"The live broadcast just caught an interesting moment—it looks like Pep Guardiola's daughter has switched sides."
"Maria is wearing Leo Lin's jersey and cheering him on."
Both teams walked onto the pitch. After a tense coin toss, Liverpool earned the kickoff.
Firmino stood over the ball at the center spot, with seven Liverpool players lined up shoulder to shoulder along the halfway line.
Jon Champion's eyes narrowed.
"This…"
"Judging from that opening shape, are Liverpool planning to go head-to-head with Manchester City?"
"An open battle against City at the Etihad?"
"Some fans may not realize that although City finished fourth last season without silverware, that was largely due to poor away form and injuries to key players."
"At home, City had an absolutely terrifying unbeaten record last season."
Atkinson's whistle pierced the air.
"Tweet!!!"
Seven Liverpool players burst forward at once!
"Firmino lays it back!"
"Leo Lin collects it and sends a long pass down the left—Mané takes it on the wing, one touch, one move!"
"He's trying to race Walker!"
"He's been caught!"
"Just manages to shield the ball, slams on the brakes, cuts it back to the edge of the box!"
"Henderson arrives and hits it!"
Henderson's strike was powerful, but the angle was too straight. Ederson gathered it comfortably.
The seven Liverpool players who had surged forward immediately sprinted back, showing a rabid, all-out intensity across the pitch.
Jim Beglin watched and felt a sudden sense of déjà vu. It hit him—wasn't this exactly like the pack-of-wolves approach France used in the U17 World Cup final?
"From the attacking movement so far, this really does look like the pack-of-wolves tactic."
"It seems Klopp has fused that with an ultra-high press."
Great managers are always willing to absorb new and advanced tactical ideas, and Klopp was doing just that.
Fresh back with the first team, Leo Lin focused on increasing his movement in midfield, easing himself back into the rhythm of top-level football. After all, the Premier League was a completely different challenge from the U17 World Cup.
And today, his opponents were David Silva—the Spanish magician—Kevin De Bruyne, the leader of Belgium's golden generation, and the vastly experienced Fernandinho. It was never going to be easy.
From the opening moments, Fernandinho stuck tight to Leo Lin. When Leo Lin moved off the ball to look for space, Fernandinho would deliberately drop away, keeping just enough distance. The instant Leo Lin received the ball, Fernandinho would surge in aggressively, a pattern that worked time and again.
Leo Lin's ball control was still developing, and Fernandinho made life extremely uncomfortable for him. The rhythm became fragmented. Leo Lin could only just shield the ball with his body, but there was no room to play forward passes.
"This is where experience really shows," Jon Champion remarked. "Fernandinho is truly one of the very best holding midfielders in the Premier League."
"Leo Lin can protect the ball with his physicality, but every forward passing lane is completely shut down."
As Liverpool's attacks stalled, Manchester City gradually reclaimed control. Their possession game wrapped around Liverpool like flowing water, inching forward, compressing space, and slowly flattening Liverpool's defensive shape.
Before long, Liverpool realized they were being dragged around by the ball, dictated by City's tempo. Their high press never truly took hold. City's passing grew quicker, their options wider.
19th minute.
"Battle in midfield—David Silva drives forward!"
"Leo Lin steps in head-on, but Silva's control is razor-sharp—he shields it with his back and plays it wide!"
"Benjamin Mendy lashes it across!"
"A trademark low delivery switches play to the right—Kevin De Bruyne arriving!"
"He's got a chance to cross!"
The moment De Bruyne took his touch, Leo Lin sprinted desperately toward the box. He'd spotted space at the far post.
De Bruyne whips it in!
That signature arcing delivery carved a beautiful curve through the air, sailing over Lovren's head and dropping toward the far post.
Agüero ghosted into position, somehow slipping in behind Robertson!
Liverpool fans froze, eyes locked on the Argentine striker.
Agüero leapt high—
Just as he prepared to head it home, Leo Lin arrived at full speed!
A diving header!
He got there first and knocked the ball out for a corner.
"Brilliant!"
"Leo Lin tracks back in time—Manchester City win a corner!"
After clearing the danger, Leo Lin got to his feet and gave Robertson a firm pat on the back.
"Stay sharp."
Robertson nodded gratefully.
"De Bruyne to take the corner—looks like a set-piece routine."
"David Silva receives it, pulls it back into the box!"
"Fernandinho hits it first time!"
"Henderson throws his body in the way—the ball spills left!"
"Mané controls and releases Firmino, all one-touch football!"
"A diagonal through ball! Salah shrugs off Mendy and breaks forward!"
"He's driving at pace—Liverpool on the counter!"
"Stops suddenly, cuts inside, keeps coming central—Salah's changes of direction are lightning-fast!"
Two City players swarm him, throwing everything into blocking his shooting lane.
The Egyptian Pharaoh forces another twist, contorts his body, and curls a shot toward goal!
"Bang!!!"
Jon Champion cries out.
"Oh!"
"Stones gets the block in!"
"The tempo is relentless—both sides are trading blows at full speed!"
"City push forward, but one lapse and Liverpool break on them!"
"And when Liverpool lose the ball, City immediately find space to attack. This is what true elite-level football looks like!"
No one dared make even the smallest mistake. Any slip could be magnified ruthlessly by the opposition. At this level, the gulf between amateurs and professionals was on full display.
Leo Lin kept observing, calculating. Thirty minutes had passed since kickoff.
Some City fans were far from welcoming. Every Liverpool touch drew boos from the stands. When Leo Lin was shut down by Fernandinho, pockets of the crowd even burst into mocking laughter.
Since bursting onto the scene, Leo Lin had stolen much of the spotlight from City's own golden boy, Phil Foden. It was only natural that some fans harbored resentment.
The boos and raised middle fingers washed over Leo Lin. He accepted them all and stayed locked into the match. Gradually, he began to see a way through.
With the ball at his feet, Fernandinho was a nightmare. But off the ball, the explosive burst from his Kaka skill—combined with his powerful physicality—meant he could bulldoze past Fernandinho and seize fleeting moments of space.
Leo Lin increased his movement, actively searching for opportunities to surge forward.
39th minute.
"City still in possession."
"Working it patiently down the flank, no rush at all."
"De Bruyne slips a pass forward, looking for Walker."
"Robertson reads it perfectly—full-stretch slide tackle!"
"Liverpool go straight to Mané!"
"Walker chases back, but Mané has room to run!"
Leo Lin exploded into motion, sprinting forward with everything he had.
Fernandinho spun around in a panic, but Leo Lin burst past him, muscling his way to the edge of the box.
Mané instantly pulled it back!
A perfectly weighted pass.
Leo Lin met it, a quick flick of the ankle—
Not power, but finesse.
A curling shot, light as a feather.
Ederson launched himself sideways—
But the ball bent exquisitely, arcing beyond his fingertips and into the net!
"Swish!!!"
Leo Lin roared in delight.
He sprinted toward the touchline and launched into a dramatic knee slide straight at the Manchester City supporters.
Thousands of middle fingers shot skyward. Furious faces locked onto him.
Leo Lin showed no fear at all.
If anything, his slide grew even smoother, more elegant.
His sharp, fearless gaze swept across the stands, radiating confidence and conviction.
"A glorious knee slide at the Etihad!"