Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
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"Let's look at the starting lineups for both teams."
"Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation."
"Goalkeeper: Mignolet;
Defence: Glen Johnson, Lovren, Skrtel, Moreno;
Midfield: Gerrard and Henderson as a double pivot;
Lallana on the left, Sterling on the right, Coutinho in the centre as an attacking midfielder;
Forward: Sturridge up front."
"Now for Bayer Leverkusen, still in a 4-4-1-1 formation."
"Goalkeeper: Leno;
Defenders: Hilbert, Harry Maguire, Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Aké;
Midfielders: Rolfes, Lars Bender, De Bruyne, Son Heung-min;
Forwards: Lance partnering Firmino!"
As Maguire and Virgil van Dijk found their defensive chemistry and form, the former Spahić could only sit on the bench.
Toprak became a rotation player.
Rüdiger's injury had mostly healed, and he was preparing for his comeback.
Aké made his first start.
As for the 16-year-old loan player Trent Alexander-Arnold, he only got playing time in the Bundesliga and was temporarily not in the Champions League lineup, and due to a clause, he couldn't play against Liverpool.
Otherwise, if Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, and Firmino all played against Liverpool, Lance could hardly imagine the scene.
After taking a 1-0 lead, Liverpool, with Anfield at their back, launched an offensive on Bayer Leverkusen.
Brendan Rodgers, during his time coaching Premier League team Swansea, was very skilled at coaching possession-based teams, making Swansea the "mini-Barcelona" of the Premier League.
When he came to Liverpool, he brought his possession-based style with him.
The double midfield setup of Gerrard + Coutinho was responsible for organising play, Lallana on the left and Sterling on the right were good at dribbling and creating opportunities.
Plus Sturridge, a technically gifted striker with a certain level of shooting ability, Liverpool's offence was vibrant and put some pressure on Maguire and Virgil van Dijk.
"Harry Maguire clears with a header!! That cross from Lallana was very threatening!"
"Possession is still with Liverpool, Henderson wins the ball, gives it to Gerrard to organise."
"To Coutinho… Coutinho!!! He lost the ball! Lars Bender stole it!"
"Bayer Leverkusen's counter-attack! Directly to De Bruyne!"
"Gerrard!! A crucial tackle!"
Seeing Bayer Leverkusen launch a counter-attack, Lance, Son Heung-min, and Firmino surged forward.
De Bruyne was about to deliver a deadly through ball, but Liverpool's team soul, Gerrard, stepped up to stabilise the situation, calmly tackling and winning the ball.
Ten years ago, Gerrard led Liverpool to complete the Istanbul miracle after being 0-3 down.
Who would have thought that ten years later in the Champions League, they would still rely on Gerrard!
Thunderous applause echoed throughout Anfield.
The red number 8 jersey, his back so imposing!
No matter when, the legend of one man, one club is the romance of football.
Lance couldn't help but feel a bit of longing.
He probably wouldn't be able to be a one-man, one-club player…
While he was having a brilliant time at Bayer Leverkusen, Bayer Leverkusen could only be a stepping stone.
Lance's ambition was not satisfied with just conquering the Bundesliga.
If he won enough honours here, Lance would probably get bored very quickly.
He needed to face different challenges in different countries and different leagues.
Only after collecting a Grand Slam of all leagues would he feel no regrets upon retirement…
But could it really be done?
No player had ever conquered all top leagues.
Leaving aside Ligue 1 and the retirement league Serie A, he at least had to conquer La Liga and the Premier League, right?
Achieving such a goal, even with the system's backing, would be quite difficult…
"Hey! Lance! What are you thinking about? Hurry up!"
"Coming!"
Liverpool's pace was very fast, and Lance didn't have time to ponder.
Liverpool had already dribbled into the box, and Lance needed to quickly track back and participate in the interception.
"Liverpool, this quick attack didn't work, Bayer Leverkusen's defence was in position very quickly."
"Alright, the connection between Gerrard and Coutinho, trying to get it to Sterling…"
Liverpool's possession play was not Barcelona's after all.
They were more accustomed to the Premier League pace, after a couple of patient passes, Sterling dribbled deep, preparing to break through.
The England international's dribbling looked comical, like a running dinosaur, but no one dared to ignore his threat!
The young left-back Nathan Aké was fooled by him, a simple shoulder drop and change of direction, using a feint with a change of rhythm, he instantly brushed past him!
"Bloody hell!!"
Aké turned to pull him back, but it was too late.
Sterling broke into the box!
"Sterling!! Crosses into the middle!"
"Sturridge—"
Sterling fooled everyone in Bayer Leverkusen, even the goalkeeper was drawn out.
This cross was too deadly, Sturridge was practically facing an open goal.
Unfortunately, Sturridge forgot his shooting boots, hesitated for a second, and under Virgil van Dijk's interference, rushed his shot high over the bar.
"Sturridge!!"
Zhan Jun was stunned, he couldn't believe it didn't go in??
He couldn't help but curse inwardly:
Bloody hell, Sturridge, just tap it into the open net! Damn it!
As a Liverpool fan, he was truly furious at the missed opportunity!
Lance's heart almost twitched just now, thankfully Sturridge "cleared" it successfully, and Bayer Leverkusen escaped a scare.
This also exposed Bayer Leverkusen's current problem.
While the centre-backs were strengthened, the full-backs still had hidden dangers.
Veteran Boenisch was at his peak at Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen, twice being selected for the official Bundesliga Best XI with different teams from 2006-2008.
However, frequent injuries affected his potential, causing him to no longer have the dominance on the left flank he had in his prime when he played for Bayer Leverkusen.
Aké, of course, had unlimited potential.
He would later be highly valued by Guardiola, becoming Manchester City's starting left-back, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League treble with the team, and joining the ranks of world-class defenders.
However, at this time, Aké was still a raw talent, his defending was clumsy, and he was easily outmanoeuvred by Sterling.
Bayer Leverkusen were not necessarily guaranteed to beat Liverpool, and facing a peak Real Madrid would be even more stressful.
Lance could only try to create more opportunities from the attacking end, otherwise, if Liverpool kept pressing, their defence would eventually collapse.
"What do you say?"
"The old way, like in training."
"Okay, no problem."
Through Lance's efforts, De Bruyne and Son Heung-min, two future Premier League stars, became friends, and their relationship was good, developing enough chemistry on the field.
"Don't forget me, add me in."
"Alright, alright, you're in."
Firmino came over, afraid his teammates wouldn't include him.
He knew very well that the absolute core of the team now was Lance.
He wasn't a ball hog, but he had a transcendent status on the field.
As long as he followed Lance, he might not get the meat, but he could at least get some soup.
The few of them conspired for a few moments during a dead ball, then looked menacingly towards Liverpool's penalty area.
After a while, they finally got their chance before the end of the first half!
"Liverpool's possession rate has been as high as 80% during this period! Bayer Leverkusen have not been able to launch a counter-attack… Here it comes!! Bayer Leverkusen's counter-attack!"
Before Zhan Jun could finish his sentence, Sturridge held onto the ball too long and Virgil van Dijk dispossessed him.
A quick, simple pass went to the front.
Gerrard and Henderson were both pressing De Bruyne, whose passing threat was immense!
But De Bruyne was a decoy!
Rolfes delivered an unexpected through ball right down the middle, directly to Lance!
Lance received the ball, using the instep of his right foot to guide it back, evading Coutinho's interception, and turned elegantly to dribble and break through!
"Lance!!! A strong surge through the middle!! He's past midfield!"
"Bayer Leverkusen's counter-attack speed is very fast!"
Gerrard frantically tracked back, rushing in from an angle to try and stop Lance, almost completely blocking his path and passing lanes.
But he didn't see panic on Lance's youthful face, but rather a calm sense of "successful trickery"!
"Oh no?!"
Lance calmly pulled the ball back, feigning a left-footed diagonal pass to De Bruyne.
Gerrard quickly turned his back to block the pass.
The next second…
"Oh oh oh oh!! Lance's brilliant pass!!"
A rabona!!
His left foot was a feint, his right foot unexpectedly wrapped around the back, a rabona directly to the left flank!
The flashy move stunned Anfield!
The thing is, his pass wasn't just pretty…
Bachira Meguru Template!
Skill 2: Monster Passing!
Bang—
As precise as a ballistic missile, a mesmerising diagonal pass ripped through Liverpool's defence, heading straight for Son Heung-min on the left!
With everyone dumbfounded, Son Heung-min comfortably controlled the ball and surged forward, going one-on-one into the box, and cleanly slotted it into the net!
"Son Heung-min!! An assist from Lance!"
"Bayer Leverkusen score with a counter-attack in just 10 seconds! Extending their lead!"
"2-0—"