Football’s First Defender

In the Premier League opener of the 2014/15 season, Manchester United faced Swansea at Old Trafford.

Before the game, countless people were optimistic about the galaxy warship that Manchester United spent a lot of money to build, and set sail again. As a result, the opening game capsized directly in the gutter.

Under the attention of the whole world, in the opening game of the Premier League this season, Manchester United fans have been looking forward to the whole summer for the team to get back on track, and it was shown in front of the fans with a defeat.

Van Gaal did not directly arrange a lot of signings, but mainly based on the original team players, with some new aids, but he did not play the full attack and full defense game style that Van Gaal wanted at all.

Manchester United does have the advantage on the field, with a ball possession rate close to 60%, but in front of Swansea's defense, Manchester United did not taste too much advantage.

There are no underdogs in the Premier League, and this season's opener is so cruelly reflected.

Manchester United's poor offense made Swansea's counterattack threat increase sharply.

Korean international Ki Sung-yong scored a counter-attack to help Swansea win their first Premier League goal in the 2014/15 season at Old Trafford.

Although Van Gaal signaled the team to press on the offense, the offensive effect achieved by Manchester United was extremely limited.

Instead, in the second half, Sigurdsson, who was sniped by Iceland, once again pierced De Gea's ten fingers with a world wave, helping Swansea take the lead 2-0.

After that, Van Gaal had no choice but to replace Fellaini, and played Moyes last season's wing pass tactics at the last moment of the game.

At the end of the game, it was really relying on Fellaini's header to barely score a face-saving goal.

1 to 2, Manchester United lost the game directly in the opening game, and it also reminded all the giants that they must take every opponent seriously and never take it lightly.

With Manchester United's negative teaching materials ahead, other giants naturally dare not relax their vigilance and go all out.

Tottenham beat West Ham United 1-0 away, while Manchester City captured Newcastle 3-0 away.

As the defending champion Liverpool's opening game, it is arranged in the backcourt on Sunday.

After both Chelsea and Arsenal defeated their opponents on the second day, the four strong teams won their debuts, in stark contrast to the defeat of Manchester United.

And Liverpool, as the defending champions against Southampton, was given more attention.

In the summer, Southampton's "supermarket" opened, and Liverpool became a major purchaser. After most of the teams were sold, Southampton very realistically set their goal for the new season at relegation.

However, this opening game was more like Southampton's after-sales gift to the donor. Without much resistance, Southampton lost to Anfield.

In the season opener, Liverpool did not take the risk of using too many new aids.

In addition to the introduction of full-back Moreno, he was directly put on the starting lineup to replace the injured Flanagan.

All other positions are Liverpool's champions last season.

In the defensive position, Moreno replaced Flanagan on the left, center back Yang Feng added Skrtel, and Glenn Johnson remained unchanged at right back.

After Suarez left, Sturridge returned to the center forward position in this game, and Coutinho and Sterling formed offensive supplements on the left and right sides behind him.

In the three midfielders, Henderson continues to be in the middle, giving full play to his strength as a B2B midfielder, while Gerrard and Lucas continue to be the team's double midfielders, responsible for midfield defense and scheduling.

Although Liverpool's problems have been exposed a lot in the previous Community Shield Cup, the opportunities that Manchester City can create and seize do not mean that teams like Southampton can create them.

At Anfield, Southampton relied on the active running of the players, which did make the team's defense very good.

As for Liverpool, after lacking Suarez's supporting ball, they still struggled in the positional offense.

However, Liverpool still has an absolute advantage on the field.

Although there are not many threatening attacks, the personal abilities of Liverpool players are strong enough. When the opportunity is in front of them, they have a better ability to seize opportunities than Southampton players.

In the 21st minute of the game, Coutinho's breakthrough created an offensive threat for Liverpool.

After attracting two defenders on the left flank, Coutinho dribbled the ball, poked a pass, and passed the ball covertly and quickly into the penalty area of ​​the visiting team.

Sterling, who was trained by Rodgers in the summer as an all-round free attacking shooter, moved quickly above the passing position, and volleyed after receiving the ball, creating a big enough threat.

Although the shot angle was too positive and was obtained by the opponent's goalkeeper, Liverpool's offense did not end like this.

The long pass from the goalkeeper of the visiting team was passed directly to the Liverpool half, but the ball was directly cut off from Wanyama's feet by the aggressive Henderson, and then near the center circle, Henderson immediately sent a long pass.

The football passed through the slightly loose defensive line of Southampton's two central defenders. Relying on his speed, Sterling succeeded in anti-offside, directly received the ball in the penalty area, and had a single chance to face the goalkeeper.

Very calmly pushed the bottom right corner of the goal.

1 to 0!

Sterling scored Liverpool's first goal of the season.

After taking the lead, Liverpool can play more easily in the following games.

The team patiently organized the attack, dismantling Southampton's defense bit by bit.

Especially after the lack of Suarez, Liverpool has no way to pursue a small-scale pass in the midfield like last season, so breakthroughs and crosses from the side have become more offensive weapons for Liverpool to rely on.

Not long after the start of the second half, Liverpool attacked from the right, Glenn Johnson put in an assist and sent a cross from the side.

The tacit understanding of Southampton's new central defender combination is really not high, and the defense is not in place, so Sturridge has a 1v1 opportunity with central defender Fangte in front of the goal.

Although Sturridge did not have much advantage this time, under the physical confrontation between the two, the ball was only pushed up again by Fangte, and the clearance was not completed.

The second point of the ball was still in the penalty area, and the incompatibilities of the visiting team's defense emerged again. The dominant midfielder did not pay attention to the surrounding situation and waited in place to make a clearance, but was caught by Sterling. Accelerate and plug in, and take advantage of the height of the jump to reach the landing point of the ball first.

Sterling headed the ball towards the goal area, and Sturridge just stretched his foot and swept it in mid-air.

The ball changed direction and flew to the other side of the goal, leaving the visiting goalkeeper in the air.

2 to 0!

Sturridge's goal, pound Liverpool further expanded the score.

In the following games, it was more about Liverpool's defense and counterattack.

The defense line led by Yang Feng was as stable as ever.

Before the game, Southampton actually played a wonderful offensive cooperation.

Pellet pulled the heel of the ball out of the penalty area and passed a wonderful semi-single-handed ball to Klein, but Yang Feng directly slid the tackle from the other side to make up for the defense, and Klein's shot went straight to the goal. Blocked and kept a clean sheet for Liverpool in this game.

2 to 0, Liverpool easily won the opening game, which made a good start for the new season.