Chapter 669: All-Out Attack
Liverpool still had Robertson. The 24-year-old left-back, along with his counterpart, the brilliant right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, was one of the keys to Liverpool's stellar performance this season.
If Liverpool's front three was the spear that pierced through defenses, then Alexander-Arnold and Robertson were the engines that powered their attacks.
Unlike Manchester United, which relied on the all-encompassing talents of Bruno Fernandes in midfield, Liverpool's midfield was primarily composed of blue-collar players. As such, their offensive play was heavily reliant on the flanks.
Alexander-Arnold's crossing ability was unparalleled. No matter the distance or whether the ball was moving, he could consistently find teammates in the box. On average, he delivered 7.12 crosses per match, relentlessly testing opposing defenses.
In contrast, Robertson was more versatile. In addition to his precise passing, his speed often allowed him to surge into the attacking third or overlap to provide support. Robertson's physicality also made him invaluable against tough opponents. His strength allowed him to maintain balance even at high speeds, and while his dribbling wasn't elite, it was sufficient to shield the ball effectively.
At this moment, as Mbappé broke forward, Robertson's blistering pace allowed him to keep up stride for stride.
"Only Robertson could manage this; any other full-back would be eating Mbappé's dust," commentator Zhang Lu chuckled.
Suddenly, Mbappé stopped short and executed a sharp cutback.
Robertson slammed on the brakes but was left slightly behind his mark.
"Mbappé crosses! Harry Kane! A brilliant header! The ball's in the net! Six minutes into the game, Manchester United takes the lead at Anfield!"
Koulibaly misjudged the ball's trajectory, allowing Kane to muscle past him and deliver a powerful header into the goal.
An ecstatic Kane raced to the sideline to celebrate, joined by Bruno and the rest of the team, who mobbed him in jubilation.
Scoring at Anfield carried special significance for Manchester United players, given the intense rivalry between the two clubs.
Mourinho celebrated on the sidelines, pumping his fist in the air.
Klopp, meanwhile, stood silently, his jaw clenched.
In the stands, Liverpool owner John W. Henry's expression was grim.
The 1–0 lead was a dream start for United, and Mourinho was visibly pleased.
However, just three minutes later, his mood soured as Liverpool equalized, erasing United's advantage.
United's defense hadn't made any glaring errors; the goal was purely a display of individual brilliance.
In the 24th minute, Fabinho lofted a precise pass forward. Mane, left unmarked, controlled the ball with his chest just outside the penalty box and unleashed a thunderous volley. The ball soared in a beautiful arc, evading both the United defenders and goalkeeper David de Gea, before crashing into the top-right corner.
It was the kind of goal that left no room for blame or complaint—a moment of sheer audacity and skill.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"
"Mane with a sensational strike!"
"1–1! Mane's incredible shot brings Liverpool level!"
Anfield erupted with thunderous cheers.
The equalizer seemed to unshackle both teams, igniting a thrilling back-and-forth contest.
Mourinho was unsatisfied with a draw, especially in such a crucial match against United's biggest rivals. A victory would extend their lead at the top of the table to five points—a significant cushion heading into the grueling festive fixture schedule.
For Klopp and Liverpool, a draw would do little to close the gap on United. Given United's exceptional consistency in recent seasons, Liverpool knew they had to seize this opportunity or risk falling behind for good.
This urgency drove both teams to attack with relentless intensity.
Bruno tested Alisson with a thunderous long-range effort, forcing the Brazilian goalkeeper to punch the ball away. Moments later, Bruno curled another shot just wide, hitting the side netting.
The near-misses sent shivers through Liverpool fans. Klopp frantically gestured from the sidelines, urging his players to push the defensive line higher and prevent United from getting too close to their penalty area.
Liverpool responded by pressing higher up the pitch, pushing United back and suppressing their attacking momentum.
As United's assault waned, Liverpool launched a rapid counterattack. Alisson's long ball found Salah, who expertly controlled it despite Luke Shaw's aggressive marking. Salah laid the ball off to Keïta, who quickly surged forward.
Keïta's diagonal ball was met by Fabinho, whose over-the-top pass found Salah sprinting down the right flank.
With Shaw beaten, Virgil van Dijk had to step up to challenge Salah. The Egyptian winger cleverly slipped the ball into the box, where Firmino shielded it from Harry Maguire. Unable to turn, Firmino laid it off to an onrushing Wijnaldum, whose powerful strike narrowly missed the target.
Though the shot sailed high, the Anfield faithful roared their approval for the Dutchman's effort.
United quickly countered. Mbappé received the ball on the right wing, cut inside, and unleashed a low drive.
Alisson reacted swiftly, smothering the shot and denying Kane a chance at the rebound.
Liverpool immediately transitioned into another counterattack. Fabinho's lofted pass was flicked on by Firmino, setting up Salah for a run at van Dijk. However, the Dutch defender anticipated Salah's move and cleanly dispossessed him.
"Fantastic tackle! Salah's trickery failed to fool Van Dijk, who read him like a book," the commentator praised.
Van Dijk initiated a counter by passing to Shaw, who surged forward. Firmino gave chase, eventually dragging Shaw down with a blatant foul.
The referee promptly blew his whistle and showed Firmino a yellow card. The Anfield crowd erupted in applause, relishing Firmino's tenacity.
Despite United's pressure, Liverpool's defense held firm.
This season, Liverpool had only conceded six goals in 16 league matches, making them the stingiest defense in the Premier League. Across Europe's top five leagues, they were unmatched in defensive solidity.
As Liverpool sat deeper, United struggled to find openings. Their attempts to penetrate through the middle were thwarted by a compact Liverpool defense, while aerial duels were dominated by Koulibaly and Lovren.
During a break in play, Mourinho called Bruno over to the touchline.
"There are too many bodies in the box. Liverpool's defense is too tight to break through the middle. You and Rashford are both capable of long shots—start taking more of them. Force Liverpool to step out and block your shots. Once they stretch their shape, look for spaces to exploit."
Bruno nodded in understanding. He had also noticed the difficulty of breaking through Liverpool's compact defensive structure.
"Tell Kane and the others to be ready for rebounds. Alisson has a tendency to fumble long shots, and that's our chance," Mourinho added.
The match resumed, and United sought to implement Mourinho's strategy.
Liverpool nearly capitalized on a mistake when Keïta intercepted Fred's pass and launched a counterattack. Clyne delivered a rare quality cross, but Firmino and Salah collided while attempting the same shot, sending the ball over the bar.
"Close call! Firmino should have left it for Salah!" exclaimed Andy Gray.
On the sidelines, Mourinho furiously berated Cancelo for failing to close down Clyne, allowing the cross to come in too easily.
(END CHAPTER)
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