Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 260: Substitutions

Chapter 260: Substitutions

72nd Minute

Benjamin turned away from Allen with a quick shift of his hips, then pushed the ball past Gerrard. He saw the space open up in front of him and accelerated.

Anfield buzzed with tension. AZ Alkmaar were finding their rhythm again, and Benjamin was at the heart of it.

He powered forward, the ball glued to his feet. One more defender to beat—Carragher.

Jamie Carter: [Benjamin’s running the show right now! Look at him go!]

Rob Townsend: [He’s got options, but he might not need them!]

Benjamin took a bigger touch to surge past—

Then, WHACK.

Carragher lunged in late, his studs clipping Benjamin’s right foot while his body collided into his hip. Benjamin’s legs tangled, and he tumbled onto the grass, skidding to a stop.

The crowd erupted. Some cheered, some roared for a foul.

Jamie Carter: [Ohhh, that’s a hard one! Carragher caught him late!]

Rob Townsend: [That’s a clear foul. Benjamin had beaten him, and Carragher just took him out!]

Benjamin clutched his groin, wincing. The referee didn’t hesitate—Fweeeee!

A free kick for AZ Alkmaar. Carragher threw his hands up, shaking his head, but the decision was made. He was added to the referee’s yellow book.

Jamie Carter: [Carragher’s not happy, but that’s a stonewall foul. He knew Benjamin was gone, so he stopped him the only way he could.]

Benjamin stayed down, his face twisted in discomfort. The AZ Alkmaar medics rushed onto the pitch, and his teammates circled around him.

Gertjan Verbeek watched from the sideline with his arms crossed, concern etched on his face.

Rob Townsend: [This doesn’t look good, Jamie. Benjamin’s still on the ground.]

Jamie Carter: [Yeah, and look at Gertjan Verbeek—he’s already thinking about a change.]

The medic helped Benjamin sit up, pressing on his groin, asking him questions. He nodded but grimaced as he tried to stretch his leg.

Gertjan Verbeek didn’t wait any longer. He turned to the bench and signaled.

Substitutions.

Jamie Carter: [Yep, that’s it. Benjamin’s coming off. AZ Alkmaar aren’t taking any risks.]

Rob Townsend: [And not just Benjamin. Look at this—triple change incoming.]

Guðmundsson readied himself, pulling off his warm-up bib. Beerens and Adam Maher stood beside him, waiting for the board to go up.

The referee signaled the changes.

Benjamin off—Guðmundsson on.

Berghuis off—Beerens on.

Martens off—Adam Maher on.

Anfield clapped politely as Benjamin limped toward the sideline, shaking his head. His night was over.

Jamie Carter: [Such a shame. He was running the game, but that knock to his groin has ended his night.]

Rob Townsend: [Gertjan Verbeek’s being smart here. He’s freshening up the attack with Guðmundsson and Beerens, and Maher gives them new legs in midfield.]

Benjamin reached the bench, dropping onto his seat with a sigh. The medics continued checking him, while Gertjan Verbeek gave quick instructions to the substitutes.

As the three AZ Alkmaar substitutes jogged onto the pitch, Brendan Rodgers moved swiftly on the Liverpool bench. He gathered three players, clapping his hands sharply as he issued instructions.

Jamie Carter: [And here comes Liverpool’s response! Rodgers isn’t wasting time—he’s making his own triple substitution!]

Rob Townsend: [This game is wide open now, Jamie. Both managers are rolling the dice!]

The fourth official held up the board.

Henderson off—Shelvey on.

Downing off—Assaidi on.

Lucas off—Sturridge on.

Anfield hummed with anticipation as Sturridge sprinted onto the field, high-fiving Lucas on his way off.

Jamie Carter: [There’s the big one! Daniel Sturridge is on!]

Rob Townsend: [That’s an attacking change from Rodgers. He’s bringing in fresh legs up top, and with Suárez still on the pitch, this is a real statement of intent.]

Shelvey and Assaidi also took their positions—Shelvey slotting into midfield alongside Gerrard, while Assaidi hugged the left wing, replacing Downing.

Jamie Carter: [Brendan Rodgers isn’t happy with just a draw. He’s pushing for all three points!]

Fweeee!

The referee signaled for play to resume.

Liverpool’s free kick, deep in their own half. Agger stood over it, scanning the field before launching a long ball toward Sturridge.

Sturridge leapt—won the header—knocked it down into the path of Suárez.

Rob Townsend: [Here we go! Suárez picks it up!]

Suárez spun away from Adam Maher with a slick turn, driving toward the edge of the 18 yard box. AZ Alkmaar’s defenders scrambled back, Guðmundsson tracking him closely.

Suárez feinted, shifted the ball onto his right foot, then unleashed a curling shot—

Blocked! Viergever threw himself into the path, the ball cannoning off his shin and out for a corner.

Jamie Carter: [That was close! Liverpool are turning up the pressure again!]

Suárez jogged to take the corner, the home crowd roaring as he raised an arm, signaling a routine.

He whipped it in—fast and dipping—

Agger rose highest, meeting it with a thunderous header—

Unfortunately, it flew just over the bar!

Rob Townsend: [That was a big chance! Agger got up well, but he just couldn’t keep it down!]

Gertjan Verbeek clapped his hands on the sideline, urging his team to stay composed.

The game was reaching its boiling point. One goal could change everything.

AZ Alkmaar restarted quickly, Esteban Alvarado rolling the ball short to Reijnen. The defender looked up, spotting space on the right wing, and sent a crisp pass toward Beerens.

Jamie Carter: [AZ Alkmaar aren’t sitting back, Rob. They’re still looking for a way through.]

Rob Townsend: [And Beerens has fresh legs—he could be dangerous on that flank.]

Beerens took a neat first touch, but Glen Johnson was already on him, pressing high. The winger hesitated for a split second—just enough time for Johnson to lunge in.

He won the ball cleanly. Anfield roared in approval.

Jamie Carter: [Brilliant from Johnson! He wasn’t letting that go anywhere!]

Johnson wasted no time, knocking it forward to Gerrard, who turned and sprayed a long diagonal pass toward Assaidi on the left.

Assaidi took it down with ease, his quick feet immediately teasing his marker. He twisted one way—then the other—before darting inside.

Rob Townsend: [He’s got space to drive into here!]