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"GOAL——!!!"
Gerrard practically leapt out of his seat.
"What a goal!!!"
"A thunderous strike! An absolute rocket!"
"Lin——!!!"
"He steps up for the team once again at the crucial moment!"
"Three Premier League matches, three appearances, and he's made an impact every single time!"
"What more can you ask of him? He's only eighteen!"
In the Bild commentary booth, guest analyst Casillas had both hands on his head, exclaiming in disbelief again and again.
"I think Zidane was right."
"The tempo was clearly under Arsenal's control, yet somehow Leo Lin still found his chance."
"His reading of the game is outstanding. Football intelligence is often the biggest weakness for young players, but for Lin, it's become his most remarkable strength."
After scoring, Leo Lin sprinted toward the touchline and performed his signature celebration, clasping his fists together.
By now, Liverpool fans were already used to it, and countless supporters mirrored the same gesture in response.
Sky Sports immediately captured the moment from behind. With Leo Lin at the center of the frame, his small figure looked utterly imposing.
Facing him were thousands of traveling Liverpool fans in red shirts, all clasping their fists together in a breathtaking scene.
One by one, his teammates rushed over, leaping onto Leo Lin's back in wild celebration. Arms pumped, voices roared, and every face was filled with pure excitement.
"I love you, Lin! I fucking love you!"
Firmino sounded completely sincere, wrapping his arms around Leo Lin and shaking him back and forth.
Salah hugged Leo Lin just as tightly, celebrating like mad.
"Keep playing like this, lads! This is our tactic!"
On the touchline, Klopp was just as fired up. He had seen the power of his newly designed attacking system with his own eyes.
Not far away, Professor Wenger stood rigid, his face a mix of anger and frustration.
The balance of the match had been tipping in Arsenal's favor. After bringing on Giroud, Wenger had planned to rely on his hold-up play and aerial strength to keep pounding Liverpool's goal.
Yet what followed was Liverpool's goal instead—a massive blow to Arsenal's morale.
As Leo Lin finished celebrating and looked back, most Arsenal players had their heads down, dejected. Only a few still showed real fight. Sánchez clapped furiously, shouting at his teammates.
"There's still time, lads! There's still time!"
"Don't lose to Liverpool in our own home!"
Wenger made another on-the-spot adjustment, pulling Sánchez aside.
"Tell Giroud to control the space at the top of the box. Once he gets the ball, create space for the two of you, or use quick passing and movement to find a shooting lane."
Wenger's trust in Giroud was absolute, which was exactly why he kept giving him chances. At the same time, Jon Champion also turned his attention to the striker.
"Giroud is a very unusual player. Even with limited minutes, he always manages to contribute."
"His finishing is excellent, and he often scores goals full of imagination—goals no one expects."
"More importantly, he can bring the entire attacking unit to life. He has the ability to create opportunities for his teammates."
After play resumed, Arsenal did indeed begin to focus their attacks around Giroud.
Whenever the ball reached the attacking third, Sánchez, Ramsey, and others immediately played quick one-touch passes around Giroud, increasing their wall passes and combinations.
Giroud was excellent. His frequent one-touch layoffs kept catching Liverpool off guard.
79th minute!
"Arsenal have pushed the entire team forward. This is their final push—there isn't much time left!"
"If they want to equalize, they have to increase their shots."
"Ramsey carries the ball forward, but Leo Lin is pressing hard. He doesn't dare take him on one-on-one."
"He switches it left, finding the dropping Sánchez."
Sánchez met the pass while dropping back, flicking his ankle lightly. In an instant, he slipped a diagonal pass to Giroud, positioned slightly behind the left side.
But Sánchez didn't stop there. The moment he released the ball, he spun and surged forward.
Giroud took it with the outside of his foot, nudging it delicately around the defense and threading it behind Lovren.
Sánchez arrived perfectly, took the ball, and shot!
A beautiful passing move!
"Bang!!!" The explosive strike made Klopp instinctively hold his breath.
"Bang!!!" The dull thud of the save, to Liverpool players, sounded like heavenly music.
"Oh!"
"Great shot! Brilliant save!"
"Both goalkeepers have been outstanding today!"
Jon Champion exclaimed excitedly.
"I'm sure that shot from Sánchez sent a chill through Liverpool fans—he was inches away from scoring!"
"A one-goal lead is never safe. In football, a single-goal advantage can be overturned at any moment."
"And a scoreline like this always fuels the opponent's desire to attack!"
Arsenal threw almost everyone forward, but Liverpool refused to drop deep and sit back. Instead, they worked hard to maintain their structure.
They fought desperately to absorb Arsenal's pressure while continuing to execute their high press, harassing Arsenal's defenders and preventing them from comfortably building from the back.
"Liverpool's tactical approach is crystal clear. They'll never retreat en masse just to protect a narrow lead."
"They believe in stopping attacks through pressure. They've turned football into a true man's game!"
The match turned into a full-on clash, neither side willing to give up even a single step, like two armies locked in battle, sworn to defend their territory.
86th minute!
"Fierce challenge in midfield! Ramsey keeps driving forward, still looking for the wing!"
"Leo Lin reads it early and makes the interception!"
"He shields the ball, back to goal, holding off Ramsey—and Xhaka joins in!"
"Two-man press!"
"Sánchez is back as well—three players closing in!"
All three surrounded Leo Lin, determined to win the ball back.
Xhaka desperately tried to muscle his way through, but Leo Lin kept his back to them, protecting the ball until he was finally dragged to the ground.
"Beep!!!"
"The referee blows for a foul! Leo Lin protects the ball at all costs!"
"Even away from home, you can hear Liverpool fans erupting in cheers for Leo Lin!"
Leo Lin lay on the turf, gasping for air, sweat like soybeans rolling down his cheeks.
The physical toll was enormous. As an eighteen-year-old, he had fought all the way to this point, enduring such a high-intensity match and executing his tactical role to perfection.
At the touchline, Klopp made a substitution. Wijnaldum came on, replacing Leo Lin.
After careful consideration, Klopp and Krawietz decided not to risk injury. With little time remaining, Wijnaldum's defensive presence would help secure the result and protect Leo Lin.
Leo Lin slowly got to his feet. Teammates rushed over to applaud and embrace him, each one patting his head as they watched him walk off the pitch.
In the stands, Liverpool fans rose as one.
At that moment, Sky Sports captured another image. Amid the crowd, Leo Lin looked like a shining star, drawing every eye.
Sky Sports later ran a front-page feature with two photos: one showing Leo Lin being surrounded and applauded by his teammates as he left the pitch, the other capturing his fist-clasped celebration with Liverpool fans after scoring.
The headline read:
"The Summer Story of a Youngster Has Only Just Begun!"
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(40 Chapters Ahead)
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