Chapter 698: .698 Blocker?

Liverpool only won a small goal in the first leg of the Champions League 1/8 final, but the strong state is still going on. The outside world has only one question about Liverpool: when will they stop?
Back in the league at the weekend, Liverpool took a guest challenge to Southampton, who is now ranked 6th in the Premier League and has performed very well this season.
Even one of the strong contenders for the Champions League seat.
Liverpool’s current league has continued the start of the past few league games. Southampton played very conservatively at home. It is hard to say that the hard and tenacious defense has caused much trouble for Liverpool, but Liverpool’s striker status has begun to fall, Lewando Fvsky missed two must-scoring opportunities, Gareth Bale failed to show a strong threat, Mbappe, even though he worked very hard, was lonely.
In the end, Liverpool blasted 26 shots away but failed to score a goal, and it was a 0-0 draw with Southampton.
Situ Yunbing said in an interview after the game that the midweek expedition to Ukraine in the Champions League has a great impact on the team's state, but they will soon adjust.
At the same time, Chelsea drew with Burnley 1:1 at home, and they missed the opportunity to narrow the gap with Liverpool.
There was no war in the middle of the week and Liverpool got plenty of room for adjustment.
In the upcoming 27th round of the league, Liverpool will face Manchester City at home at Anfield.
In the pre-match press conference, Situ Yunbing began to put pressure on Manchester City.
"Manchester City did a good job last season, but not quite this season.
More than a month ago, we can also say that Manchester City qualified in the UEFA Champions League. They performed better than before in the European arena, but they lacked luck. After losing to Barcelona in the first round of the knockout round, I think this is right for them. Morale was hit hard.
The two-game losing streak in mid-to-late January has already eliminated Manchester City from the title race.
If there are still media that think Manchester City has the hope of winning this season's league championship, it must be ignorant and stupid, trying to mislead their fan readers and give Manchester City fans the most unrealistic fantasy.
In my opinion, Manchester City is very much like Liverpool before, with strong strength, able to play some good-looking games, and firmly locked in the top four positions in the Premier League.
But they missed the championship!
Tomorrow's game is an opportunity for Manchester City to prove themselves. Similarly, I will also expect Liverpool to use a good performance to prove that I am right at all! "
Pellegrini also talked about the championship situation before the game, his tone was slightly heavy.
"We have not only Liverpool in front of us, but also Chelsea. There are only 12 rounds left in the league, and we have to strive to achieve perfection and expect two competitors to make mistakes. It is really difficult!
But there is hope for everything.
If we give up, there will be no hope.
Liverpool's strength is undoubtedly strong, but it is also an absurd view to say that Manchester City did not fight back in front of them.
We will try to beat Liverpool at Anfield. If we do, I think there will be some subtle changes in the championship structure! "
The happiest thing is of course Chelsea, they only need to play their own games, and then they can sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight!
Maybe many teams and fans in the Premier League are cheering for Manchester City, hoping that Manchester City can delay Liverpool's progress at Anfield.
At least don't let the suspense of the championship disappear before May!
On the last day of February, Anfield Stadium ushered in the highlight of this round of the league, Liverpool played at home against Manchester City!
On a sunny afternoon, Situ Yunbing stood on the sidelines and waited quietly for the start of the game.
Pellegrini walked into the stadium and stopped to watch Situ Yunbing for a few seconds before walking to the visiting team's coaching bench and sitting down.
When he came to England to coach, Pellegrini was most impressed by what Situ Yunbing had said to him.
It seems that Manchester City has not been able to truly become a stumbling block on Liverpool's path!
It has been almost two years, and Pellegrini feels powerless!
Not only are they at an absolute disadvantage in direct dialogue, but even the overall performance of the team throughout the season in multi-line combat, Manchester City is definitely weaker than Liverpool.
As a coach, it is actually difficult to repeatedly emphasize the strength of the lineup compared with the opponents. It seems to be shirking responsibility and a cowardly behavior.
But this highlights the gap between coaching levels.
Pellegrini sighed secretly, then put his distracting thoughts behind, and concentrated on facing this Premier League strong dialogue!
Situ Yunbing didn't have any thoughts about Manchester City.
In his opinion, Manchester City is in Pellegrini's hands, and it is more than enough.
From the Mancini era to today, a period of almost five years for Manchester City has allowed people to see that this team is basically stable in shape, but it has no shocking power.
Able to make a difference in the Premier League, but unable to dominate!
The hardware conditions are not bad anymore, at least not too much.
If you want to have a big breakthrough and development, then you must change the team form. There is no doubt that the coaching team does this job.
The starters of the two teams walked into the Anfield Stadium in vigor, and each player was ready to fight a game.
There is no end to the hustle and bustle in Anfield. The Red Army and Blue Moon fans have created a good battlefield atmosphere for the players of the two teams!
"Good afternoon, everyone, the 27th round of the English Premier League, the defending champion Liverpool vs. Manchester City is about to start at Anfield Stadium!
Before the start of the game, Liverpool topped the list, 3 points ahead of second-placed Chelsea and 9 points ahead of third-placed Manchester City!
It can be said that the result of this game will directly determine whether Manchester City still has a chance to compete for the league championship this season!
Manchester City must at least be unbeaten to maintain the qualifications for the title, otherwise, 12 points behind Liverpool, then in the context of the remaining 11 rounds of the league, Manchester City certainly has no chance to reverse!
Liverpool’s recent state is obvious to all, and it is definitely the strongest team in the Premier League and even the top five European leagues.
And Manchester City is ups and downs. They were once only 2 points behind Liverpool, but they failed to grasp the opportunity to bite Liverpool and are now 9 points behind.
Before the game, most of the media were optimistic that Liverpool could beat Manchester City by 3 points at home.
I think this is also the style of Situ Yunbing. He will definitely kill Manchester City's title hopes at home.
Okay, let's take a look at the starting lineups of the two teams.
Liverpool started 433 today.
Goalkeeper: Ter Stegen.
Defenders: Azpilicueta, Van Dijk, Coulibaly, Robertson.
Midfielder: Casemiro, Coutinho, Kanter.
Forwards: Mbappé, Lewandowski, Gareth Bale.
Liverpool played Kanter, who returned from injury today, to strengthen the defense in the midfield.
Manchester City started 442 today.
Goalkeeper: Joe Hart.
Defenders: Sabaletta, Kompany, Mangala, Krarov.
Midfielder: Sterling, Yaya Toure, Fernandinho, Silva.
Forwards: Dzeko, Aguero.
Basically, there is nothing surprising about the starting lineup of the two teams, but Manchester City did not adopt a 433 but a 442 formation which is unexpected.
The kick-off ceremony before the game has been completed, let us see what kind of sparks the two teams will make in this contest, and whether Manchester City can continue to retain the hope of the championship after this game! "
The live cheering at Anfield shook all directions, almost amidst the hustle and bustle, Liverpool took the lead in teeing off.
Coutinho passed the ball diagonally to the full-back Robertson from the back of the center circle, and then the Liverpool formation began to press. Manchester City was very restrained in anti-harassment and the overall formation retreat was clear at a glance.
This is the rhythm to fight back against Liverpool.
Situ Yunbing is not surprised, Pellegrini still has self-knowledge, if Manchester City came to the away game without puckering their tails, it would be a bit arrogant and stupid.
Liverpool did not blindly speed up the attacking rhythm. When Gareth Bale took possession of the ball from the front left, Sabaletta, Yaya Toure, and Sterling attacked him on three sides. Res-Bale fell into a desperate situation. In desperation, he pulled the ball to the side and turned and knocked the ball back. Robertson followed up and quickly crossed the ball across the middle.
Coutinho dialed the ball in front of Fernandinho to dribble laterally. Fernandinho did not dare to rush away from the front of the penalty area. This allowed Coutinho to easily find space and pass the ball diagonally to the goal. Bape's feet.
Mbappé made a forward breakthrough to make Krarov's center of gravity retreat, but he slid the ball across to the right side of the penalty area and suddenly kicked the ball to the far point of the penalty area.
The Manchester City players looked back, and it was Gareth Bale who rushed to the ball and headed the goal!
Joe Hart blocked the goal close corner and played steadily, holding the ball in his arms steadily.
"Liverpool’s attack after the opening turned into a shot. Although Gareth Bale’s header did not test Joe Hart, Liverpool’s offensive fluency and transfer rate are still impressive. Manchester City need to be wary of Liverpool’s suddenness. Offensive transfer!
It is very likely that within a few seconds, Liverpool will be able to complete the offensive transfer and create a threatening shot! "
Manchester City's first wave of offensive was not ideal.
When Sterling also appeared restrained in the attack on the right, Manchester City's offensive advancement seemed to be a rat, for fear that once the ball was lost, they would turn around and not be able to return to the defense in time. If Liverpool hit a fast attack, the defense line would be at risk.
When the midfield attack patiently fell, Liverpool's retreat had also laid a tight line of defense. Silva eventually passed the ball straight from the left to Aguero, who was very close to Dzeko, but because of the wing. Insufficient use of, causing them both to fall into Liverpool's encirclement.
There was defensive pressure from Van Dijk behind Aguero, and when he went out to find Dzeko, the ball was cut off by Casemiro.
Liverpool just stole the ball, Manchester City's midfielder immediately withdrew, the defense line is tightly arranged, it is obvious that a dense defense posture!
Maybe it was really scared by Liverpool!