Xabi Alonso's long pass accurately found Kuyt on the wing.
Kuyt was vying for position while looking at the opponent he was about to face.
A black kid who looked only fifteen or sixteen years old.
What was his name again?
Before the game, Benitez had introduced the opponent's players to the team, but Kuyt really wanted to apologize to the opponent now—he really didn't know the other guy's name.
Hassan Ali didn't know what Kuyt was thinking. He stuck close as soon as Xabi Alonso made the long pass.
"Don't let anyone get past you in your defensive area!"
That's what Gao Bo told Hassan before the game, and Hassan was certainly going to do just that.
Kuyt prepared to chest the ball down and then figure out how to get past the opponent. If that didn't work, he'd pass it back to the middle and let Gerrard organize the attack.
Kuyt's plan sounded good, but as soon as he chested the ball, he felt someone shove him from behind!
"You need to learn to play smarter!"
Hassan had almost memorized Gao Bo's words.
What counts as playing smart?
Just like that!
Hassan looked at the positions of the referee and the linesman, and then, when he was close to Kuyt, he suddenly exerted force with his chest!
He raised his hands high, indicating that he didn't have any movement with his hands, and the movement of his chest hitting Kuyt's back wasn't large. Although it wasn't enough to make Kuyt fall, his chest control was affected by Hassan's bump from behind, and the ball went out of bounds!
"Ball!! Hurry!!"
Hassan rushed to the sideline, waving for the ball from the ball boy.
Luton quickly took the throw-in.
Kuyt originally planned to spread his hands in protest and then talk to the referee.
But the opponent's quick throw-in surprised Kuyt, and he hurriedly ran back!
"Well done!! Hassan!!"
Gao Bo stood on the sidelines, his eyes full of anticipation...
This was a chance for a counterattack!!!
On the left wing, Drinkwater received the ball and passed it directly to Adam!!
Adam felt like he was even faster. He took the lead and poked the ball forward, getting past Liverpool's right-back Arbeloa!!
Arbeloa was directly bypassed by Adam's speed. In a panic, he wanted to reach out and pull him, but he couldn't even touch Adam's jersey!!
"Here it comes!!!" Wright Kinsman stood up from the commentary box, "Adam White!!!!"
Cheers and boos erupted almost simultaneously in the stands!
Liverpool fans' eyes showed panic as they watched Adam White dribble quickly down the wing!!
Benitez stood up abruptly. Adam White's speed frightened him. Arbeloa was already fast, but compared to Adam, it was like comparing a tractor to a Ferrari!
Gao Bo stood on the sidelines, his eyes full of desire!
This attack! This counterattack!!
Do you see that speed!!
This is on top of Adam's original speed, a direct increase of 15%!!
With Adam's current speed, he could even win a medal if he participated in the Olympic men's 100-meter final!
But football isn't a sprint after all!
After getting past Arbeloa, Adam slowed down, because Carragher was always two meters away from him, blocking the route to the inside!
But Adam doesn't just have the option of cutting inside, he can also pass!
So when he brought the ball to the edge of the penalty area, he passed it!
Vardy ran to the near post!
Skrtel and Vardy jumped at the same time!!
Facing the opponent's tall and strong center-back,
Vardy failed to get a shot off, and the ball was headed out of bounds by Skrtel!
"Wow... Luton's counterattack is really sharp!!" Wright Kinsman breathed a sigh of relief in the commentary box!
Liverpool fans in the stands also sat down, some patting their chests.
Benitez's back was covered in cold sweat. Even knowing that the opponent was playing defense and counterattack, Luton still created such a big threat through counterattacks!
Adam White...
He's just too fast!
The apprehensive Arbeloa returned to the penalty area. He glanced at the seemingly thin Adam and never imagined that someone with such a physique could have such explosive power.
Although the shot didn't go in, Luton still got a corner kick.
Benitez noticed that Luton's two center-backs hadn't come up!
It seemed that the opponent was determined to play defense and counterattack, and they weren't even willing to send anyone up for the corner kick.
"Watch out for their counterattacks!! Don't lose possession easily!!"
Benitez shouted from the sidelines.
Gao Bo naturally heard Benitez's shouts. He sneered. It's our corner kick now, and you're still reminding them about the last counterattack.
Carelessness will be punished! Mr. Benitez!
We have more than just counterattacks in this game!
Gao Bo indeed didn't let the two center-backs go up, because he was also very wary of Liverpool's counterattacks!
Luton was already struggling to defend against the opponent's positional attacks, let alone counterattacks!
So not many people from Luton participated in the corner kick attack. But that doesn't mean Gao Bo was willing to give up the corner kick easily.
Adam took the corner kick. He passed the ball to Drinkwater, and then ran past Drinkwater.
Drinkwater passed the ball back to Adam!
Adam's feet were very fast. He changed direction and got past Xabi Alonso, who had come back to defend, and then began to cut inside!
When he cut to the arc of the penalty area, Adam was ready to shoot, but Mascherano seized the opportunity to tackle him to the ground!
"Beep!!!!!"
The whistle blew!
Mascherano fouled!!
The Argentine obviously didn't think he fouled. He pointed to the ball and shouted, "I got the ball!!!!!"
On the sidelines, Gao Bo's reaction was even more intense.
He jumped up, "Damn it!! That's a red card!!!!!"
Gao Bo was using this action to put pressure on the referee.
In fact, the referee wasn't even planning to take out a yellow card...
Gao Bo had prepared before the game to fully utilize Adam, using Adam to break through and draw fouls, creating set pieces in the attacking third, and hopefully getting Liverpool's defenders booked!
But this was only the first foul of the game, so the referee didn't intend to show a card.
Gao Bo on the sidelines accepted it. Anyway, Luton still got a free kick.
It's a pity that there are no free kick experts in the team...
Gao Bo clicked his tongue. Damn it, if only there was a card to improve direct free kick technique...
This free kick position was very suitable for a direct shot, right at the arc of the penalty area, whether it was a left foot or a right foot, you could take a curler.
Just when Gao Bo was regretting that the team didn't have a free kick expert, Kevin Keane gave him a surprise!
Kevin Keane stood in front of the ball, and then he sent out a beautiful curler!!
The ball bypassed the wall, and then flew past Reina's fingertips... before hitting the inside of the post and flying into the goal!!
One to zero!!
The stadium was silent for about a second....
Boom!!!!!
Luton fans suddenly jumped up from their seats!
Gao Bo also raised his arms!
He glanced at Benitez on the other side, whose face was ashen.
We have more than just defense and counterattack!! Mr. Benitez!!