Chapter 203 It’s time for the relegation team to wake up

Klopp, who advocates high-pressure, requires players to put in a lot of effort and running on the court.

In order to achieve this goal, players must put in more energy and physical strength in their daily training.

If things go on like this, it will not only increase the risk of players getting injured, but will also make players mentally tired and slack.

After coaching Dortmund for seven years, the players' performance plummeted after experiencing increasing physical and mental exhaustion.

In the later period of Klopp's coaching, the main players left one after another. He was in urgent need of a batch of fresh blood to replenish the team's vitality.

At that time, Rossi, who was still playing at Bournemouth, naturally came into the eyes of Dortmund's scouts.

When they sent Rossi's technical report back to Dortmund, Klopp was not interested in this somewhat lazy player.

Active running is his most basic requirement for players.

But Rossi's average running distance per game simply cannot reach his passing mark.

There were even some games where Rossi only ran more distance than both goalkeepers.

But this time, after seeing Rossi's performance on the field with his own eyes, Klopp understood.

Rossi is not lazy, but very smart in saving energy.

His tackle is not a fierce scramble, but a tackle with the purpose of intercepting the opponent's pass.

In Ranieri's tactical system, the team gives up midfield control and quickly transitions to counterattack tactics in the midfield, so that Rossi does not need to participate in more defensive tasks in the frontcourt.

Therefore, his running data in each game is even more pitiful.

This is a tactic Ranieri tailored based on the players' respective characteristics.

High-pressure pressing can put huge pressure on the opponent's defense.

However, Leicester City, which has shrunk its defense, keeps its two defense lines very compact and can form a counterattack once there is an opportunity.

Klopp is very troubled by such tactics.

In the Bundesliga in the 2014-15 season, Dortmund was targeted by many Bundesliga teams with such defensive tactics.

And he himself didn't come up with appropriate tactics to deal with it, so his performance plummeted.

Now that he is coaching Liverpool, the coaches of other Premier League teams will definitely target him, so in the early days of his coaching, he began to think about ways to deal with it.

Center forward Benteke pressed to the center, while Coutinho moved on the left, using dribbling to attract the defense, and then made a wide-range move to hit the weak side of the defense.

Firmino seized the opportunity, broke into the penalty area, and created murderous opportunities.

Klopp tried this style of play when he was in Dortmund.

But after Lewandowski moved to Bayern, the team has never had a traditional center who can pose a threat to the opponent's goal.

Coupled with the departures of Gotze and Shinji Kagawa, the team's midfield operation has also been paralyzed.

Now Liverpool, with Benteke, Coutinho and Firmino, can successfully complete the tactics he arranged.

In the injury time of the first half, Benteke retreated from the penalty area and attracted the defense of center defender Morgan.

Firmino on the left quickly inserted into the space behind the central defender.

The ball has arrived!

Coutinho saw the right moment and sent a through ball forward, which was accurately passed to Firmino's feet.

Huth stretched out his foot to block the shooting angle.

But Firmino first used his body to hold Huth up and blocked his position. The moment he fell to the ground, he swept the ball towards the goal with his right foot.

Schmeichel attacked to block it, but Firmino's shot was too close and he didn't have time to fall to the ground. The ball went through his armpit.

【The ball is scored!】

[Firmino equalized the score!]

【Anfield is boiling!】

【GOAL!!!!】

The fans raised their hands and sang the team anthem, and the loud and passionate singing echoed over the stadium.

You never walk alone!

With Firmino's goal, the two teams entered the halftime break tied with a draw.

The Leicester City players looked relaxed, talking and laughing.

Ranieri looked serious, crossed his hands on his chest and said nothing.

Realizing that something was wrong, everyone shut their mouths and did not dare to look directly into the eyes of the old man.

“Manchester City!”

"Tottenham Hotspur!"

"Liverpool!"

"Arsenal!"

Ranieri said coldly: "This is the league opponent you are going to face next. Do you want to fight in this state?"

In the first half, Leicester City's state could not be said to be bad, but compared to its Christmas spirit, it was obviously worse.

Ranieri knows what the players are thinking. He already has 38 points and can easily win the remaining two points to avoid relegation.

So facing Liverpool, losing is inevitable.

"In the first half, I couldn't see your fighting spirit, your enthusiasm, or your running. I felt like a farm worker with a meager salary and a satisfied smile on his face."

"You can do better and score more points, why don't you do it and be satisfied with the status quo?"

Ranieri's words were like a loud slap on everyone's cheeks.

"The league has reached this point, which can be described as chaotic. The previous strong teams, due to various reasons, did not perform well. They gave us opportunities, and we took advantage of them."

"But do you want to pray that they stay down and give us a chance?"

"If we don't seize the time to grab points now, in future games, when every team is rushing to grab points, our results may fall directly, or even be relegated."

"Christmas has passed and the cruel relegation battle has begun. It's time to wake up!"

Ranieri's words exploded in the players' ears, and the sense of urgency and crisis during last year's relegation arose spontaneously.

In the next two months, they will play two games each against Manchester City and Tottenham, as well as Arsenal and Liverpool.

There are also teams that are fighting for relegation and teams that are striving for the European competition. They will try their best.

The intensity and difficulty of the competition are no less than the devilish schedule in December.

At this stage, if the team cannot withstand the pressure of these strong teams, it will soon experience a rout or even collapse.

They will go from being Christmas champions to falling off a cliff and becoming a relegation team. This is by no means an alarmist statement.

This kind of mental blow is far greater than the physical one.

Almost inspired, Ranieri said: "In the second half, the opponent will definitely attack fiercely. I want to see your fighting spirit. Ding zero~"

"Ding dong!"

The second half of the game begins.

After Liverpool made adjustments in the midfield, the players were in excellent condition and launched a high-pressure press against Leicester City.

After a few passes, Leicester City was forced to hand over the ball.

Liverpool center Benteke has strong physical fitness and can engage in 1v1 confrontations with central defenders and constantly harass the penalty area.

With this powerful high point, Liverpool can pass the ball and hoist the ball into the penalty area.

In the 62nd minute, Benteke retreated to assist, Andy King stepped forward to interfere, and the two competed for the ball at the front of the penalty area.

Benteke, who is tall and powerful, can not only firmly control the opponent, but also make Andy King unable to do anything.

The two are not at the same level at all.

At this moment, Huth stepped forward and joined forces with his teammates to intercept the ball.

Benteke first exerted his body strength to push away Andy King's defense, and then moved quickly to block Huth's upward attack with his back.

As soon as the two came into contact, Benteke fell to the ground and caused a foul outside the penalty area.

drop!

Sure enough, the referee gave Huth a foul for attacking. Not only did he receive a yellow card, but he also gave his opponent a set-kick opportunity.

Firmino took a set kick on the left side of the penalty area. Benteke stepped in and used his physical strength to squeeze Huth behind him, grab the spot, and swing his head to score!

【GOAL!!!】

[Benteke scores, Liverpool takes the lead!]

[This is completely using the physical advantage to crush Huth and header the ball towards the goal. 】

2:1!

Anfield once again erupted into deafening cheers.

Benteke rushed to the corner flag, holding the flagpole with his left hand, looking arrogant, as if he was claiming to be a king or emperor.

Ranieri had no time to vent his emotions and hurriedly called Craig to lay out tactics.

Ulloa replaces Vardy.

Kramaric replaces Mahrez.
Chapter completed!