Football: The strongest post-2000s Chapter 119

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Die-hard fans of Manchester United and Liverpool are different from ordinary fans. They are influenced by the grievances and entanglements between the two teams over the past few decades. This influence has nothing to do with the historical development of the two cities; it is purely football-related animosity.

In 2002, Sir Alex Ferguson, a legendary Manchester United coach, once said something that invigorated Manchester United fans during an interview with The Guardian: “My greatest achievement in life is kicking Liverpool off their f***ing perch! You can print that.”

This shows that the animosity between the two teams in football is indeed significant.

In the 1980s, when Ferguson first took office, it was the era of Liverpool in English football and even across Europe. Liverpool, under the painstaking efforts of four famous managers – Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, and Kenny Dalglish – incredibly won 16 English top-flight league titles.

Manchester United, on the other hand, only had seven.

At that time, Liverpool, with a full-fledged red dynasty, firmly trampled Manchester United underfoot.

In the Champions League, which symbolizes the pinnacle of European football, Liverpool had four titles, while Manchester United only had one.

It was against this backdrop that Ferguson began a legendary journey to turn the tide.

In the following three seasons, Liverpool won two First Division titles, bringing their total top-flight league titles to an astonishing 18.

The main source of animosity between modern Manchester United and Liverpool fans stems from the 25th round of the Premier League in the 1993- 1994 season, when the new king, Manchester United, challenged Liverpool at Anfield. Manchester United led by three goals in the first half, but Liverpool scored three goals in the second half to defend their home honor.

In that match, Liverpool fans displayed a banner at Anfield: “Goodbye Cantona, Manchester United, come back when you have 18 titles.”

This banner completely ripped open the wounds of Manchester United fans. In the more than ten years that followed, Ferguson’s Manchester United fought hard, winning one championship after another, while Liverpool plummeted to the bottom.

In the 2006- 2007, 2007- 2008, and 2008- 2009 seasons, Manchester United won three consecutive Premier League titles, equaling Liverpool’s number of top-flight league titles, bringing tears of triumph to countless Manchester United fans.

Thirteen years after the banner displayed by Liverpool fans at Anfield, Manchester United fans waved a huge, dazzling banner above Anfield for ninety minutes: “You told us to come back when we had 18 league titles, we are back now.”

In the post-Ferguson era, Manchester United won two more league titles.

Manchester United’s top-flight league titles surpassed Liverpool’s with a score of 20:18, while Liverpool has not won a top-flight league title since the Premier League was established. This means that the championship ratio between Manchester United and Liverpool in the Premier League era is 13:0.

Nowadays, Liverpool fans no longer mention league titles in front of Manchester United fans, but they still have their pride.

Five Champions League titles!

The pride left for Liverpool fans is also five Champions League titles.

Li Qing, as a member of the Kirkby Academy, knows the animosity between the two teams, so he can only say four words – “time and fate.”

Manchester United during the Ferguson era was incredibly glorious: 1 Premier League title, 4 League Cup titles, 5 FA Cup titles, 10 Community Shields, 2 Champions League titles, 1 Club World Cup title, 1 European Cup Winners’ Cup, and 1 UEFA Super Cup.

Now Manchester United has clearly fallen into a slump, while… Liverpool will return to its peak!

Liverpool and local Manchester media engaged in a war of words, and soon fans from both sides enthusiastically joined in. As the match approached, former players from both teams also began to chime in.

In the heated “Red Derby,” playing away against Manchester United, Li Qing was determined to be in the starting lineup!

Liverpool legend John Barnes, in an interview with Sky Sports, said: “José Mourinho and Manchester United will definitely face a very difficult choice against a rejuvenated Liverpool. Will they choose to attack or defend at home? I think… Manchester United will probably park the bus at Old Trafford.”

Manchester United legend Gary Neville joined the fray, seemingly responding on Instagram: “Some guys just talk nonsense. What have you brought to Liverpool in the Premier League era? Premier League titles? Champions League titles? FA Cup titles? No! You have nothing!”

Before John Barnes could speak, Liverpool legend Carragher responded on Instagram: “The guy who embarrassed himself in Spain! Are you even worthy of discussing Liverpool? Get lost! The Red Derby will definitely end with a Liverpool victory!”

At the end, he even deliberately tagged Li Qing’s Instagram account.

Clearly, Carragher’s confidence came from Li Qing.

Bored in the evening, Li Qing had just opened Instagram when he saw someone he followed tag him. He clicked in and immediately rolled his eyes. This… legend Carragher wanted to drag him into the fray!

These past two days, besides the enjoyable war of words between the media in Manchester and Liverpool, fans and former players also had fun. Unexpectedly, he was also ‘forced’ to participate.

Carragher tagged Li Qing. As a genius from the Red Army Liverpool Academy, he naturally had to make a statement to stabilize morale.

“First, set a small achievable goal, like scoring two goals against them?”

Li Qing’s reposted comment instantly won the support of Liverpool fans. A fan on Dongqiudi who screenshotted Li Qing’s Instagram account praised: “What a f***ing person! This meme is used so well! But… I think the Manchester United fans who understand will start spraying!”

As expected, the die-hard Manchester United fans on Dongqiudi started their furious spraying.

Fortunately, Li Qing hadn’t logged into Dongqiudi for a while, otherwise he would have been depressed.

In the blink of an eye, there were only two days left until Manchester United hosted Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Li Qing continued to perform excellently in training, causing the opposing players in the scrimmage to complain bitterly.

Assistant coach Buvac watched and leaned over to Klopp: “Jürgen, do you think we should put Li in the starting lineup?”

“Starting lineup?”

Klopp looked up at the field, seeing Li Qing dribble past Emre Can, Lucas, and Arnold on the right wing, then cross to the middle to assist Mané for a goal. His form was incredibly fierce. He nodded lightly: “Yes.”

Buvac looked at Klopp in surprise. He had only said it casually, but he hadn’t expected him to agree…

In fact, Klopp had given it careful thought. Li Qing had been performing amazingly since his debut. For a major event like the Red Derby, the team naturally had to give its all, and Li Qing… was now an indispensable part of Liverpool’s attack.

Perhaps Li Qing could unleash his maximum power as a substitute, but starting would bring the most pressure to Mourinho and Manchester United. Even if he couldn’t score, couldn’t he still create tactical pressure?

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