Under the night sky of North London—
At the Emirates Stadium!
With Kai's sudden strike barely ten seconds after kick-off, both the fans inside the ground and those watching through broadcasts outside were instantly stunned!
This League Cup semi-final had already attracted enormous attention even before it began.
The reason was simple.
This wasn't just any semi-final.
It was also the very last match of English football in 2011!
The true year-end finale!
And the two teams facing each other were none other than two of the Premier League's traditional giants: Liverpool and Arsenal!
Every Arsenal match this season, thanks to Kai's presence, had naturally drawn countless eyes.
As a result, once fans had figured out Arsenal's rhythm this year, many would make sure to sit in front of their TVs at least ten minutes early whenever the Gunners played.
Commentators too would prepare themselves long before kick-off.
Because what Arsenal were most feared for—was their terrifying ability to strike right from the start!
If you weren't ready in advance, you could easily miss a stunning early goal.
At the Emirates—
The moment Kai struck the ball from just outside the center circle, the live commentator grabbed the microphone in excitement!
"Liverpool's defensive shape after kick-off was timely! But Arsenal's attacking runs up front have such clear intent!"
"Kai has let fly!"
"Again from just beyond the center circle!"
"This genius never backs away just because a long pass seems too far! On the contrary, his otherworldly passing ability means he has no such concerns!"
"Oh my God!"
"That long pass found Walcott's forward run with pinpoint accuracy! How on earth did he thread that ball through?!"
"There were three Liverpool players along the passing lane who could have disrupted it!"
"Yet the ball followed an unbelievable trajectory, landing perfectly at Walcott's feet!"
"Walcott bursts forward at full speed! Skrtel stands in his way!"
"Ah! Skrtel anticipated it brilliantly—he read Walcott's cut inside! He pokes the ball clear, out toward the edge of the box!"
"Carragher holds off van Persie—Arsenal's striker can't quite bring it under control!"
"Wait a second!"
"Kai and Gerrard are both charging for the loose ball! Another direct clash between the Arsenal and Liverpool captains! My God—the gap is widening, Kai's acceleration is just too much! Gerrard can't keep up!"
"Kai takes it again! A first-time lofted pass over the top!"
"This time the target is Giroud at the edge of the box!"
"Giroud flicks it with his forehead, then uses his body to shield off Carragher!"
"Giroud breaks into the area!"
"A shot toward the near post!"
"Goal!!"
"My God, it's a goal!"
"1–0!!"
"Once again it's Kai with two outrageous early passes! Tearing Liverpool's left and right defensive lines apart in succession!"
The commentary booth exploded with noise!
After scoring, Giroud clasped his head in disbelief!
He turned to the stands, pumping his fists, then sprinted straight toward Kai in celebration!
The feeling was incredible—
After so many matches without starting, Giroud had finally been given a place in the XI again, and within barely a dozen seconds, he had scored at lightning speed!
"Captain, your pass was absolutely brilliant!"
Giroud shouted joyfully as he embraced Kai.
Walcott, van Persie, and the others quickly rushed over as well.
From the stands of the Emirates came a deafening roar of Gunners' cheers!
The goal had come far too quickly!
Another classic Arsenal fast start this season!
On the touchline, Kenny Dalglish was shaken once more.
Already?
So fast?!
He had already witnessed Kai's godlike performance at Anfield in the league earlier this season.
So Dalglish thought he was mentally prepared.
But seeing this young genius produce such brilliance again right before his eyes still sent shivers down his spine!
And in contrast—
With Arsenal scoring right at the start,
the Liverpool fans in the away stands could no longer sit still.
Today was the League Cup semi-final!
This was Liverpool's closest chance at a trophy in recent years!
No Liverpool fan was willing to give up on this opportunity.
On the pitch,
Gerrard tightened the captain's armband on his arm.
He shouldered the responsibility of being the captain.
Clapping his hands, he encouraged his teammates around him.
"It's only one goal, we still have a chance! Lift your spirits!"
"We worked so hard to reach the semi-finals of the League Cup—are you willing to go out hanging your heads like this?"
The Liverpool players on the field took a deep breath.
Gerrard's words awakened them.
Liverpool too had been trophyless for years.
To reach the semi-finals of the League Cup at this turning point of squad transition was no easy feat.
Not a single Liverpool player was willing to bow out with regret!
"Beep!"
The referee blew his whistle again!
The match restarted.
Suárez and Carroll kicked off.
Not even a minute had passed since the start,
and already the Liverpool fans felt the pressure pressing down on them.
0–1 from the kickoff!
Facing this powerful Arsenal,
just seeing Kai running on the pitch was enough to make the Liverpool fans feel immense pressure.
A goal down,
Liverpool began pressing forward energetically, running hard across the pitch in search of opportunities.
Henderson and Gerrard played as Liverpool's double midfield pivot in this match.
After half a season of growth,
Henderson had gradually won the favor of Liverpool fans.
Once dismissed as a "flop,"
he had now started to hold his own in midfield.
12th minute!
Hope rose in the eyes of the Liverpool fans in the away stands!
Škrtel played a direct pass from the back.
Gerrard rushed up to receive it,
then knocked it back again to Škrtel.
The latter immediately launched a long, powerful ball forward!
The ball was lofted towards Liverpool's left flank in attack.
The tall, long-legged Andy Carroll leapt high and flicked it on with a header!
Suárez smartly controlled the ball at his feet,
and suddenly charged into Arsenal's penalty area!
The Liverpool end erupted in cheers!
This half-season, Suárez had been their spearhead,
scoring many crucial goals!
Suárez sprinted with the ball.
Facing the combined defense of Van Dijk and Koscielny,
Suárez, from just outside the box, suddenly unleashed a powerful strike!
Gasps rang out across the stadium.
The ball skimmed the crossbar and flew into the stands.
Suárez clutched his head in frustration and squatted down.
The Liverpool media at the scene sighed in regret.
Too unlucky!
Liverpool were just a crossbar away from equalizing.
"If that had gone in, we'd be level with Arsenal again!"
Liverpool fans rubbed their faces in frustration.
Although the League Cup semi-final was played over two legs,
there was no away goals rule — unlike the Champions League.
So if they equalized, it would essentially put them back on level terms!
On the touchline, Dalglish's expression was grim.
That chance just now had been a rare golden opportunity in the opening stages.
Facing Arsenal led by Kai, it was already extremely difficult to find such chances.
Against a team like this, wasting opportunities was practically suicide!
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