Football singularity
Chapter 528 Liverpool

Chapter 528: Chapter 528 Liverpool

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[Time 20:49 | BayArena: 30,210| Bayer Leverkusen 0 – 0 Liverpool]

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Leverkusen Line-up: 4-1-4-1

GK: 1 Lukas Hardeckey

RB: L. Bender

CB: 4 Tah

CB: 12 Tapsoba

LB: 18 Wendell

CDM: 15 Baumgartlinger

RM: 19 Diaby

CM: 29 Havertz

CM: 11 Amiri

LM: 22 Rakim Rex

ST: 13 Lucas Alario

Coach: Peter Bosz

SUB:

28 Ramazan Ozcan

23 Mitchell Weiser

12 S Bender

27 Wirtz

10 Demirbay

7 Paulinho

38 Ballarebi

VS

Liverpool Line-up: 4-3-3

GK: 1 Alisson Becker

LB: 26 Robertson

CB: 4 Van Dijk

CB: 12 Gomez

RB: 66 Alexander-Arnold

CM: 14 C Henderson

CM: 3 Fabinho

CM: 5 Wijnaldum

RW:11 Salah

ST: 9 Firmino

LW: 10 Mané

Coach: Jürgen Klopp

SUB:

13 Adrián (GK)

7 Milner

8 Keïta

15 Oxlade-Chamberlain

18 Minamino

27 Origi

32 Matip

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"The atmosphere is hot at the BayArena and from what I’m being told, we are at capacity in this round of 16 Champions League clash." Taylor Twellman’s voice resounded as the camera panned over the two sides exiting the tunnel. "Leverkusen walks out in Red and the boys from Liverpool don their white away kit. Derek, I know we’ve talked about what we can expect from the two sides, but how do you see them approaching this match?"

"Klopp’s Liverpool will look to assert themselves early, pressing high and trying to disrupt Leverkusen’s rhythm," Derek Rae replied, his voice cutting through the roar. "But Peter Bosz’s side have been formidable at home this season—compact in midfield, quick on the break, and they’ll be keen to exploit space behind Liverpool’s full-backs."

Taylor nodded, sweeping the camera over the red-clad supporters. "All eyes are on Kai Havertz today, who has been in sensational form this season. But Rakim Rex has quietly become Bosz’s go-to creator on the left is he the best signing mad last summer when looking at his stats? 24 goals and counting in his debut Bundesliga season, and that’s not to mention his ability to carry the ball at pace and his uncanny ability to unlock defensive lines."

Derek smiled at the analysis. "Indeed, the youngster has been phenomenal this season, fully earning the 24.5 million price tag," he responded, pausing for a second before continuing with the analysis. "And at the back, Edmond Tapsoba and Jonathan Tah must be on high alert facing this Liverpool offence. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané will look to combine early, replicating last year’s UCL partnership, which has troubled every defence in Europe. It’ll be fascinating to see how Wendell and Lars Bender shield the flanks."

Taylor glanced down at his notes one last time as the stadium lights flared to life, casting long shadows across the pristine turf. "We’re just minutes away from kick-off," he said, his voice tinged with anticipation. "Both managers have had polished training sessions this week, but how they translate that work onto the pitch tonight will decide who takes control of this tie."

Derek leaned forward, gesturing toward the jubilant home crowd. "Bosz has set his side up to be aggressive in possession—he’ll want to dominate the ball against Liverpool’s high press. Expect Baumgartlinger to sit deep initially, breaking up play, allowing Havertz and Amiri to push forward. But don’t underestimate Fabinho’s role for Liverpool; he’ll look to intercept passes through the middle and spring Salah and Mané in transition."

The camera cut to a sweeping shot of Bayer Leverkusen’s dugout, where Bosz, clipboard in hand, was giving last-minute instructions to Lars Bender on the sidelines. "Notice how the full-backs, Wendell and Bender, are noticeably in a narrower formation," Taylor pointed out. "That’ll force Alexander-Arnold and Robertson to work hard to find space. If Leverkusen can prevent those overlapping runs, they’ll cut off one of Liverpool’s greatest strengths."

Derek nodded, swivelling toward the Liverpool bench. Klopp stood much more composed, arms folded, as he surveyed his troops. He could be seen deep in conversation with his assistant coach Pepijn Lijnders as they hammered out last-minute plans. The stadium announcer’s voice rose above the din as both teams took their positions, photos were taken, hymns were sung, and hands were shaken.

"Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready?" he thundered, and the baying crowd responded with a deafening roar that seemed to shake the floodlights overhead. For a moment, the Reds, who numbered around 10,000, stood in silence as the home fans, led by the ultras, let their voices be heard.

Taylor let out a low whistle. "You can feel the tension—this is what the Champions League is all about. Leverkusen haven’t reached the quarterfinals since 2002, and with this being their first UCL knockout tie in over a decade, they’ll be eager to make their mark. Liverpool, however, have been here many times—they know exactly how to handle the pressure."

Derek glanced at the giant scoreboard as the referee checked his watch. "The next 90 minutes—or hopefully 120 will be a tactical battle. Will Liverpool’s front three tear Leverkusen apart, or can Bosz’s midfield diamond suffocate their creativity? It’s truly 50-50 in my book."

With that, the referee’s whistle pierced the charged atmosphere, and Firmino kicked things off for the away side.

~~~

[Rakim’s Pov]

[1]

The first few moments were tense, I would like to say like any other match, but no, it was definitely more charged. (Fweeet) The moment the whistle blew, I exploded forward, not chasing after the ball to cover the area between Salah and Alexander-Arnold. Chasing down Fabinho’s pass back, I quickly arrived in front of Alexander-Arnold just a second after he received the ball.

Despite defending not being my strong suit, I had picked up the basics, and at this level, it was mostly a duel of momentum. I leaned into the challenge, feeling my cleats grip the turf as I hoped lightly instead of coming to a sliding stop instantly, shadowing Alexander-Arnold’s next move. All I could hear was my own heartbeat and the electric whoosh of the ball cutting through the cold air as the fans’ roar faded.

Trent feinted inside, and I was there mirroring him, but I did not get into his personal space and instead kept him at the edge of my zone. Since defending wasn’t my strong suit, I aimed for the moment he decided to break through or let the ball slip beyond his grasp. I did not have to wait long as the moment he realised I cut him off; he turned back to the touchline, unwilling to risk a pass inwards.

The separation following his nudge wasn’t big, but it was enough for me to risk lunging forward for the ball. Angling my body so my back would hit his chest, our boots briefly clashed, needing in my victory as I managed to scoop the ball back. The roar from the nearby crowd sent a dose of dopamine through me as I performed a quick stop-and-go on the loose ball, manoeuvring it past the back-tracking Mane.

Knocking the ball back into the feet of Wendell, I continued forward, drifting into space at the edge of the final third. My teammates spent a couple of moments passing the ball around the back line and central midfield, trying to stretch the Liverpool frontcourt. Havertz and Amiri seemed to take full control despite Liverpool’s frantic pressing.

Salah closed down Bender, but the right-back merely knocked the ball up the line into the feet of Diaby. His first touch knocked the ball inward to the feet of Kai, and the German international turned with the momentum, nimbly dodging Wijnaldum’s tackle. I watched Kai twist away from and perform a one-two pass combination with Amiri, and he broke past the halfway line.

Salah closed down Bender, but the right back merely knocked the ball up the line into the feet of Diaby. His first touch knocked the ball inward to the feet of Kai, and the German international turned with the momentum, nimbly dodging Wijnaldum’s tackle. I watched Kai twist away from and perform a one-two pass combination with Amiri, and he broke past the halfway line.

Seeing the opening, I burst into motion, forcing Trent to track me or at least notice. Behind us, Kai drove on, punching our front three forward as we surged into attack. He slipped past Henderson’s sliding tackle with a sharp feint, and the instant he was clear, I cut back from the edge of the box and sprinted to the top of the D.

"Pass," I called for the ball, and he didn’t disappoint in sending it my way, turning my head left and right before it arrived, the figure of Trent appeared in my peripheral vision. It seems he had chased after me the moment I chose to break away and would be upon me the moment I took control of the ball.

Thinking fast, I stepped toward the ball, my left foot clipping it lightly as I stepped to plant it. Before it could fly out of control, my right foot snaked in front of it and in one fluid motion scooped it behind me and into the air.

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To be Continued...