In Manchester United's brightly lit locker room, the players gathered in a tight circle, listening intently to their manager.
"Earlier this week, the outside media claimed that Liverpool would conserve their strength today for the second leg of the Champions League," Mourinho scoffed, pacing the room. "That's because they don't understand Liverpool, and they certainly don't understand Jurgen Klopp!"
"There's no need to elaborate on the historic rivalry between our two clubs. Now, at this critical stage of the Premier League, the outcome of this match will have a far greater impact on the title race than you might imagine."
"Let me ask you one simple question: If you were a Liverpool player, would you rather see Manchester United or Manchester City win the League Title?" Mourinho stopped and looked intensely into the eyes of his players.
"Boss, is that even a question?" Ling said with a knowing smile. "Of course, Manchester City!"
"Exactly. Just put yourselves in their shoes," Mourinho nodded. "For us, seeing Liverpool lift the Premier League trophy for the first time would be more unbearable than swallowing a fly."
After all, the deep-seated animosity between Manchester United and Liverpool wasn't merely about regional pride or competing for football honors.
It had become almost instinctual for the people of both cities, woven deeply into the fabric of their daily lives.
In Liverpool, opposing Manchester United was simply the right thing to do.
Similarly, in Manchester, opposing Liverpool was equally unquestionable.
"So!" Mourinho pointed sharply to the Manchester United crest woven into the locker room floor.
"Liverpool will be absolutely relentless in this match. They will want to destroy our title hopes. We must cast aside any complacency and approach today's game with the utmost seriousness and aggression."
"Don't worry, Boss!" Ling glanced down at the badge on his chest, his tone brimming with absolute confidence.
For the North West Derby, no motivational speech from the manager was even strictly necessary.
The moment you stepped out of the tunnel onto the pitch, hearing the fans' frenzied roars, your emotions would naturally peak, and you'd find yourself fighting with every ounce of your being.
"Guys, let's turn Old Trafford into a Theatre of Nightmares for Liverpool today!" Ling raised a fist into the center of the circle.
Back at the turn of the century, the then-unheralded Danny Murphy had seemingly single-handedly conquered Old Trafford three times for Liverpool.
During that painful period, Manchester United had reached a point where even the mere mention of Murphy's name struck frustration into their hearts.
Ling believed he could replicate Danny Murphy's feat in reverse, making Liverpool fans dread his name in the exact same way!
At that moment, his fighting spirit soared like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
"CRUSH LIVERPOOL!" "LET'S GO!!!"
The Manchester United players roared in unison, their voices echoing through the concrete walls of the room.
As Ling pushed open the heavy wooden locker room door to lead his team out, the Liverpool players lining up in the tunnel, as if on cue, fixed their gazes firmly on him.
With two defeats last season and one earlier this season, Liverpool had already suffered three consecutive painful losses to Manchester United under Ling's influence.
If this continued today, could they possibly set a humiliating new record—four straight defeats?
The mere thought of this possibility filled the Liverpool players with burning shame, especially their captain, Jordan Henderson.
When Steven Gerrard had passed the captain's armband to him, Henderson had failed to immediately lead Liverpool to greater heights.
Whether it was the coveted Premier League Title or the Big Ears Cup symbolizing the pinnacle of European football, they had fallen short.
Thus, Henderson was filled with determination.
He refused to witness a new losing streak being set, and he was determined to fight with everything he had in this match!
Virgil van Dijk gave Ling a deep, penetrating look from across the tunnel.
His reasons differed slightly from Henderson's.
From his days at Southampton last season to Liverpool this season, even though his teammates had grown significantly stronger, they still couldn't truly contain Jeremy Ling.
For a defender whose ultimate personal goal was the Ballon d'Or, this was the greatest humiliation. But he would not be disheartened.
Back when he was washing dishes at a restaurant in the Netherlands, the head chef at the time had told him: "I think you're better off washing dishes than playing football. At least washing dishes earns you some pocket money."
What happened afterward is known to everyone—he fought his way up to become the most expensive defender in the world.
"Joël, keep an eye on Manchester United's number 7 today. You handle the physical aerial defense, and I'll cover the ground behind you!" Van Dijk said sternly to his center-back partner, Joël Matip.
The tactical reason Klopp started Matip today over Dejan Lovren or Joe Gomez was precisely because of the Cameroonian's aerial ability.
His 194cm height gave him a clear physical advantage.
With Matip jumping, even Jeremy Ling, with his exceptional aerial prowess, could be managed.
"I'll be watching him at all times, Virg," Matip nodded, not underestimating the situation.
After all, Ling's skill was evident to all—he had torn through so many top defenders across Europe, and Matip was no fool.
Under the watchful eyes of dozens of rival players in the tunnel, Ling felt an intense heavy pressure.
'I wonder when I became public enemy number one in football. I thought I was pretty good at handling people!' Ling grumbled to himself with a smirk.
Behind him, Marcus Rashford was a bit disappointed.
Why wasn't Trent Alexander-Arnold starting for Liverpool? James Milner was at right-back instead.
Rashford had been eagerly looking forward to testing whether the "Highway 66" (Trent's defensive side) was as wide open as the rumors said!
...
As the stirring Premier League anthem played, the players from both teams walked out of the tunnel.
Old Trafford erupted in a thunderous, deafening roar, with massive TIFOs on all four stands swaying to the incredible sound waves.
Ling exchanged pennants with Henderson, then correctly guessed the coin toss and, as planned, aggressively chose the kickoff.
Liverpool would undoubtedly press high from the start, but Manchester United could also try to seize the immediate initiative.
The giant screens at the top of the stadium displayed the starting lineups and formations of both teams.
Martin Tyler: "This is the Sky Sports live broadcast, bringing you Matchday 30 of the Premier League season! The biggest fixture in English football: Manchester United versus Liverpool, live from Old Trafford!"
Gary Neville: "We all know the historic importance of this match, Martin. But beyond its massive impact on the title race today, I just have to say it..."
Martin Tyler: "Go on, Gary."
Gary Neville: "I can't stand Liverpool! I can't stand the people of Liverpool, I can't stand anything about Liverpool!!!"
Although Neville was now an official, supposedly neutral commentator for Sky Sports, that didn't mean he couldn't have his own passionate stance.
On the contrary, the fans loved the authentic rivalry.
In the studio, Jamie Carragher, not to be outdone, shouted into his mic.
"You'll Never Walk Alone, Liverpool! We're always here to take three points at Old Trafford!"
"I remember you're the first player in Premier League history to score two own goals in a single match, right, Jamie?" Neville sneered disdainfully on the broadcast. "Oh, and wasn't it against United in the last North West Derby of the 1990s?"
"Also, why are you wearing long sleeves in the studio in such hot weather? Is it to cover up that Everton crest tattooed on your arm?" Neville added another brutal jab.
Carragher was completely dumbfounded on air.
Was this how you exposed someone's past on national television?
He could only mumble a few vague, defensive responses.
But in the exchange with Neville, the former Liverpool defender had already lost the upper hand.
Soon, as both teams took their positions, the referee blew the whistle!
Beeeeep!!!!!
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