Under normal circumstances, most shots struck by professional players carry some degree of spin.
At the instant the foot meets the ball, it's extremely difficult to strike the absolute sweet spot—the point that allows the ball to absorb the force perfectly and convert it entirely into forward momentum. Miss that spot, even slightly, and some spin is inevitable.
But Leo Lin's shot skimmed along the grass with a sharp, explosive sound—without a hint of rotation.
Straight for the corner.
Straight in.
"BOOM!!!"
Every fan in the stadium felt their heart jolt—especially those at Old Trafford. Manchester United supporters sank into despair.
"GOAL!!!!!!" Gerrard roared, throwing his arms into the air.
"GGGOOOOAAALLLL!!!"
"Lin!!!!"
"Lin!!!!"
Gerrard was completely out of control, leaping to his feet and pacing wildly around the Sky Sports studio.
"Can you believe this?!"
"An eighteen-year-old, scoring in his very first North West Derby!"
"A goal of absolute importance—one that completely snuffs out any hope of a United comeback!"
"Klopp was right to start him! Absolutely right! Crucially right!"
Gerrard could barely contain himself.
"Since retiring, I haven't seen a young midfielder this gifted. He's shown me the true meaning of the all-round midfielder—this rare tactical role hasn't disappeared at all!"
"Manchester United were trying to fight back, and at one point they even regained control of the match."
"But this goal has crushed every last bit of their hope!"
After scoring, Leo Lin sprinted toward the touchline, gesturing for Old Trafford to be quiet. Then he turned to the Liverpool fans, waving his arms and urging them to cheer—to explode with joy.
"Leo Lin!" Jon Champion exclaimed excitedly.
"He's announcing himself to his own supporters right here at the Theatre of Dreams!"
"He's wrapping Liverpool fans in glory—letting them be carried by honor and pride!"
"This moment will surely become one of the most iconic milestones of Leo Lin's career!"
"And those fans who were mocking him—some even trying to attack him—have no choice but to shut up now!"
"Their abuse didn't scare Leo Lin at all. It only ignited this young man's fighting spirit!"
Manchester United fans boiled with rage. Old Trafford first fell eerily silent, then erupted into a storm of boos.
But it sounded more like hollow howling. Football is meant to be decided by the ball, and even Mourinho's instruction for Matić to resort to dirty tricks couldn't gain any advantage over Leo Lin.
Instead, United found themselves two goals down, slipping deeper into the abyss.
Mourinho's face was ashen. Watching Leo Lin score, he sat in the dugout shaking his head in fury.
Liverpool fans in the live chat were utterly merciless.
"UNITED! TURN YOUR MICS ON!!!"
"Just one question—can you feel Liverpool's power now?!"
"Winning the North West Derby like this is unreal! Am I dreaming?!"
"This kid is absurdly strong. Physical duels and long-range shots are his biggest weapons.
His passing accuracy and set pieces still need work, and his overall game can grow—but for a young player, his current level is already way beyond the norm!"
Anyone with eyes could see that Leo Lin wasn't yet a complete player.
His passing under intense pressure still needed improvement. But in decisive moments, he always found the edge through physicality and long-range shooting.
Jamie Carragher spoke up:
"Lin's greatest strength isn't his long shots or his physical battles—it's that he knows exactly where his strengths lie."
"He knows when to assert himself, and he knows when to use his advantages to help his teammates."
"In other words, he plays incredibly smart football. His football IQ is outstanding."
Both Gerrard and Carragher—true Liverpool legends—were completely won over by Leo Lin's performance.
As the match wore on and time ran out, every passing minute felt like a countdown to death for Manchester United.
United fans were despondent. Some even began leaving the stadium early.
On the touchline, Klopp relentlessly harassed the fourth official, eager for the referee to bring the match to an end.
90th minute!
"We've entered stoppage time—four minutes added on."
"United have no chance. Equalizing in these final four minutes would be a miracle."
Leo Lin couldn't stop staring at the referee, silently begging him to put the whistle to his lips.
Finally—amid the hopeless stares of countless United fans and the eager anticipation of Liverpool supporters—
"Tweet."
"Tweet."
"TWEET!!!"
"Full time, ladies and gentlemen!"
"The Premier League second round—the North West Derby—comes to an end!"
"Congratulations to Liverpool on defeating Manchester United! Two wins from two, six points on the board, sitting second in the table. Manchester City lead on goal difference."
"A thrilling, end-to-end battle—and Liverpool have the final laugh."
Jon Champion was naturally excited, but as a commentator, he kept his emotions firmly in check and showed no bias toward either side.
In the official Premier League commentary room, Didier Drogba and the others had already lost their minds.
Gary Neville, wedged between Carragher and Drogba, was being ruthlessly mocked, his expression utterly lifeless.
"What more needs to be said, fans?"
"You're looking at Liverpool's future midfield general—Liverpool's star of tomorrow!"
"Lin's talent is obvious to the naked eye. I'll say it outright—he will become an exceptional player, as long as he avoids too many distractions!"
The broadcast cut to Leo Lin, and Liverpool legends began posting online one after another.
Paisley: "If I were still managing Liverpool, Lin would start every single match."
Carragher: "What more is there to say? Premier League—prepare to tremble."
Dalglish: "Everyone's praising his physicality and long shots. Am I the only one seeing his extraordinary football intelligence and imagination?"
Barnes: "Better long shots than Lampard, better control than Gerrard—still a bit short compared to me."
Gerrard: "Barnes, everyone already knows you're shameless. No need to remind us."
One by one, Liverpool legends surfaced to heap praise on him—many of them posting for the first time in years.
In an instant, Leo Lin became the most talked-about figure in the Liverpool squad. Soon after, fans began questioning online:
"Can someone explain why Liverpool still haven't offered Lin a first-team contract? Are they waiting for him to be poached?"
"There are reports that a fan saw Barnett having a secret meeting with Liverpool club official Mike!"
...
(60 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser