The Greatest of all Time

Chapter 695  Commanding the Midfield

The referee blew the whistle at exactly 6:30 PM, kick-starting the eagerly awaited match between Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Roberto Firmino, Liverpool's center-forward, already positioned at the center spot, booted the ball and guided it back towards his midfield. Georginio Wijnaldum swiftly picked it up before playing it towards the left flank to find Andrew Robertson, Liverpool's left-back.

By then, the Brighton players were already flooding forward, with Glenn Murray, their center-forward, leading the charge to high press. But Andrew Robertson remained composed, playing the ball to Joe Gomez in defense.

As Gomez received the ball, Zachary immediately ran back into Liverpool's defensive midfield pocket of space, making himself available for his teammate. And just as expected, Gomez spotted him and played the ball to Zachary.

Zachary, as usual, received the ball with meticulous control, deftly taking it away from Yves Bissouma, one of Brighton's central midfielders. Klopp's words flashed into his mind, urging him to transition quickly into offense. He looked up the field and immediately spotted Mohamed Salah initiating a spirited run down the right flank.

Zachary didn't hesitate, and before any opponent could close him down, he unleashed a lofted pass with the outside of his boot, aiming for the unmarked pocket of space just ahead of Salah.

Zachary's incredible passing skills were evident as the ball curled and descended just in time for Salah to chest it forward, beyond the reach of Gaëtan Bong, Brighton's left-back.

Salah swiftly initiated a foot race, leaving the defenders in his wake before cutting into the pitch and sprinting towards the box. Leon Balogun, Brighton's center-back, charged forward to stop the attack. But Salah remained composed, taking the defender on, turning and shifting before unleashing a low drive towards the inside of the near post.

The ball was destined for the back of the net. But fortunately for Brighton, Mathew Ryan, the goalkeeper, stretched fully and managed to get his fingertips to graze the ball. He deflected it from its intended path and saved his team from conceding a goal in the 2nd minute.

But the danger was still looming for Brighton as the ball deflected off the goalpost and rebounded into the box, attracting attention from the nearby players. Salah tried to go for it, but Shane Duffy, Brighton's other center-back, was faster, booting the ball away to clear the danger. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Duffy's clearance, though, wasn't the best, and the ball only traveled low towards the left wing, where Sadio Mané intercepted it. Mané controlled it deftly before swiftly playing it into the middle to find Zachary, who had already rushed into an unmarked pocket of space close to the edge of the final third.

Zachary felt a surge of adrenaline as he received the ball. His SSS-grade Ball Control was immediately on full display as he elegantly skipped past Dale Stephens, Brighton's defensive midfielder, with a simple change of pace and only two touches.

Moreover, his SSS-grade spatial awareness was already working wonders, and he was aware of all the positions of his teammates and opponents. He took only a split instant to decide his next move and played the ball to his left, aiming to connect back with Sadio Mané, who was about to rush past a defender and race towards the box.

Zachary's timing and passing showcased his incredible football instincts again as the ball glided just inches away from the outstretched foot of the defender before arriving in the sprinting path of Sadio Mané.

Mane did not disappoint, quickly taking it in his stride before rushing into the box. Mathew Ryan, Brighton's keeper, scrambled to close him down, but Mané had other plans.

Mané played the ball into the middle to find the unmarked Roberto Firmino, who turned away from his marker and pulled the trigger. He fired the ball past the defender and into the top right corner to put Liverpool ahead in the 3rd minute.

The cheers around the stadium hit a crescendo as Firmino raced off to celebrate Liverpool's first goal for the evening. The energy was electric, with fans chanting and waving scarves in a sea of red. Zachary's heart pounded with excitement and pride as he joined his teammates in the celebration, sharing high-fives and encouraging words.

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Meanwhile, the rest of Anfield was also on fire just after Roberto Firmino opened the scoring for Liverpool against Brighton & Hove Albion in the 3rd minute. The stands erupted with fans waving red flags and chanting excitedly, celebrating their team's great start.

But it wasn't just the fans who were thrilled. The match commentators, Conor McNamara and Danny Mills, were also going hyper and couldn't hide their excitement.

"Firmino scores and Liverpool takes an early lead in the 3rd minute. And what a brilliant build-up that was!" McNamara exclaimed.

"Absolutely, Conor. You have to credit the vision and execution from the midfield. Zachary's involvement was crucial there. His pass to Mané was perfectly timed, and Mané's composure to find Firmino was top-notch," Danny Mills added, his voice brimming with admiration.

"Zachary has once again proven himself a fantastic addition to this Liverpool side. His awareness and precision are incredible. He spotted Mané's run and delivered that pass with pinpoint accuracy," McNamara continued.

"Indeed, it's not just about the assist; it's about his decision-making and incredible passing. He can spot things that other players find hard to spot on the field and make those decisive passes, and that's why he's fitting in perfectly with Klopp's system," Mills noted.

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The commentators' voices soon faded into the background as the game restarted. Zachary's heart pounded with even more anticipation after his pivotal role in the opening goal. Fueled by this momentum, he was more determined than ever to contribute further to his team's efforts.

On the other side, Brighton, hungry for an equalizer, surged forward, but Liverpool's players, imbued with relentless energy, were ready to meet them head-on.

The midfield trio of Zachary, Milner, and Wijnaldum combined seamlessly with the front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mané. They pressed high, closed down passing lanes, intercepted passes, and quickly regained possession, disrupting Brighton's rhythm. The ball was soon back in Liverpool's control, and they moved it around efficiently, dictating the proceedings with confidence.

Zachary continued relying on his SSS-grade fitness to remain integral to Liverpool's machinery. He wasn't dribbling much, but his performance was stellar.

Always finding unmarked pockets of space in midfield, he received passes from his teammates and unleashed through balls to the forwards. His one-touch football was on full display, showing another dimension of his game as he controlled the midfield like a true maestro. And with him as the engine, Liverpool's attack became even more lethal as the minutes ticked by.

During the 8th minute, Zachary linked up with James Milner in midfield, then unleashed an overhead ball over the Brighton defense, finding Mohamed Salah on the right flank. Salah, ever the magician, drove towards the box and sent a low cross into the area.

Roberto Firmino slid in, hoping to score, but Brighton's keeper made a crucial save, deflecting the ball out of play for a corner kick. Undeterred, Liverpool continued their relentless pressure, attacking vigorously and creating several half chances.

By the 23rd minute, their efforts finally bore fruit. Trent Alexander-Arnold initiated a move with a stunning cross-field pass from the right flank, finding Sadio Mané on the opposite side of the pitch.

The pass took most Brighton players out of the equation, allowing Mané to control the ball and drive towards the box unchallenged. Mané, ever composed, cut towards the box before unselfishly squaring the ball to Zachary, who was arriving at the edge of the area.

Zachary sensed a Brighton defender closing in as he received the ball. But he remained composed, and with a deft touch, he controlled the ball midstride and then blasted it past the defender. His technique was immaculate, sending the ball curling on an incredible trajectory before grazing the post and finding the back of the net.

It was just the 24th minute, but the score was already 2:0 in favor of Liverpool.

The stadium erupted in cheers as Zachary's teammates swarmed him in celebration. Contentment and pride washed over him as he had taken another step toward cementing his place on the Liverpool side.

It was his third goal for Liverpool, yet he had only made his debut in the previous game against Crystal Palace. Happiness surged through him, but amidst the euphoria, he mentally warned himself to keep his feet firmly on the ground. This was just the beginning, and he knew he needed to continue putting up more performances like this for Liverpool.

Soon enough, the game continued after the brief celebrations, with Liverpool maintaining dominance and dictating the tempo. Zachary, now even more confident on the ball, orchestrated play from midfield.

His composure and vision allowed Liverpool to dominate possession, with the team holding over 75% of the ball. The front three of Salah, Firmino, and Mané were sharper than ever, while the defense stood solid and unyielding.

Liverpool moved like a well-oiled machine against Brighton, passing with precision and pressing with intensity. The whole of Anfield could feel the growing certainty of another thrashing by Liverpool as the minutes ticked by.