The first half came to an end, and neither side managed to score again in the final few minutes.
The referee blew the whistle for halftime, and the players from both teams returned to their locker rooms to prepare for the second half.
"Judging from both teams' performances in the first half, Liverpool may be leading by one goal, but they haven't really had the upper hand in the match."
"Atlético's counterattack has been very sharp, and Fabinho clearly still needs time to adapt to Liverpool's system. Before that, he needs to focus on doing his own job well."
Naturally, the fans were all paying attention to the performances of the new signings. Although Fabinho had not fully satisfied them, they still approved of his attitude.
"Throughout the first half, Liverpool's tactical approach looked simpler and more efficient than last season."
"They used the midfield to create more one on one chances for the forwards, then had the midfielders push up and combine with the front line to find opportunities to score."
As a former midfielder, Scholes was naturally focused on Leo Lin, though he and Leo Lin were completely different types of midfielders.
"During the World Cup, and when he was playing matches for Spain, Lin had actually already begun showing a few different midfield roles."
"For example, he would look for chances out wide, in the attacking midfielder position, and in central midfield. He would also drop back to the defensive line to help organize the play from deep, then push forward again to create better attacks."
"And this season, in this match, Klopp has made another adjustment to Leo Lin's role."
"Lin has been frequently delivering diagonal 45 degree crosses from deeper positions on both flanks. That's something Liverpool didn't really use last season."
"But Lin's crossing level has improved, and that has surprised us. His crosses have a wide arc, a drifting trajectory, and very precise landing points."
During halftime, Leo Lin once again became the main topic of discussion in many commentary rooms, mainly because of the new skills he had shown.
In both locker rooms, the head coaches were also making their tactical arrangements.
"Looking at your performance across the first half, it deserves praise. I'm satisfied."
Klopp really wanted to repeat the phrase he had often used last season, but he decided to put it another way.
"That was the most refined first half I've ever seen you play. You executed the tactical plan very well, but it still lacked a little spark."
"Don't be too rigid. I want you to play according to my tactics, but I don't want you turning into robots."
"Lin did very well in the first half because aside from carrying out the tactical plan, he also showed more of his own qualities on the pitch, just like Van Dijk."
Van Dijk froze for a moment. He had not expected Klopp to praise his performance in his very first match for Liverpool.
"Fabinho, I want to say that your performance in the last ten minutes was excellent. You can rest for a while in the second half. Wijnaldum will come on."
Klopp made the substitution. Fabinho did still need time to settle in, so Wijnaldum came on from the bench.
Atlético also made a change on the other side. Argentine forward Ángel Correa came on for Koke, Griezmann shifted to left Midfielder, and Correa joined Diego Costa up front.
Simeone wanted to win the trophy, and so did Diego Costa and the rest of the Atlético players.
The second half resumed.
The Atlético players came out with fire in their chests, charging wildly at Liverpool's back line, and the physical battles on the pitch grew more frequent.
But the Liverpool players were not afraid of contact, nor did they avoid it. They faced it head on, just as they did in the Premier League.
Leo Lin was still trying the outside of the foot. In fact, he was becoming a little addicted to it.
The two outside of the foot passes near the end of the first half had felt to Leo Lin as though they had opened the door to a whole new world.
On the surface, it only seemed like a change in passing technique. In reality, using the outside of the foot allowed him to find even more passing lanes, making better use of his broad Vision and combining perfectly with the Laudrup skill.
Leo Lin once again felt the same premonition he had before a hidden combo skill activated. The Laudrup skill, Modrić's Outside-of-the-Foot Control, and Pirlo Passing were clearly showing signs of combining.
In the 62nd minute.
"The match has been rather dull for a while. Neither side has created a good chance, and the rhythm has been disrupted by too many fouls. Atlético need to find a way to equalize quickly. There really isn't much time left."
"In the middle, Saúl is still battling his national team friend Leo Lin."
"Leo Lin carries the ball, then uses the outside of his foot to switch play wide to the left. Beautiful pass!"
"What vision. That was even behind him to the left, but Leo Lin picked out the flank as accurately as if he had already checked it in advance."
The ball was moved to the left, where Robertson pushed up to receive it. The Atlético players all thought Robertson was going to attack with the ball.
But in the next second, Klopp's tactical setup appeared again. Robertson sent a long diagonal switch to the right, and Arnold controlled it cleanly.
Liverpool had successfully changed the direction of attack.
The long range switch was complete.
Atlético's defensive focus had been deceived again.
Leo Lin immediately burst forward, muscling Saúl aside. Griezmann also dropped back into midfield to help defend, sticking close to Wijnaldum.
Thomas stepped in from the front to intercept, denying Leo Lin space to receive the ball.
Arnold fired a powerful ball across with a hint of backspin, sending it to Leo Lin's feet.
Leo Lin took a step back, planted his left foot to steady himself, and with the tip of his right foot, gently hooked the ball that had been rolling sideways and flicked it behind him.
That clever Cruyff turn shook off Thomas behind him.
Thomas immediately reached out to foul him, but grabbing Leo Lin's arm left him with nothing except a slippery hand.
After breaking through Atlético's defensive line, Leo Lin looked up again. The Atlético defenders did not dare rush in, afraid he would break past them. Somehow, right at the top of the penalty arc, he had found space to shoot.
It was as if the goal had been placed directly in front of him. With no one marking him, Leo Lin swung his left leg. David Silva's left foot, Modrić's Outside-of-the-Foot Control, and Riise's thunderous shot all shone at once.
The three combined.
The hidden combo skill activated.
"Boom!"
An outside of the foot, out spinning thunderbolt.
The ball curved outward, flying toward the right side of the goal.
Oblak threw himself sideways with all his strength. He thought his palm would be able to touch the ball, but it skimmed past his fingertips, bending around him at an unbelievable angle. Then it began to spin back inward and smashed into the net.
Leo Lin's experiment had finally produced results. Modrić's Outside-of-the-Foot Control unleashed its power for the first time.
"Hahahahahaha!"
Scholes suddenly burst out laughing. He no longer knew how else to express what he was feeling.
"I told you. I told you he could already use the outside of his foot!"
"An outside of the foot curling goal!"
"And it's a world class strike too!"
"Brilliant!"
"Absolutely brilliant!"
Jon Champion was just as thrilled.
"Another genius goal!"
"He actually shot directly from the top of the penalty arc with the outside of his foot, and he scored!"
"What is genius, after all?"
"I just want to shout Leo Lin's name!"
"Leo Lin!"
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