Chapter 154 - The Red

In the 21st minute, Glen Johnson made a teamwork with Ahmed, and Coutinho who on the right side. The result, Johnson passed the Southampton players on the right side. He then sent crossing ball into the middle of the penalty box. The crossing was reached Sterling who was on the left. Sterling shot the ball but Freddy blocked his shot. The ball was bounced to the outside penalty box.

Southampton launched a counterattack. Simone, who received the rebound ball immediately sent a pass to Benson. Benson dribbled the ball forward. He then changed the direction of the ball, right before Henderson knocked him down. Benson quickly crossed the halfway line and gave the ball to Wright-Phillips. Wright-Phillips brought the ball into the middle then passed it to Kazuki. Kazuki moved to the left to lure Van Dyke.

He then gave the ball to Bennet. Bennet was running to receive the ball. He got past Gomez and faced the goalkeeper, Jim Becker. Bennet kicked the ball firmly. Jim Becker jumped trying to reach the ball but missed. The ball then nestled in the Liverpool net.

"Goaaaaal! Bennett! This player managed to score against Liverpool and put Southampton one goal ahead of the Reds."

Liverpool fans couldn't help but stare at Southampton celebrating their goal. Meanwhile Southampton fans cheered to support Southampton.

This goal showed a hope for Southampton to beat Liverpool. Bennet goal also made Liverpool coach, Ralf Ragnick shaked his head. He then walked to the sidelines and shouted at the Liverpool players.

Hearing Ragnick screaming, Liverpool players began to regain consciousness. The match then started again. After that, Liverpool suddenly became fierce. Something awakens them. In the 26th minute, Tony Cross provided a stunning pass, the ball flew from far past the Southampton players before curving towards Ahmed who raced into the box.

Ahmed stopped the ball with his feet. Then push the ball forward. After that he shot towards the Southampton goalpost. Dean Smith stepped up and blocked Ahmed's shot. But the ball bounced in front of the penalty box. Simone, who was preparing to receive the ball, was suddenly seized by Coutinho. The player then shoots the ball from outside the penalty box. The ball hit the post and bounces off the field.

In the 32nd minute, Liverpool once again attacked Southampton. Coutinho gave a pass to Enrique who came overlap to help Liverpool attack. Enrique passed the ball to Sisinho, who stepped back to carry out his duties as a false nine. Sisinho then gave the ball to Sterling. Sterling received a pass from Sisinho and tried to break into the penalty box.

However, Jimmy's stole the ball from Sterling and gave it to Simone. Henderson did a body charge. Before Simone adjusted his position, Henderson, who came forward, and steal the ball from Simone's feet. On the other hand Ahmed began to break into the penalty box. Henderson passed the ball to Ahmed. But Okhalo headed the ball out of the penalty box. Glen Johnson received the ball and sent it back into the middle of the penalty box.

Sisinho managed to win the duel against Okhalo, soon, he headed the ball to the left. Sterling stepped forward and kicked the ball hard. The ball flew over top post. In the stadium, the sound of ridicule began to sound. Liverpool fans looked irritated with Sterling wasting a good chance. On the sidelines, Ragnick also looks helpless with Sterling.

The match then continued. Liverpool's ferocity does not end. Southampton felt tired in the face of Liverpool's continuous attacks. Until in the 38th minute, Liverpool managed to break into Southampton's net. This time Coutinho managed to free himself from Southampton players marking. At that moment, Tony Cross immediately gave him the pass. Coutinho received the ball with his chest. Then he gave a volley from outside the penalty box.

The ball hit the post and fell in the goulmouth area. Okhalo and Dean Smith prepared to secure the ball, but they stopped both allowing their teammate to clear the ball. Okhalo thought that Dean Smith would catch the ball as well as Dean Smith who thought Okhalo would clear the ball. In that moment of confusion, Sisinho appeared and pushed the ball into the Southampton goalpost.

"Goaaaal! This is a very fatal communication error. I don't know how you can make this mistake when your opponent is Liverpool? Sisinho scored a goal using Southampton's fatal blunder. Now the score is 1-1. The game tense is raising again. Southampton and Liverpool has a chance to win the match."

Meanwhile Liverpool fans immediately cheered to see the goal. The simultaneous cheers of Liverpool fans and also the celebration of Liverpool players made Southampton fans speechless.

Meanwhile on Southampton side. Dean Smith and Okhalo apologized to their teammates for making a fatal mistake. The other Southampton players gave both players encourage. Every player had made mistakes. After all, Southampton hadn't lost. They still have a big chance to beat Liverpool in this match.

In the final minutes of the first half the rhythm of the game slowed down. Until the end of the first half, the score did not change. The game entered a 15 minute break. In the dressing room George was berating Dean Smith and Okhalo for their blunder. In addition, he also evaluates the gameplay of each player. Then discuss about Southampton's strategy in the second half. To beat Southampton, Liverpool used a long pass to ignore Southampton's buildup in midfield.

Geoege decided to pull out Ryan and Wright-Phillips further back then let them close the holes on the right and left. This made Wright-Phillips and Ryan only left Kazuki and Bennet behind him. But calm, George arranged for the left and right defenders to overlap more often.

The second half of the match started with Southampton kick-off. After the game started Southampton immediately controlled the ball. While Liverpool advanced to press Southampton. It's a shame that the substitution of Ryan and Wright-Phillips had left Southampton with a number of points behind.

In the 48th minute, just as Liverpool's players applied pressure, Ryan received the ball and sent a long pass towards Bennet. Bennet had a duel against Tony and managed to win the ball. He gave the ball to Freddy. Freddy walked forward quickly. He then received the ball from Bennet and dribbled it forward.

Freddy then sent a breakthrough pass towards Kazuki. Kazuki accelerated his running and touched the ball with the tip of his foot. He then pulled the ball back and turned 180 degrees. Kazuki then brought the ball to the middle of amrrika and sent a powerful shot towards the Liverpool goalpost But Dean Smith was able to catch the ball that Kazuki kicked well.

In the 55th minute, Tony Cross gave Coutinho a pass. The Brazilian then pushed the ball towards Ahmed. But before Ahmed got the ball, Wright-Phillips cut it. He pushed the ball towards Simone. Simone crossed the ball to Bennet.

Bennet crossed the halfway line and gave the ball to Benson. Benson ran fast. But Van Dyke 'went over to the side and knocked Benson down. Van Dyke's tackle was so clean that the referee didn't blow the whistle.

In the 60th minute, Southampton got a free kick from outside the penalty box after Kazuki was brought down in front of the penalty box. Bennet wast the one who executes the free kick. In front of the Liverpool fans, Bennett kicked the ball casually.

The ball passes the Liverpool players. Kazuki jumped at the pass. He then headed the ball into the net. Jim Becker stretched his arms trying to reach the ball but failed. The ball goes well into the galpost..

"Goaaaal! Kazuki! What a great header! He scored and put Southampton back ahead of Liverpool. Now Southampton have a higher chance of winning the game."

In the 63rd minute, Southampton and Liverpool made substitutions. Maddison came on to replace Sterling. Meanwhile Kounde came on to replace Wright-Phillips. After this substitution, some changes could be seen in both teams. At Liverpool, Coutinho stepped up to replace Sterling while Maddison filled Coutinho's previous post.

On the other hand Southampton has now changed the formation to 4-4-2. Kazuki as well as Kounde became the players who were at the forefront. Kounde's job was to be prepared at every opportunity to counterattack.

In the 69th minute, Maddison pushed Bennet with his body, so that Bennett lost his balance. After that he snatched the ball from Bennet's feet. Shortly after Maddison grabbed the ball, Bennet immediately ran and grabbed the back of the Liverpool player's shirt.

After that he used the tip of his foot to kick the ball which was guarded by Maddison. Orlando rushed towards the ball, then he kicked the ball so strong forward.

Kounde, who moved to the left side of the Liverpool defense, immediately received the pass from Orlando. He received the pass with his chest and then controlled the ball.. After that, he turns around while preventing Enrique from stealing the ball from him.