Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool! The scary thing isn't the last-minute goal, but the fans' post-match reactions. Netizens pointed out: Liverpool had every chance, but their finishing was terrible. The system is clearly still in the process of being integrated, lacking synergy. Wirtz must have been a coaching request, to use him whenever he gets the chance, to play the ball less and to avoid passing the ball safely. Opportunities and risks coexist. Liverpool's rise requires two opportunities: the manager's dismissal, which is unlikely, and the Pharaoh's participation in the African Cup of Nations. Liverpool has lost three games in a row. Liverpool fans didn't believe me before, thinking Isaac was the savior. I told them he wasn't good enough, and they attacked me without any basis. Now they believe me, don't they? This year presents Arsenal with their best opportunity. While Liverpool is napping, Manchester City will complete their transition next season, and it's likely to be another title battle between City and Liverpool.
Arteta should take a good look at how to play against Liverpool. Don't be timid. It's okay to be timid against Manchester City before, but against this Liverpool, you can't just defend blindly. They're not that formidable. Compared to Manchester City of the past two years, their control is far inferior. Everyone says Van Dijk is great, but watching him play, even though he's known as the world's best defender, I always feel he's lacking. Van Dijk really retreated on the first ball, but how long should he have retreated? Couldn't he have stepped up to head the ball at least once? He did the same thing in the Champions League final. During the winning goal, Robertson was already on his knees, clearly exhausted, so he couldn't cover the back post. It's okay to rely on Klopp's past, but they shouldn't have sold Dias. He can attack, defend, and press high up the pitch. If they want to create the Guardiola-esque Manchester City of years past, they'd be better off selling both Maca and Sobo.
Liverpool's decline began with the last-minute goal against Crystal Palace. Liverpool's buying and selling have always been flawed, focusing on players with established reputations rather than those who cater to Liverpool's unique characteristics. Their consistent last-minute goals were simply luck, and now they're paying the price. Salah was also reckless at the start of last season. It was said in the summer that players would have a breakout season in their contract years, and that injuries would be virtually nonexistent. Football has that magical contract year. This season, Salah won't even score half as many goals as he did last season, and with Ramadan this year, it's definitely a stretch. Life is like a phone call; either you hang up first or I do. When Liverpool plays football, it's either a last-minute goal or a last-minute loss. Last season was the end for Real Madrid, and this season is the end for Liverpool. Football is never that simple!
This season, last-minute goals have become the star of the show! Either they beat other teams, or they get smacked away by them! Liverpool is truly losing the way they want to. Just play according to Klopp's style. They've been so insistent on doing things their own way, buying a bunch of players who haven't performed well. They were so strong last season, and with some reinforcements, they can win the championship again. Chelsea, in my opinion, always delivers just when you think they can't. Who could have imagined that a group of veterans could beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final, snipe the feared Ligue 1 giants in the Club World Cup, and even beat defending champions Liverpool despite having their defenders injured?
