-five minutes, conceded two goals, and picked up three yellow cards.
If they kept playing like this, they would only lose more embarrassingly.
He was going to push the team forward and take a gamble.
Klopp, meanwhile, looked utterly confident.
Standing before the tactical board, he told his players in an impassioned tone: Arsenal would definitely come forward! Once they did, it would be the perfect opportunity for us to hit them on