If I'm not mistaken."
Instructor Zhan repeatedly checked the starting lineup. Even though he had subconsciously shouted Lin Chen's name as a starter, Instructor Zhan was still unsure.
"If I'm not mistaken!"
Instructor Zhan could finally be certain.
"Fans!"
"Lin Chen is in the starting lineup after just one Premier League match!"
Live stream chat:
"What's so surprising? Klopp always likes to boldly use new players."
"Starting in the Premier League at 17, I was still ignoring risks and installing things immediately at 17."
"Don't assume Liverpool will win easily; Hoffenheim's lineup is very strong."
A Fan brought up this point. In the live stream, Instructor Zhan was explaining the starting lineups for both teams.
"Fans, Hoffenheim, as one of the most unique teams in the Bundesliga, is also known by Fans as 'Hoffenheim Village'."
"The starting lineup for this match has been submitted, featuring several young players worth watching. First, let's look at Hoffenheim's 3-4-2-1 formation."
"goalkeeper: Baumann."
"Defenders: Hübner, Vogt, Bičakčić."
"Midfielders: Zuber, Demirbay, Rupp, Kaderábek."
"Forwards: Kramarić, Gnabry, Wagner."
"From the starting lineup, we can see that the right winger Gnabry is Germany's current rising star, the center forward Wagner has excellent pivot ability, the Midfielder Demirbay is well-rounded, and the Left Flank Kramarić also possesses strong dribbling skills."
Instructor Zhang then began to introduce Liverpool's starting lineup.
"Liverpool is still playing a 4-3-3."
"goalkeeper: Mignolet."
"Defenders: Moreno, Lovren, Matip, Arnold."
"Midfielders: Wijnaldum, Henderson, Lin Chen."
"Forwards: Mane, Firmino, Salah."
"It's worth mentioning that young Lin Chen is starting in Midfielder. I hope he can perform well in this European match."
At this moment, both teams were ready in the player tunnel and entered the field led by the Referee.
Hoffenheim's home stadium was packed, with all the Fans loudly cheering for their team.
Of course, some extreme German Fans once again snuck into the stadium, unfurling large banners to protest against Hoffenheim's Chairman.
"Banners have been unfurled in the stadium again; I believe they will be removed by security personnel very soon."
"Due to ownership reasons, most German teams are not solely owned by their Chairman. However, Hoffenheim's Chairman changed this tradition, and the club is entirely controlled by him, which has caused dissatisfaction among some of the team's Fans."
The broadcast camera showed the field, where both teams had lined up in their respective halves.
"Beep!"
"With the Referee's whistle, Fans, this match has officially begun!"
"Hoffenheim is best at playing a high-pressing attacking style in the early stages of a match."
"Sure enough, the opening ball was sent to the Left Flank, looking for Kramarić!"
"He out-jumped Arnold for a header, and there's an opportunity in the middle!"
"Wagner with a header on goal!!!"
"Mignolet was very focused and parried the ball away with both hands."
After the kickoff, Hoffenheim pushed forward aggressively, playing at a very fast pace, at one point pinning Liverpool in their own half.
In the 15th minute of the match!
"An attempt to launch a quick attack down the wing, but the pass was a bit too strong and was intercepted by Zuber."
"A through ball launches a counter-attack, getting behind Moreno!"
"Gnabry receives the ball, cuts inside, and dribbles past the defender!"
"Cuts again!"
"There's space!"
"He curls a shot!"
"Oh, just a little bit off!"
"Gnabry's curling shot grazed the post and went out for a goal kick. If his ankle had been a bit tighter, that ball should have gone in!"
Instructor Zhan, watching Hoffenheim push high up the pitch, said:
"Hoffenheim always starts very excited; that's their strength. Liverpool needs to get through this difficult opening phase."
"Winger Gnabry is indeed very strong. His signature cut-ins always create space for him to shoot or pass, and his explosive acceleration is his forte."
Hoffenheim primarily attacked down Gnabry's side. Whenever there was an opportunity in Midfielder, they would immediately switch the play with a long pass, providing Gnabry with one-on-one chances.
Meanwhile, the highly anticipated Lin Chen seemed to have disappeared since the start of the match, or in layman's terms, he was 'invisible'.
Live stream chat:
"Where's that incredibly strong Lin you all were talking about? It's been over ten minutes, and I haven't seen him."
"This is a European match; how well can a 17-year-old kid perform? I don't understand why Klopp would start him."
"These haters definitely haven't seen the highlights of Lin Chen's last match. Do you know what 'confrontation' means? Do you know what 'shooting' means?"
Liverpool Fans and Hoffenheim Fans quickly started arguing in the live stream. At this moment, Lin Chen suddenly started to move, expanding his running range. He had completed his observation of Hoffenheim!
Although Hoffenheim attacked fiercely, the higher they pressed, the more space they left in their defensive half. Lin Chen had been looking for these gaps in their backline.
After careful observation, Lin Chen finally discovered that Demirbay, in order to pass to Gnabry on the right, would always push forward with the ball past the Midfielder line before delivering a through pass.
If he could intercept Demirbay's ball, he could instantly break through Hoffenheim's Midfielder blockade, leading to a counter-attack!
Lin Chen immediately signaled to his Midfielder teammates, Wijnaldum and Henderson, who understood implicitly.
The three of them actively dropped back, giving Hoffenheim's Midfielder more space to pass.
In the 30th minute of the match, Demirbay looked at the open space in front of him and couldn't resist pushing forward with the ball.
With an excited heart and trembling feet, he quickly advanced with the ball, soon breaking past the Midfielder line.
He was about to pass to Gnabry but found Moreno pressing tightly, so he had to continue dribbling forward himself.
At this moment, Lin Chen suddenly pressed forward, with Henderson on the left and Wijnaldum on the right. The three of them tightened their encirclement, instantly forming a group press!
Demirbay hastily stopped the ball, wanting to turn back, but it was too late!
Lin Chen fiercely tackled and won the ball!
He pushed off with his left foot, accelerating, shaking off Demirbay, and launching the counter-attack!
All Liverpool Fans stood up to watch!
"Trap defense!"
"Lin Chen completes the interception and charges forward with big strides!"
"The front three are making runs; there's a counter-attack opportunity!"
Lin Chen dribbled while observing.
His gaze first went to the left, where Mane was double-teamed. Firmino, however, suddenly dropped back.
"Tap! Lin Chen immediately plays a short pass!
"Bang! Firmino receives the ball and lays it back!
The two played a one-two pass!
After receiving the return pass, Lin Chen didn't stop the ball. Instead, he curled a shot with his left foot!
It perfectly bypassed Hoffenheim's right-back Hübner, finding Salah who had beaten the offside trap!
The egyptian pharaoh controlled the ball, took a touch, adjusted, and then blasted a shot into the near post!
"Swish!!!"