Chapter 750: Turning the Tables
Liverpool, playing with an almost reckless ferocity, seemed unstoppable. Even Manchester United had no choice but to retreat into their own half, resolutely defending against the onslaught.
Mourinho's defensive system, meticulously built over three years, proved its worth at this crucial moment. Except for some issues on the left flank with Luke Shaw, Liverpool struggled to find even the slightest advantage against Manchester United.
While the backline tightened its defenses, the forwards actively sought opportunities—not only serving as the first line of defense but also pressing Liverpool's midfield and backline.
Bruno Fernandes maintained his relentless running as always. He wasn't fazed by conceding a goal, as this scenario had been fully accounted for in United's pre-match plans. The coaching staff had even strategized for scenarios where they fell two goals behind.
With a plan in place, there was no panic. Bruno knew his job was to wait patiently.
As long as Manchester United held their ground, Liverpool would eventually reveal their weaknesses.
...
The "Northwest Derby" was not just a continuation of a century-long rivalry between two Premier League giants but also a rare gathering of legends from both clubs. Manchester United's contingent of legends was out in force, while Liverpool, despite being the away team, brought notable figures like Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard.
The VIP stands became a hub for these footballing greats. As the match progressed, their lively discussions naturally shifted to the game itself, particularly the two brightest stars from each team—Salah and Bruno Fernandes.
After taking the lead, Liverpool continued to press forward, a move that was hardly surprising, as it has always been their style.
"Klopp sees Mane, Firmino, and Salah as the cornerstone of Liverpool's title chase. Last season, they achieved great success. Although they didn't win the league, their 97 points in a single season was nearly perfect. Together, the front three scored 56 goals, making them the highest-scoring trio of the season. Salah alone scored 22 of those goals."
"This game, the Egyptian has been particularly dazzling. Scoring within the first five minutes, dribbling past defenders, shooting from long range, heading in front of goal, taking free kicks… he seems capable of anything. Truly impressive."
"In contrast, Firmino and Mane seem a bit overshadowed lately."
"He's still young and needs more polishing," Gerrard said with a smile. "But you can't deny that his form today is excellent. However, precisely because he's performing so well and dominating the spotlight, the team has unconsciously started to revolve around him."
Gerrard's observation drew nods from those present.
...
Franz Beckenbauer once said, "On the football pitch, the strongest point is often also the weakest."
When Salah seemed almost unstoppable, putting on a personal showcase, Liverpool's offensive tactics became overly predictable, relying almost exclusively on him.
Mourinho quickly recognized this issue and adjusted United's defensive strategy accordingly.
Salah, on the other hand, focused solely on advancing, breaking through defenders, and creating threats. More often than not, he chose to shoot rather than pass to teammates. This made United's defensive task easier while putting Liverpool's midfield and forwards in an awkward position.
It was hard to say whether the rest of Liverpool's players were underperforming or simply overshadowed by Salah's dominance. What was evident to all was that Liverpool's attack had turned into a one-man show.
Unfortunately for Liverpool, Salah's personal showcase often ended in hurried shots or failed breakthroughs, which were far from effective.
...
Watching Salah repeatedly attempt breakthroughs, Gerrard shook his head and said, "Football is a team game with eleven players. No one can carry an entire team alone. At least not Salah, not yet. He needs to play more as part of the team."
As Gerrard finished speaking, many other legends nodded in agreement.
Those seated in the VIP stands were seasoned veterans, each having played football for decades. With a lifetime dedicated to the sport, they could easily discern patterns and read the underlying strategies at play.
Gerrard added, "It seems Klopp has placed a lot of trust in him and hasn't tried to rein him in. It's hard to say for sure, but there are usually only two possibilities: either Klopp is losing his touch, or he sees immense potential in Salah worth investing in."
This remark left the crowd somewhat stunned.
Klopp, of course, wasn't losing his touch. His sharpness as a coach was well-known. That left only one explanation: Klopp believed in Salah's untapped potential.
But in a high-stakes match like this, taking such a risk was hardly a wise choice.
After all, Manchester United wasn't an easy opponent. In Bruno Fernandes, they had a player who was not only on par with Salah but, in some respects, even more outstanding.
...
Bruno Patiently Seeks Opportunities on the Pitch
With Liverpool pressing forward aggressively after taking a one-goal lead, the bulk of Manchester United's offensive burden fell on Bruno Fernandes. Expanding his area of activity, Bruno seamlessly integrated into the team's overall play. At the same time, when the team needed individual brilliance, whether it was dribbling, ball control, playmaking, or distributing the ball, he performed with ease and displayed his strengths.
Compared to the flamboyant Salah, Bruno's style was concise and swift—steady and calculated.
This has been the impression he has left on everyone since the start of his career.
Ten minutes after conceding, Manchester United began to stabilize and find their rhythm. The three midfielders were exceptional in intercepting the ball, while the two central defenders gradually adapted to Liverpool's strategy of crossing from the flanks.
Salah continued to get frequent touches on the ball, but his plays were more about individual efforts and posed little threat.
With the midfield and defense steady, opportunities began to open up for the forward line.
First, Marcus Rashford delivered a cross from the left, allowing Kylian Mbappé to attempt a header at the far post, but Alisson Becker made the save.
Shortly after, Rashford delivered a precise through ball from the left channel, giving Bruno a chance to shoot inside the box, but the attempt went wide.
In the 28th minute, Bruno had a one-on-one opportunity against Jordan Henderson. He attempted to dribble past the more experienced Liverpool captain but was tripped and brought down.
Referee Martin Atkinson quickly arrived and showed Henderson a yellow card.
Liverpool's captain did not argue. Instead, he extended a hand to Bruno, helped him up, patted his shoulder, and quickly retreated.
Bruno took the resulting free kick, delivering a cross for Harry Maguire, whose header failed to find the target and went high.
...
As the clock ticked past the 30-minute mark, Manchester United remained a goal behind Liverpool. After a brief period of easing their tempo, Liverpool launched another wave of fierce attacks.
Salah continued to be Liverpool's most dangerous player, putting on a stellar performance that drove Liverpool fans in the stands to near hysteria as they cheered him on.
Buoyed by the fans' fervor, Salah's enthusiasm only grew. However, he always seemed just short of scoring, rarely making it into the penalty box. Most of his attempts were long-range shots from 20 or more yards out, which highlighted the solidity of Manchester United's defense.
At United, Bruno experienced a sense of security he never felt during his time at Udinese.
Back at Udinese, the team's defensive frailties were a constant concern. Whether in Serie A or European competitions, Udinese was never known for its defensive prowess, forcing Bruno to drop back frequently to help defend.
But at Manchester United, Mourinho's instructions to him were simple: wait in the attacking third and seize counter-attacking opportunities.
While Bruno had some defensive responsibilities, Mourinho's primary demand was for him to focus on attacking. Tasks like pressing the opposition, intercepting in the midfield, and delivering the ball to Bruno's feet were delegated to other United players.
Bruno, always adept at understanding and executing his coach's intentions, followed this strategy to perfection in this match as well.
...
After repeated sprints, Bruno was already drenched in sweat, but he felt himself drawing closer and closer to Liverpool's penalty area. Henderson's yellow card earlier was proof of this progress.
While Liverpool's attack surged, Bruno sensed their defensive line pushing forward as well.
What was his specialty?
Precise passing!
Sharp dribbling!
And the situation he loved most? An opponent's high defensive line, leaving vast spaces behind it.
Whether threading a pass to a teammate or charging forward himself, such open territory was a playground ripe for exploitation.
Salah attempted a backheel trick to bypass N'Golo Kanté, only to be brought down.
The referee issued a yellow card to Kanté, awarding Liverpool another free kick in the attacking third.
Salah stepped up to take it himself. Bruno, meanwhile, went back to help set up the wall.
Once again, he stood face-to-face with Salah, feeling the fiery determination burning in the Egyptian's gaze.
Salah looked electrified, his entire demeanor screaming with competitive fervor as if to say:
"Today, here, there can only be one victor—and it will be me!"
Ironically, this was the exact same thought Bruno wanted to say back to him.
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