"Two goals in the first 45 minutes!"
"This is the Champions League stage, fans—this is the Champions League!!!"
"Only his second Champions League appearance, and Leo Lin delivers a stunning first-half brace!"
"Liverpool lead Shakhtar Donetsk 2–0!"
Live broadcast chat exploded.
"Could Lin become the next goal-scoring midfielder after Lampard? There's a similar feel to it!"
"Such sharp instincts—what beautiful attacking runs!"
"Thanks to all the outside doubts—we're seeing a Lin with an incredible hunger for goals!"
Liverpool fans were in full celebration mode. If they could take this second group-stage match, Liverpool would be two wins from two, sitting top of the group with six points.
A perfect start, and a crucial step toward finishing first in the group.
Top spot would mean avoiding an early showdown with the other groups' heavyweights in the knockout draw.
The final minutes of the first half slipped away, and both teams headed back to the dressing rooms.
Shakhtar Donetsk looked stuck between a rock and a hard place. Two goals down already, yet if they went head-to-head with Liverpool, they feared the scoreline could get even uglier.
In commentary booths everywhere, analysts began breaking down the situation.
"I think Shakhtar have to go toe-to-toe with Liverpool in the second half," Jim Beglin said.
"Losing by two or three doesn't really change much. If they commit to attack and manage to pull it back, even a draw would give them a point and keep their hopes of qualifying alive."
Jon Champion agreed wholeheartedly. And the fans watching at home wanted the same—an open contest. Only an all-out battle could truly show the beauty of football.
...
Liverpool's locker room.
"That's the best first half I've seen you play all season!" Klopp said excitedly—one of his trademark lines.
"Aggressive, quick in transition, and lethal on the counter."
"In the second half, we'll adjust based on Shakhtar's approach. If they push up to attack, we'll play more through balls and use our pace to get in behind."
"If they sit back or go with a high press, we do the same as the first half—combination play, breaking through with numbers, and attacking down both wings."
The biggest difference between wing play and multi-player combination breakthroughs lies in the fullbacks. In a wing-focused approach, both fullbacks push forward frequently to join the attack.
With long switches of play, quicker ball circulation, and longer passing arcs, the wings are used to stretch the opponent's back line and pull their defense apart.
Compared to compact combination play, wing play covers more ground and puts greater emphasis on width and distribution.
Klopp's preferred combination breakthroughs, on the other hand, focus on tight teamwork—short passing, wall passes, and constant one-twos in small spaces to create clear shooting chances.
Leo Lin felt a rush of excitement. His thoughts had already turned to a hat trick.
Two goals already, and another 45 minutes to play. To say he wasn't thinking about it would be a lie—this would be the first hat trick of his career.
"Lin, let's link up more with our movement in the second half."
"Just make the run—the ball will come." Salah threw an arm around Leo Lin as they headed back out, clearly determined to help him complete the hat trick.
Leo Lin gave Salah a friendly pat on the backside in thanks. Since joining the team, Salah and Firmino had been the first to help him out and make an effort to befriend him.
Leo Lin knew that fitting into Liverpool so quickly owed a lot to the support of those two.
...
The second half began, and just as expected, Shakhtar Donetsk pushed higher up the pitch, playing far more aggressively than before.
"Shakhtar are doing the right thing—go for it. Take the gamble, and maybe they create something."
"From the shape on the pitch, Fred has been glued to Leo Lin since the restart."
Fred was like a shadow, his eyes fixed on Leo Lin alone.
53rd minute.
Leo Lin dropped back sharply, looking to receive the ball, but Fred was on him immediately from behind.
An arm reached out, a light shove, trying to throw Leo Lin off balance.
"Ref!"
"He's pulling me!"
Leo Lin shouted his complaint at the referee. Fred instantly put on an innocent look, hands spread wide.
But before he could react—
Leo Lin suddenly exploded into motion, shrugging Fred off and bursting into space!
Henderson threaded a through ball!
"Great pass!"
"Leo Lin turns with it!"
"Liverpool break forward!"
Fred chased after him, disbelief written all over his face.
"This kid!"
"So clever!"
Leo Lin drove forward at full speed, his run powerful and controlled.
As he closed in on the box, Stepanenko made his move, grabbing at him desperately to stop the break.
It took everything he had just to slow Leo Lin's bull-like charge. Leo Lin swatted Stepanenko's hand away in frustration—he'd already seen the perfect route forward, just two more touches and he was through.
"Whistle!!!"
"The referee shows Stepanenko a yellow card!"
"That should have been a perfect counterattack opportunity for Liverpool."
From a promising free-kick position, Salah went straight for goal, but put too much power behind it.
"Liverpool have had plenty of free kicks this season, but we haven't really seen a polished set-piece routine."
"Maybe that's something Klopp will need to work on."
The game opened up completely now, both sides refusing to hold back, throwing everything into attack.
65th minute.
"Sustained pressure going forward, quick short passes through the middle—Liverpool look excellent."
Henderson received the ball and laid it off.
Leo Lin met it with a flick of the ankle, sending a long diagonal ball out to the right.
Another beautiful arc followed as Arnold swung it back across to the left, finding Robertson charging in late!
Three sweeping switches of play, and Shakhtar Donetsk's defense was completely torn apart.
Jon Champion's voice rose with excitement.
"Robertson driving down the flank—so much pace!"
"A diagonal cross at about 45 degrees!"
"What a delivery!!!"
The cross was aimed at Salah at the far post, and he was already set to rise for the header.
But suddenly, a dark figure surged in with long strides, rocketing toward the same spot like a missile!
A powerful leap off the turf!
A diving header!
Leo Lin soared through the air in a perfect arc, like a golden carp leaping through the Dragon Gate!
"Bang!!!"
"Into the net!!!"
"GOAL!!!!!!!!" Gerrard completely lost his mind!
"It's in! It's in! It's in! It's in! It's in! It's in! It's in! It's in! It's in!" Jon Champion roared!
"A diving header!"
"Leo Lin completes his hat trick!"
"Absolutely magnificent!"
"Just 18 years old, and he's scored a hat trick in the Champions League!"
"Modern football has a new top-tier rising star at last!!!"