"Honestly, I don't understand how he made the Golden Boy top 25."
"No, no, no—there are plenty of players from Japan who are better than him."
"Our objective hasn't changed. We're still aiming for the title this season."
"We'll prove ourselves in this match. I don't think Liverpool are anything special—we'll end their five-game winning streak."
Shinji Okazaki was brimming with confidence as he answered the reporters' questions, every word revealing his unwavering faith in his team.
Leicester City, nicknamed the Foxes, were owned by one of the greatest owners in football history, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
In the 2015–2016 season, under the guidance of the "tinkerman" Claudio Ranieri, they pulled off a miracle by winning the Premier League, creating one of the most unforgettable stories in the league's history.
In the sixth round of the Premier League, Liverpool's opponent was none other than Leicester City.
As the two sides prepared to meet, Shinji Okazaki made a series of bold pre-match comments, clearly aimed at Leo Lin. Anyone paying attention could understand why.
Liverpool stuck to their familiar approach of high pressing combined with wing attacks, while Leicester City set up in their standard fast counterattacking system.
September 14, 4:00 p.m. CET. Clear skies, a gentle breeze—perfect football weather.
ESPN commentary booth.
"Leicester City are sitting deep, defending in a low block, pulling their shape back and waiting for counterattacking chances."
"Another cross from the flank—Liverpool are creating opportunities down the wings!"
"The delivery isn't bad, heading toward the far post!"
"Mané with the header!"
"He doesn't get enough power on it—what a pity! Mané wastes a golden chance!"
"Klopp is applauding furiously on the touchline. Liverpool have created plenty of chances since kickoff, but that final touch has just been lacking."
"Leicester City are crowding the box with numbers, forming an excellent blocking setup that keeps disrupting Liverpool's shots."
Thirty minutes had passed. Liverpool had already taken five shots, four of them on target, yet the score remained unchanged. Leicester City continued to execute their defensive plan with discipline.
"Looking at Leicester City's starting lineup, it's clear they're trying to find chances through defensive counterattacks," Jim Beglin said as the match settled into a tense rhythm.
"Vardy is up top as the lone striker, with Shinji Okazaki playing just behind him as an attacking midfielder, linking play in the final third."
"On the right, Mahrez can attack and defend, while Ndidi's interceptions through the middle are extremely aggressive."
"And especially their center-back, Harry Maguire—his front-foot defending and aerial ability are among the very best in the Premier League."
As he spoke, Liverpool's attack surged forward once more.
Leo Lin received a pass from Henderson, slowed the tempo, and used quick, short touches to probe for space ahead.
Behind him, Shinji Okazaki suddenly dropped back, trying to catch Leo Lin off guard and steal the ball.
But Leo Lin was ready. With his back to goal, he powered through Okazaki, shrugging him off before driving forward again with the ball.
Okazaki refused to give up, chasing from behind and repeatedly tugging at Leo Lin, his constant little pulls already crossing the line into clear fouls.
The referee played advantage and allowed play to continue—until Shinji Okazaki, losing his composure, slammed into Leo Lin from behind, driving his shoulder straight into him!
"Beep!"
"Foul!"
"The referee rushes over and shows Shinji Okazaki a yellow card!"
That did nothing to calm Liverpool down. Firmino was the first to step in, grabbing Okazaki by the collar with one hand, his face filled with fury.
Liverpool players quickly surrounded Shinji Okazaki. As Leo Lin lay on the ground, he caught sight of Okazaki backing away out of the corner of his eye and quietly stretched his right leg behind him.
Forced backward by the Liverpool players, Okazaki failed to notice. His heel clipped Leo Lin's right leg, and he toppled backward, slamming hard onto the turf.
Leo Lin got to his feet and pointed at Shinji Okazaki, a mocking smile spreading across his face.
A large-scale confrontation broke out between the two sides, and only after repeated whistles from the referee did things finally settle down.
The first half ended amid constant interruptions, the score still locked at 0–0.
Back in the dressing room, Klopp remained full of confidence.
"Trust me, lads. They can't hold on like this forever," he said.
"Keep pushing in the second half. Press hard, attack relentlessly—don't give them a second to breathe!"
Klopp wanted more attack, and Leo Lin had his sights firmly set on Shinji Okazaki.
Before long, the second half got underway.
Liverpool adjusted their attacking structure slightly. Instead of relying solely on wing breakthroughs, they began mixing in frequent give-and-go combinations.
Leo Lin and Emre Can positioned themselves left and right, providing support for Mané and Salah, while Henderson stayed central, constantly threading through balls toward Firmino.
The biggest advantage of this setup was how it split Leicester City's defenders apart, preventing them from offering cover to one another.
Leicester's midfield and back line were under mounting pressure, and Shinji Okazaki was forced to drop deep again and again to help out defensively.
66th minute!
"Once again out wide—Leo Lin and Salah play a one-two."
"Salah bursts into the box! Cuts inside and shoots!"
"The keeper gets a hand to it! Maguire clears it long!"
"The ball drops toward midfield—Shinji Okazaki and Leo Lin go up together!"
Leo Lin locked his eyes on the dropping ball, determined to win the first contact.
Shinji Okazaki charged in from behind at the same time—both men committing fully.
They sprinted toward the landing point, swung their legs, each desperate to claim that first touch—and in that instant, their boots collided.
Shinji Okazaki knew it himself. Give him a hundred chances, and he would never choose to clash boots with Leo Lin. Yet in this single moment, he had gone straight at him.
"Bang!"
Shinji Okazaki lost it.
He felt the same searing pain Matic once had.
"Aaah!"
The scream echoed through the stadium.
"Oof," Jon Champion chuckled.
"That looks painful."
"But the referee lets play go on—Liverpool are attacking!"
"The ball falls to Emre Can!"
"A 45-degree delivery into the box!"
"Back post!"
"He snaps his head at it!"
"Brilliant, it's in!"
"What a goal! Liverpool finally take the lead!"
"Outstanding aerial work from Leo Lin, Emre Can picks it up and delivers the assist without hesitation, and Firmino finishes it off!"
"Liverpool fans can start celebrating now!"
Live chat exploded.
"I have no idea where Shinji Okazaki got the courage to challenge Leo Lin. One-on-one, he'd get completely destroyed!"
"Ever heard of pure physical dominance? They've had it too easy—time to teach them a lesson!"
"Crush this loser! Let him feel what real pain is!"
Still lying on the ground and screaming in agony, Shinji Okazaki turned his head just in time to see Firmino's header hit the net. The pain in his body seemed to double instantly.
He turned again—and saw Leo Lin standing over him, a teasing smile on his face.
In that moment, Shinji Okazaki's world completely collapsed.