The Perfect Union of Player and Ball

The fifteen-minute break passed quickly.

When Chen Anno came out of the dressing room, he could tell at a glance that the Manchester City players had a different look in their eyes.

Guardiola had clearly fired them up at halftime.

What he had said to do it, Chen Anno had no idea.

He only noticed what looked like a few new scratches on Guardiola's gleaming forehead.

Manchester City's attacks were noticeably faster from the start of the second half.

Neymar and Mbappe.

One was a samba dancer; the other, a French supercar.

They took turns charging down Liverpool's flanks, pinning Robertson and Achraf so deep they could barely cross the halfway line.

But Liverpool had come prepared.

At halftime, Klopp had warned his players what to expect.

Whenever Manchester City looked for an opening out wide, Henderson and Naby Keita would join Salah and Mane to form a tight triangle around the player on the ball.

Rodri held the center, covering enough ground on his own to keep De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva wary.

Chen Anno, meanwhile, was Liverpool's roaming threat on the counterattack, ready to deliver a decisive blow at any moment.

He prowled near the center circle like a hunter poised to strike.

He knew the more urgently Manchester City attacked, the more chances they would leave for a counter.

All he had to do was wait for one, then make it count.

It was precisely because Manchester City feared Chen Anno that their defensive line never dared push too high.

That was the threat Chen Anno posed!

Even standing still, he was enough to keep his opponents on edge.

The second half began at a furious pace, yet neither side could break the deadlock.

Neither had managed an attack that truly threatened the opposing goal.

Soon, the