Chapter #23: Disrespectful Body Feint and a 40-Metre Screamer
The whistle sounded.
Liverpool against Southampton had begun.
Azim moved forward with his first few strides deliberately measured, watching the ball travel from the centre circle towards the Liverpool midfield. James Milner touched it back to Emre Can, who immediately looked up and considered his options. Southampton's front 2 began closing the central passing lanes, with Graziano Pellè moving towards Can and Steven Davis positioning himself to discourage a direct pass into Lucas Leiva.
Can chose the safer route and played towards Nathaniel Clyne.
The right-back collected the ball near the touchline, opened his body and advanced a few metres before finding Milner. Liverpool's captain moved the ball into Adam Lallana, who had dropped into the space behind Southampton's midfield.
The pattern was familiar from training.
Liverpool would draw the opponent forward, use short passes to encourage pressure, then exploit whatever space the advancing defenders left behind. Under Jürgen Klopp, possession was not valuable simply because Liverpool had the ball. It was valuable when the movement of that ball forced the opposition to change its shape.
Azim understood that principle.
Executing it against a disciplined opponent was another matter.
The moment Lallana received the ball, Victor Wanyama moved towards him. Jordy Clasie remained deeper, preventing Lallana from turning into the central channel, while José Fonte and Virgil van Dijk held their positions several metres behind the midfielders.
Azim began moving away from the centre-backs.
Van Dijk noticed immediately.
He took a few steps forward, keeping Azim within his field of vision while remaining close enough to Fonte to preserve the defensive line. The Dutchman was tall, physically powerful and comfortable defending forwards who attempted to use their strength to shield the ball.
He had no intention of giving Azim an easy afternoon.
Azim glanced over his shoulder.
Van Dijk's position was good. The defender had narrowed the space behind him without allowing Azim to receive in a comfortable position between the lines.
So Azim changed direction.
Instead of dropping towards Lallana, he moved towards the left side of the pitch, drawing Van Dijk away from the central channel. Fonte shifted across to cover the space, and Bertrand adjusted his position behind Southampton's midfield.
The movement did not create an immediate chance.
It did, however, alter the space available to Lallana.
With Van Dijk concerned about Azim's movement, Lallana found half a metre to turn. He carried the ball forward and played towards Philippe Coutinho, who had moved inside from the left.
Coutinho received on his right foot, shifted the ball away from Cédric Soares and attempted to work an angle for a shot.
The full-back recovered quickly.
Coutinho struck anyway.
Fonte stepped across and blocked the effort.
The ball ricocheted towards the edge of the penalty area, where Wanyama reached it before Can could recover. Southampton cleared the ball towards the halfway line.
"Good start!" Milner shouted. "Keep moving!"
Coutinho turned away from the blocked shot, shaking his head.
Azim was already retreating.
He had not received the ball, but he had helped create the space that allowed Lallana to turn. He would need to keep making such movements if Southampton continued to assign Van Dijk the responsibility of watching him.
The question was how long the defender would be willing to follow.
Southampton's response was immediate.
Fonte received the clearance near the centre circle and played towards Clasie. The Dutch midfielder took a touch away from Can before passing into Davis, who had found a pocket of space behind Lucas.
Davis turned.
For an instant, Liverpool's midfield was stretched. Can was recovering from his previous movement, Lucas had been drawn towards the ball, and Davis had enough time to look towards Pellè.
Azim noticed the change in the midfielder's posture.
Davis had opened his hips towards the striker.
His supporting foot was pointing towards the central channel.
It was a small detail, but Azim's attention sharpened around it.
He accelerated.
Rather than running directly towards Davis, he approached from the midfielder's left shoulder, cutting off the easiest return pass to Clasie while placing his body between Davis and Wanyama.
Davis looked up and saw the space to his right narrowing.
He attempted to pass towards Pellè before Azim could reach him.
Azim stretched out his right foot.
The ball struck his boot and changed direction.
It rolled towards Lucas, who collected it immediately.
"Well read!" Lucas shouted.
Azim had not needed to tackle Davis or force him to the ground. He had simply made the pass uncomfortable, arrived at the right moment and altered the route of the ball.
Liverpool regained possession.
Lucas moved it towards Can, who found Milner in the centre. The captain turned and passed to Lallana, allowing Liverpool to return to their attacking shape before Southampton could settle.
"Again!" Milner called. "Keep closing the lanes!"
The instruction carried across the pitch.
Liverpool's pressing was not an instruction for Azim to chase the ball until his legs gave out. It depended on coordinated movements, with the centre-forward forcing possession towards a selected area and the players behind him closing the routes that would allow Southampton to escape.
Azim was the trigger.
When he moved, the others needed to understand why.
If he pressed Fonte from an angle that blocked the pass into Clasie, Lucas had to be ready to challenge the next pass into Davis. If Azim forced the ball towards Cédric, Coutinho needed to close the full-back's route into the centre while Moreno remained alert to Tadić's movement.
A press with no supporting structure was merely a collection of players running.
Klopp wanted something more intelligent.
And Azim, with his ability to read movement before it developed, had become one of the most important parts of that structure.
Southampton were discovering it already.
At 4 minutes, Fonte passed backwards to Stekelenburg. The goalkeeper took a touch before attempting to play towards Van Dijk.
Azim sprinted towards him.
The goalkeeper had expected the forward to approach directly, giving him the option of passing out to Cédric on the right. Azim instead curved his run, keeping the full-back within his cover shadow while blocking the straightforward pass back towards Fonte.
Stekelenburg hesitated.
That hesitation was enough for Coutinho to advance towards Cédric.
The goalkeeper was forced to play towards Bertrand on the opposite side.
Moreno moved forward to engage the left-back, while Lucas adjusted his position to protect the central channel.
Bertrand attempted a pass inside.
Lallana stepped across and intercepted it.
Anfield applauded as Liverpool recovered possession high up the pitch.
"That's it!" Klopp shouted from the technical area, clapping vigorously. "Together! Together!"
Azim turned towards Lallana.
The attacking midfielder carried the ball forward and looked for a pass into the penalty area, but Southampton had already recovered their defensive shape. Fonte stayed close to the central channel, Van Dijk dropped towards his own goal, and Wanyama blocked the route into the space in front of them.
Lallana passed towards Milner instead.
The captain attempted to switch the ball towards Coutinho, but Cédric intercepted the pass and cleared towards midfield.
Southampton had survived.
Yet the escape had required 4 defensive actions and several hurried decisions.
Koeman stood near the touchline, watching the Liverpool forward.
"Stay connected!" he called. "Don't give them the middle!"
Wanyama raised his hand to acknowledge the instruction.
Azim heard the shout.
He smiled faintly.
Southampton were already talking about him.
That was useful.
But he needed to be careful. The match had barely begun, and the opponent's attention could become an advantage only if he used it properly.
The opening minutes developed into a physical contest for control of the central areas.
At 5 minutes, Davis moved towards Milner as the Liverpool captain collected a pass from Clyne. Davis approached from behind and caught Milner's foot while attempting to reach the ball.
Marriner's whistle sounded.
"Free-kick, Liverpool!"
Milner looked towards the referee.
"He came through me."
Davis immediately spread his arms.
"I got the ball!"
Marriner pointed towards the place where the challenge had occurred.
"You were late. Watch your footing."
Davis shook his head but moved away.
Azim approached as Milner placed the ball for the restart.
Davis glanced at him.
"Don't get involved, lad. You're not the captain."
Azim looked at the Southampton midfielder.
"No. I'm the one who keeps taking your passes."
Davis gave a short laugh.
"Enjoy it while you can."
"I am."
Milner looked between them.
"Enough. Let's play."
The free-kick was taken quickly. Lucas received the ball and turned towards the left, where Coutinho moved inside to receive.
The Brazilian attempted a short combination with Lallana, but Southampton's midfield closed the central space. Wanyama used his body to disrupt the exchange, forcing the ball towards the touchline.
Coutinho tried to recover it.
Cédric stepped across and poked it away.
The ball rolled out for a Southampton throw-in.
Azim began moving back towards the centre circle.
Van Dijk was watching him.
The defender had settled into a position where he could observe Azim without abandoning his relationship with Fonte. Whenever the forward changed direction, Van Dijk made a corresponding adjustment, maintaining just enough distance to prevent him from turning comfortably if he received the ball.
It was intelligent defending.
It was also irritating.
Azim had expected to face an opponent who would defend him physically, but he had not anticipated how little space Van Dijk was willing to concede without making a challenge.
The defender was not rushing.
He was waiting for Azim to become impatient.
Azim decided he would not make the same mistake.
For now, he would keep moving and make Van Dijk choose.
At 7 minutes, Liverpool created their first meaningful opportunity.
Lucas collected the ball in midfield and waited for Azim to move towards him. The forward dropped between Southampton's midfield and defence, forcing Van Dijk to decide whether to follow.
The centre-back took 2 steps forward.
Azim continued moving.
Van Dijk followed another step before recognising that Lallana had begun moving into the space behind him.
The defender stopped and turned back towards his own goal.
Azim received Lucas's pass with his back to goal.
He knew Wanyama was approaching from behind and Van Dijk was close enough to challenge if he turned towards the penalty area.
Instead of trying to spin away, Azim cushioned the ball back to Lallana.
The attacking midfielder played it immediately into Coutinho, who had arrived outside the penalty area.
Coutinho shifted the ball onto his left foot and struck towards the far corner.
The effort was blocked by Fonte.
The rebound travelled towards Lucas, who recovered possession before Davis could reach it.
Liverpool kept the ball alive.
Milner moved towards the edge of the box and called for a pass, but Lallana chose to carry the ball across the face of the penalty area instead. He was looking for a shooting angle when Wanyama closed him down and forced him to release the ball.
Lallana passed to Azim.
The forward received near the edge of the box, but Van Dijk had recovered to his position and was now close enough to challenge.
Azim attempted to turn.
Van Dijk read the movement and blocked the route with his body.
The ball rolled away towards Wanyama, who cleared.
Azim stopped and looked at the defender.
Van Dijk gave him a small smile.
"Not so easy now, is it?"
Azim moved away without responding.
The defender had won that duel.
There was no reason to pretend otherwise.
But Azim had also noticed something important. Van Dijk was beginning to step forward whenever he dropped into the central pocket. The movement was sensible because it prevented Azim from turning, but every step forward reduced the space available behind him.
That space would matter if Liverpool could release the ball at the right moment.
Azim looked towards Coutinho.
Then Lallana.
He needed them to recognise the movement as well.
Southampton threatened from a corner in the 11th minute.
Tadić collected the ball near the right touchline after a patient spell of possession. Moreno moved towards him, attempting to prevent a comfortable cross, but Tadić delayed long enough to draw the full-back forward before nudging the ball towards the byline.
Moreno stretched out a leg.
Tadić managed to deliver the cross.
Lucas reached it first but could not control the direction of the clearance. The ball deflected behind for a Southampton corner.
Milner immediately began organising Liverpool's defence.
"Sakho, near post! Martin, stay with Pellè! Clyne, watch the runner!"
He turned towards Azim.
"Edge of the box. Be ready for the second ball!"
Azim moved into position.
He watched Southampton's players rather than staring at Tadić. Fonte was stationed near the far side of the penalty area, while Van Dijk waited centrally. Pellè was occupying Sakho and Skrtel, attempting to prevent the centre-backs from moving freely towards the delivery.
Tadić raised his arm.
The corner came in.
The ball curved towards the far post.
Fonte escaped his marker and rose to meet it from close range, but the contact was poor. His header flew high and wide of Mignolet's goal.
Anfield released a collective breath.
"Goal-kick!" Marriner called.
Fonte turned towards Tadić.
"Put it higher!"
Tadić looked at him in disbelief.
"You had the chance!"
"Then give me a better ball!"
Milner clapped his hands.
"Reset! Don't stand and watch!"
Azim was already moving towards the halfway line.
Van Dijk watched him cross the edge of the penalty area.
The centre-back tapped 2 fingers against his own eyes and then pointed towards Azim.
"Still watching you," he called.
Azim glanced at him.
"You're welcome to."
Van Dijk smiled.
"You're not going anywhere."
"Then you'd better be quick."
The defender's expression changed slightly.
Azim turned away before Van Dijk could answer.
The early exchanges had given Southampton enough encouragement to remain aggressive when the ball moved into Liverpool's half.
At 12 minutes, the visitors tried to exploit the space behind Moreno. Bertrand received a diagonal pass and advanced towards the penalty area before looking for Mané.
The winger had moved inside, drawing Clyne away from his usual position. Pellè remained near the centre, ready to receive a cross or lay the ball off to Davis.
Bertrand passed towards Mané.
Clyne moved across to challenge, but Mané used his first touch to shift the ball away from the full-back.
He looked up.
Pellè was calling for the pass near the edge of the box.
Mané played it towards him.
Sakho stepped forward and blocked the route.
Pellè attempted to recover the ball, but the defender remained balanced and forced him away from goal.
The loose ball rolled towards Tadić, who was arriving from the right.
Tadić attempted to collect it and turn towards the centre.
Azim had already begun recovering from his position near the halfway line.
He approached from the side, using his run to block the route back towards Davis.
Tadić spotted the movement and tried to pass towards the centre anyway.
The ball travelled awkwardly.
Lucas stepped forward, stretching out his right leg to intercept it.
His touch was not clean, and the ball bounced several metres away.
Can moved towards it.
Wanyama was also closing.
For a moment, both teams had an opportunity to claim possession.
Can reached the ball first and pushed it towards the central channel.
Wanyama tried to recover.
The ball broke loose once more, rolling towards Azim.
He reacted immediately.
His first touch took the ball away from the nearest defender, and his second carried it beyond the pressure of Clasie.
He crossed the halfway line with the ball under control.
Southampton had committed players forward for their attack.
Their midfield was recovering.
Their full-backs were still high.
And the centre-backs were retreating towards their own goal.
Azim looked up.
For the first time in the match, he could see the entire defensive line moving backwards in front of him.
He accelerated.
"He's away!"
The commentator's voice rose as Azim drove towards the centre of the pitch.
Van Dijk sprinted back towards the penalty area, turning his body to keep the forward in view. Fonte moved across from the left, attempting to narrow the available space while Stekelenburg began stepping away from his goal line.
Azim was carrying the ball through the middle.
He could hear the crowd beginning to rise, but he did not look towards the stands.
There were still defenders to beat.
Clasie attempted to recover from behind.
Azim shifted the ball to his right foot and moved beyond him, using his shoulder to protect the route towards possession. Clasie reached out an arm, but the forward had already accelerated past the challenge.
"Get back!" Fonte shouted.
Van Dijk was now the deeper defender.
He was moving towards the centre, trying to prevent Azim from reaching the penalty area with the ball at his feet. Fonte approached from the left, leaving the 2 centre-backs to narrow the space around the forward.
Azim had 3 players between him and the goal.
Fonte.
Van Dijk.
Stekelenburg.
The goalkeeper was advancing.
The centre-backs were closing.
The obvious decision would have been to pass.
Coutinho was moving into space on the left, while Lallana was arriving on the opposite side. Either could have received a well-weighted pass and attempted to finish before Southampton recovered.
But Azim wanted the defenders to commit first.
He pushed the ball forward.
Fonte approached from the left, setting himself to prevent a direct run towards the centre of the penalty area. His hips were angled towards the side where he expected Azim to move, and his weight was balanced over his feet.
Azim slowed.
Fonte shortened his stride.
The forward rolled the ball slightly towards his right foot, then lifted his head and glanced towards Coutinho.
The movement suggested an immediate pass.
Fonte reacted.
He shifted his weight to block the passing lane, stepping across the space between Azim and the left side of the penalty area.
Azim dragged the ball behind his standing leg.
His body moved in the opposite direction.
Fonte's foot reached empty grass.
Azim slipped past his shoulder.
The movement was so quick that Fonte needed an extra step to recover, allowing the forward to enter the space between the centre-backs.
Anfield erupted.
"He's beaten Fonte!"
But Van Dijk was waiting.
The Dutch defender moved towards him with his body angled to show Azim away from the centre. He remained balanced, keeping his feet beneath him and refusing to commit to a tackle before the forward made the next move.
It was good defending.
Azim recognised it.
He also recognised that Van Dijk expected him to repeat the same action.
The defender had watched him feint away from Fonte, so he was preparing for the possibility that Azim would attempt to cut inside.
Azim deliberately allowed the ball to move towards his right foot.
He dropped his shoulder towards the outside.
Van Dijk shifted to block the route.
Then Azim stopped almost completely.
For a fraction of a second, the forward stood over the ball with his weight balanced between his feet, his head raised and his body apparently undecided.
The pause was infuriating.
Van Dijk could see the crowd rising behind him.
He knew Azim was trying to provoke a reaction.
He refused to lunge.
"Move!" the defender shouted.
Azim smiled.
"You first."
Van Dijk took a step forward, attempting to reduce the remaining space.
Azim's left shoulder dropped.
His hips turned towards the centre.
The ball moved slightly to the left.
Van Dijk reacted, shifting his weight towards the anticipated cut inside.
That was the moment Azim had been waiting for.
He snapped the ball back towards the right, taking it across the defender's front foot.
Van Dijk attempted to recover.
His right boot planted into the turf, but his body had already begun travelling in the wrong direction. He tried to pivot, bringing his left leg across to stop Azim from passing.
Azim moved the ball beyond him.
Their legs came close to brushing.
Van Dijk reached.
Azim had already gone.
For an instant, it appeared that the defender might recover through sheer strength and balance.
Then Azim used his Tere Tere no Mi.
Within the 60-metre effective range of his telekinesis, he applied a brief, concentrated force at the precise moment Van Dijk attempted to push away from the turf. The influence was almost imperceptible. It did not throw the defender backwards or produce any visible disturbance.
It simply disturbed the balance Van Dijk was relying on.
His planted foot failed to provide the support he expected.
His upper body moved ahead of his legs.
He stumbled, tried to recover and reached towards the grass.
Then he fell.
Van Dijk landed on his side, one hand striking the turf as Azim slipped past him with the ball.
The stadium exploded.
"OH, THAT IS DISRESPECTFUL!"
The commentator's voice cracked with excitement.
"HE HAS SENT VAN DIJK TO THE GROUND!"
The defender pushed himself upwards, his face tightening with disbelief.
For a moment, he stared at Azim as though he could not understand how the duel had ended so quickly.
He had been balanced.
He had anticipated the movement.
He had prepared to recover.
Yet now he was on the grass, watching the Liverpool forward sprint towards the penalty area.
"What the hell was that?" Van Dijk shouted.
Azim did not answer.
The ball was still moving.
Fonte had recovered enough to make another challenge, but he now faced a difficult decision. If he committed himself towards Azim, he would leave the space behind him exposed. If he stayed deeper, the forward would have room to approach the goalkeeper.
Stekelenburg began advancing.
The goalkeeper lowered his body and spread his arms, preparing to close the angle as Azim entered the box.
Coutinho was free on the left.
Lallana was arriving on the right.
Milner was sprinting behind the play.
"Square it!" Milner shouted.
Azim heard him.
He also saw Stekelenburg moving towards the centre of the penalty area, attempting to reduce the available shooting angle.
The goalkeeper expected a shot.
Azim gave him the impression that one was coming.
He pushed the ball slightly towards his right foot and opened his body.
Stekelenburg reacted by stepping across, lowering himself and extending his arms.
Azim changed direction.
He guided the ball beyond the goalkeeper's reach, using the outside of his right foot to send it towards the space on the opposite side.
Stekelenburg dropped towards the grass and stretched out a leg.
His boot brushed empty air.
Azim took a long stride around him.
For a moment, the ball travelled farther than the forward intended. It was rolling towards the open goal, but Azim had to prevent it from running beyond the byline before he could finish.
He shortened his stride, brought his body across the ball and adjusted his next touch.
The goal was empty.
The defenders were behind him.
The crowd was standing.
Azim guided the ball into the net.
Liverpool 1, Southampton 0.
For a moment, Azim could not hear anything.
The roar was too large, too immediate, too overwhelming to distinguish individual voices. It swept over the pitch and crashed against him, filling the space where thought had been.
He turned towards the Kop.
His fists tightened.
Then he jumped and drove his right fist into the air.
"YES!"
He landed, jumped again and thrust his fist forward towards the supporters, his face breaking into an unrestrained grin.
The noise answered him.
It was not merely approval of a goal. It was the release of an audience that had spent the opening 13 minutes waiting for Liverpool to break through.
Coutinho reached him first.
The Brazilian grabbed Azim by the shoulders and shouted something that vanished beneath the noise before pulling him into an embrace.
Lallana arrived immediately afterward, laughing in disbelief.
"Did you see Fonte?"
Azim was still grinning.
"I saw the goal."
"Forget the goal. Look at Van Dijk!"
Azim turned towards the Southampton defender.
Van Dijk had got back to his feet, brushing the grass from his shorts. His expression was dark, and he was looking directly at Azim.
Milner arrived with both hands on his head.
For a moment, the captain simply stared at Azim.
Then he laughed, shaking his head.
"That is ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous."
Can ran into them from behind, wrapping an arm around Azim's shoulders.
"You're not normal, man!"
"That's what he gets for following me," Azim replied.
Coutinho laughed and shook his head.
"You were surrounded by 3 players!"
"And?"
"And you beat all 3!"
Azim glanced towards the goal.
"Then I suppose they should have defended better."
Coutinho stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter.
Milner pointed towards Azim.
"Enjoy the celebration. Then get back into position. We still have a match to play."
The captain's voice was firm, but his grin betrayed him.
Behind them, Klopp was no longer standing in his technical area.
He had surged forward towards the touchline, shouting with his arms spread wide. His glasses had slipped slightly down his nose, and his face had transformed from the concentrated expression he had worn throughout the opening minutes into an almost boyish grin.
He punched the air.
Then did it again.
"JAAAA!"
The Liverpool bench rose with him.
Firmino clapped above his head. Ibe leaned over the barrier, shouting towards the pitch. Benteke stood with his hands on his hips, staring at the replay on the stadium screen.
Klopp seized one of his assistants by the shoulders.
"Did you see that?"
The assistant could only laugh.
On the opposite touchline, Koeman remained still.
His eyes moved from Azim to Van Dijk, then towards Stekelenburg, who was pushing himself back to his feet.
The plan had failed in the worst possible way.
Southampton had devoted their defensive attention to the forward and still allowed him to beat both centre-backs and the goalkeeper.
But Koeman's concern was not merely the goal.
It was the way it had happened.
Fonte had tried to block the passing lane.
Van Dijk had anticipated the change of direction.
Stekelenburg had advanced to narrow the angle.
Each action, considered individually, had been reasonable.
Together, they had been turned into a sequence of humiliations.
The replay appeared on the stadium screen.
Fonte stepped across.
Azim feinted.
Van Dijk shifted his weight.
Azim moved in the opposite direction, and the defender fell.
The camera stayed on Van Dijk long enough to show him getting back to his feet.
A wave of laughter and astonished noise travelled through the stadium.
Van Dijk looked towards Azim.
There was no amusement in his expression now.
The centre-back walked towards the halfway line, his jaw clenched.
Azim was still celebrating with his teammates when Van Dijk came close enough to speak.
"Enjoy it," the defender said. "You won't get another chance like that."
Azim turned towards him.
"I only needed that 1."
Van Dijk's expression hardened.
"You think you're special?"
Azim glanced towards the scoreboard.
"At the moment, I'm the only one who scored."
Van Dijk took a step towards him.
Marriner moved between the players.
"Enough. We're restarting."
Van Dijk looked away first.