From Reject to Legend

Anfield was already alive even an hour before kick-off. The streets outside the stadium buzzed with noise—chants, drums, vendors hawking scarves and pies, the steady murmur of tension rising with every passing minute.

Red smoke curled through the air as home supporters lined the entrance, singing *You'll Never Walk Alone* even during warm-ups. Every gate, every stairwell, every seat was filled with expectation.

Matchday two of Premier league. Manchester City, fresh off a thunderous 3–1 win over United, had made the trip north to face Liverpool—Klopp's newly updated side, still finding rhythm but hungry to make a statement.

Around the league, Chelsea had taken care of Burnley, Arsenal scraped past Palace, Spurs edged West Ham—but none of that mattered here. This was Anfield. This was war.

The City team bus rolled slowly through the forecourt, its tinted windows no shield against the venom hurled from the crowd. Boos erupted as soon as it came into view, a rising wall of hostility. Fans pounded on the side of the vehicle, red scarves waving like battle flags.

Inside, the players sat in silence. Kompany stared ahead, unblinking. Hazard kept his earbuds in. Adriano looked out the window, calm but alert, taking it all in—the noise, the rage, the chaos. This was not just another match. This was a test.

As the bus doors opened, jeers poured down from the stands. Security kept the path clear, but the psychological pressure was thick. Aguero smirked at the abuse and muttered, "Same every year."

"Means we matter," Zabaleta said dryly as he stepped off.

From the far end, a small section of City fans sang *Blue Moon*, barely audible over the roar of the home crowd. Adriano turned toward the sound, gave a quick wave. They were few—but loud. He'd play for them today.

***

Inside Anfield's VIP box, Khaldoon Al Mubarak stood waiting as Rosa and Julio entered, guided by a City official. Rosa immediately noticed the chill and pulled her coat tighter.

"First time at Anfield?" Khaldoon asked, offering his hand with a warm smile.

"First time in England for a match," Julio replied. "This air—it bites."

"You get used to it," Al Mubarak chuckled. "Hopefully Adriano heats it up out there."

Rosa fussed with her son's jersey, folded neatly over her arm. "It's strange," she admitted, "seeing him on a pitch like this, with thousands watching. Just yesterday he was kicking balls off the garage."

Al Mubarak smiled. "Not many players change a team in two weeks. But he's special. If he delivers today, we'll all remember this afternoon."

Rosa beamed. Julio leaned forward in his seat, scanning the field. "Just hope they protect him. Liverpool fans aren't known for hospitality."

***

In the tunnel, the players lined up. Boots tapped nervously on the concrete floor. The muffled roar of Anfield filtered through the walls, rising and falling like waves. It was hot in the narrow space, thick with tension.

Pellegrini stood in front of his eleven, calm but firm. His voice didn't rise, but every word cut through.

"Liverpool will press high. They'll force us wide, try to box us in. Don't give them what they want."

He turned to the midfield.

"Adriano—you start deep. Drag Gerrard forward. When he bites, that's your cue. Break behind him and force Škrtel or Sakho to step. That's where we strike."

Adriano gave a small nod, focus written across his face.

"De Bruyne," Pellegrini continued, "drift left. Pull Lallana with you. Open the lane for Hazard or Silva to cut in."

Silva adjusted his captain's band and looked up. "If they crowd the center?"

"Drop into the eight. Play between the lines. Make them guess."

The fullbacks were next.

"Zaba, Kolarov—no wide bombs today. Underlap instead. Let them think we're stretching, then cut inside. Compact. Disciplined. Communicate."

Finally, he looked toward the back line.

"Kompany. Hummels. Sakho's long, Škrtel's slow. Sturridge isn't physically stronger than you. Take advantage. No ball watching. Control the space behind."

The players listened. No one spoke. They knew Anfield demanded respect—but they hadn't come to kneel. They'd come to take points.

In the background, the anthem had started.

*When you walk through a storm...*

The tunnel shook with the sound of the cheers. City players glanced at each other, adrenaline rising. Aguero adjusted his shin guards. Hazard cracked his knuckles. Adriano closed his eyes for a brief second.

Time to walk out into the storm.

**ANFIELD **

The camera panned across Anfield as *You'll Never Walk Alone* reached its crescendo, tens of thousands of voices rising into the overcast sky. Flags waved across the gallery, a wall of red motion and noise. The traveling City fans in their small corner clapped defiantly, drowned out but unshaken.

On the commentary platform, Martin Tyler, and Gary Neville adjusted their headsets as the teams lined up in the tunnel.

Martin Tyler: "Good afternoon from Anfield, we haave a nice weather for some Premier League action. . This is Martin Tyler, and today I have Garry Neville with me today on commentary. Matchday two of the Premier League season, and what a fixture we have—Liverpool versus Manchester City. Two teams with new faces, new coaches, new systems, and high expectations."

Gary Neville: "You can feel the tension. City stunned United last week, but this is different. Anfield doesn't let you breathe. Klopp's Liverpool might not be settled yet, but they'll press, they'll harass, they'll try to overwhelm that City midfield."

Tyler: "Let's look at the lineups. City stick to the 4-2-3-1 Pellegrini's installed. Kompany and Hummels are the centre-back pairing—experienced, strong, but not the quickest. Zabaleta and Kolarov are the fullbacks. In midfield, De Bruyne and Silva sit deeper, with Adriano in the free central role just behind Sergio Aguero. Hazard and Navas on flanks today."

Neville: "And that's the battle right there—Adriano versus Gerrard in midfield. If the youngster can pull Liverpool's shape apart, City will find chances. But if Gerrard and Henderson control the tempo, it's going to be a long afternoon."

Tyler: "Liverpool go with a 4-3-3. Mignolet in goal, Johnson and Moreno as fullbacks, Sakho and Martin Škrtel in the middle. Gerrard anchors midfield with Henderson and Lallana. Up top, it's Raheem Sterling and Coutinho on the wings with Sturridge leading the line."

Neville: "Keep an eye on Sterling versus Kolarov. That's pace against power. And Sturridge—if he finds pockets between Hummels and Kompany, Liverpool can hurt City."

Tyler:"And then there's the new superstar—Adriano Riveiro. Two goals and an assist on debut. This is his real test to continue his incredible form."

***

The teams emerged from the tunnel to a deafening roar. Players stepped into formation for the formalities. Captains shook hands—Kompany and Gerrard exchanging nods of mutual respect. The referee, Michael Oliver, ran through final checks with his assistants. Club anthems ended. The noise didn't.

Adriano stood behind Aguero, eyes scanning the Liverpool shape. Gerrard pointed and shouted instructions. Sterling bounced on his toes. De Bruyne fixed his socks and whispered something to Hazard.

Julio and Rosa sat in the box, clutching their scarves. Rosa silently mouthed a prayer. Al Mubarak leaned forward in his seat.

Tyler: "The handshakes are done. The teams are in position. City in sky blue. Liverpool in their traditional red. The Kop in full voice. Mignolet and Aguero exchange brief glances. Everyone ready."

Neville: "Now we find out what City are really made of."

Michael Oliver looked at his watch.

The whistle blew.

The ball started rolling, it was game time now.

***

Martin Tyler:"And we're underway at Anfield! Liverpool in their iconic red, City in sky blue. Anfield a cauldron of noise tonight—every pass, every touch, will be under scrutiny."

Gary Neville:"It's fast already, Martin. City will want to impose control early, but Liverpool—Klopp's got them primed to pounce on every mistake."

City looked to settle into their rhythm, circulating the ball between Kompany, Hummels, and Casemiro. But Hummels misjudged a simple pass toward midfield—too soft, too central.

In the 2nd minute, Firmino intercepted and drove forward. The fans roared, sensing the break. After a One-on-one with Kompany, Coutinho shaped to shoot from the top of the box, but Kompany lunged in, clean and hard, poking the ball away with perfect timing.

Martin Tyler:"That could've been a nightmare for City… but Kompany bails them out with a captain's challenge."

Gary Neville:"He read it well, but that was risky. Klopp will be telling Coutinho—keep pressing. City's not settled."

The crowd groaned, frustrated by the missed chance but energized by the intensity.

Liverpool continued to harass the midfield. Henderson and Lalana closed down Silva quickly, forcing a turnover. Lallana passed it into Coutinho, who teed up Sterling on the left.

In the 4th Minute, Sterling feinted right, then cut inside past Zabaleta. With space at the edge of the area, he curled a shot low toward the near post.

Hart was alert— he dived at full stretch, palming it wide for a corner.

Martin Tyler:"Sterling with a venomous effort—and Joe Hart to the rescue!"

Gary Neville:"That's why Hart's still one of the best in one-on-one situations. But Liverpool are breaking lines too easily here."

The gallery erupted into cheers. Klopp applauded the sequence, his fist pumping with approval.

Adriano, seeing City struggle to find rhythm, dropped deep into midfield. He picked up possession off De Bruyne and dribbled past Gerrard, drawing in Henderson before slipping a quick pass to De Bruyne.

City shifted the ball wide to Navas, who sent in a deep cross—but Mignolet claimed comfortably.

Gary Neville:"That's smart from Adriano. When the middle's congested, you create overloads from deeper zones."

City began to settle down. In the 10th minute, A patient sequence down the right saw De Bruyne cut inside onto his left and whip in an arcing ball.

Aguero met it with a glancing header near the penalty spot—just inches wide of the far post.

Martin Tyler:"Lovely ball in—Aguero made the run, but just couldn't steer it on target."

Gary Neville:"That's what De Bruyne gives you. Even under pressure, he puts it into danger areas. It's coming for City."

Small pockets of City fans behind the goal clapped in appreciation. Pellegrini calmly nodded on the sidelines.

In the 14th minute, Silva picked up a loose clearance and quickly threaded a ball behind Sakho. Adriano ghosted in and cut it back—but the ball ricocheted off Škrtel's leg and ended up in the net.

The linesman's flag went up. Offside—Škrtel had strayed just behind Adriano when the pass was made.

Martin Tyler:"The Etihad contingent thought they'd scored, but the flag is up!"

Gary Neville:"Unlucky. Adriano timed it almost perfectly—Škrtel just wasn't alert enough. Right call, though."

The stadium deflated for a moment before Liverpool fans burst into applause for the linesman.

Liverpool's press intensified. Gerrard thundered into De Bruyne near the touchline. Seconds later, Lallana lunged in on Silva, catching him slightly late on the ankle.

Silva winced, but stood up. The referee gave Lallana a firm warning—no card.

Gary Neville:"That's classic Liverpool under Klopp—controlled chaos in midfield. They want to rattle City."

The home crowd responded with whistles and chants, applauding the aggression. Pellegrini gestured for calm and focus.

In the 18th minute, City earned a corner after Hazard's low drive was blocked behind by Skrtel. De Bruyne lined it up from the right, raising a hand before delivering a high, looping ball.

Hummels climbed over Sakho and powered a header toward goal—but it found the side net shaking.

Martin Tyler:"Best chance from a set-piece so far. Hummels headed that well, just slightly off.

Gary Neville:"City are starting to impose themselves now. De Bruyne's deliveries are a real weapon."

A few City substitutes clapped from the bench. In the stands, a small group of away fans broke into "Blue Moon Galacticos", briefly rising above the Red's roar.

Two contrasting styles clashing at pace. Liverpool hunted in packs, while City tried to slow things down and pull them apart with width and movement. Adriano was increasingly acting as a link, playing smart one-twos and dictating tempo when he could.

The match felt like it was teetering on the brink of goal—one mistake, one spark, and the first goal would come.

Martin Tyler:"No goals yet, but this is building into a classic. Two teams, two identities—and 50,000 fans on edge."

In the 20th minute, The game was finely balanced when a poor touch from Henderson turned into danger. Adriano, hovering in midfield, pounced. He skipped past Gerrard with a burst of pace—too quick for the veteran to react—and carried the ball forward with purpose.

Garry Neville:"Gerrard's been caught flat-footed—Adriano's running at the heart of Liverpool now."

As Lallana and Moreno stepped up to close him down, Adriano threaded a precise pass between them—clean, timed to perfection.

Aguero latched onto it, using his body to shield from Sakho. Without breaking stride, he took one touch inside and curled a right-footed strike past Mignolet, high into the far corner.

Gooooaaalllll! 1-0 for Manchester City! Aguero heads it home!

Martin Tyler (rising):"Agueroooo… yes! A brilliant finish! Manchester City lead at Anfield—1–0!"

Gary Neville:"Clinical. Adriano made that happen with his timing and vision. And Aguero with a top class finish. City's plan working like a charm."

The away fans erupted in celebration. Aguero sprinted to the sideline, pulled a miniature sky-blue flag from his sock, and planted it just outside the technical area. Then he turned to the Kop, finger to lips, silencing the jeers with a smirk.

Pellegrini clapped once and gave a subtle fist pump, while Klopp barked orders at his midfield, visibly frustrated by the lack of pressure in the buildup.

Liverpool almost hit back quickly. In the 24th minute, Coutinho picked up the ball near the left edge of the box, danced past Casemiro with a feint and shift, and opened his body for the shot.

His attempt bent low to the far post—but Kompany lunged just enough to force it wide.

Martin Tyler:"That was close—Coutinho just a yard off. Liverpool showing real urgency now."

Garry Neville:"Good defending from Kompany. He didn't dive in, just delayed and narrowed the angle."

The Reds roared in encouragement, urging their team forward.

Henderson and Moreno linked up neatly on the left. Moreno whipped a low ball into the box. Sturridge rose, flicked a clever header across goal—Sakho, still forward from a previous corner, nodded it down to Sterling.

Sterling slotted it home—but the flag was up. Just offside.

Garry Neville:"So tight. That's a let-off for City. Great awareness from Mignolet to get involved, but Sterling strayed a fraction early. Two off-side goals already, this match is shaping up to be an exciting one."

Groans echoed across Anfield, while Pellegrini shouted reminders for his backline to stay organized.

City nearly extended their lead in the 31st minute. Hazard, isolated against Moreno, danced past him with a step-over and slipped into the box. As he cut inside, Moreno's trailing arm clipped his ankle—Hazard stumbled, but stayed on his feet and shot low before falling down.

Mignolet smothered it at the near post.

City players immediately appealed for a penalty. The referee waved it away.

Martin Tyler:"Hazard goes down—but no whistle. The ref says play on!"

Garry Neville:"I've seen those given. There was contact. Hazard might've stayed up too long for the ref to be convinced."

The away bench leapt up in protest. Pellegrini turned away in disbelief. The City fans chanted "VAR!" mockingly—though none existed yet in the league.

Liverpool worked the ball into midfield again. Lallana surged past Zabaleta, who brought him down with a sliding challenge from behind.

A Yellow card for Zabaleta. Referee awarded a Free-kick from 28 yards out, dead center.

Garry Neville:"That's a free-kick in Coutinho's territory. Zabaleta's late there—right call."

Coutinho placed the ball carefully. He stepped back, eyes fixed on the wall.

He curled it low and hard around the second man in the wall—sneaking through a tiny gap—but Hart was alert.

Diving full stretch to his left, Hart got a fingertip to it and pushed it around the post.

Martin Tyler:"Brilliant effort… and an even better save! Joe Hart keeps City ahead!"

From the resulting corner, Gerrard swung it in high. Skrtel rose above Hummels and sent a looping header toward the back post. It was dipping in—but Kompany, stationed on the line, leapt and headed it clear.

Garry Neville:"Vital clearance from Kompany again. That was heading in. City surviving this Liverpool spell."

The Kop applauded the effort, but murmurs of frustration spread as another big chance went begging.

Liverpool continued to push as City's shape began to bend under pressure. In the 36th minute, Sterling collected the ball near the right edge of the penalty area, darting past Kolarov. The Serbian left-back stuck out a lazy leg—contact was light, but enough for a foul. Free-kick was awarded, 25 yards out, central.

Garry Neville:"Zabaleta's already on a yellow—Kolarov had to help, but he's clumsy there."

Coutinho stood over it again, adjusting the ball carefully. The wall was set. Hart adjusted his position, hands low, eyes locked.

Martin Tyler (rising):"Coutinho... over the wall... and in! Brilliant free kick!"

The ball flew up and dipped sharply, kissing the underside of the crossbar before nestling in the back of the net.

Gooooaaalllll!! 1-1 for Liverpool! Coutinho makes his mark!

Martin Tyler (exclaims):"GOAL! Philippe Coutinho with a stunning free-kick! And Anfield explodes—1–1!"

The stadium erupted in thunderous applause and singing. Red scarves waved, fans leapt to their feet, fists pumping. Coutinho jogged to the corner flag, kissing the badge, then pointed both fingers to the sky in a quiet moment before being surrounded by teammates.

On the touchline, Klopp clapped with both hands and grinned wide. Pellegrini, stone-faced, turned to his bench and muttered instructions.

City wasted no time trying to restore their lead. Adriano, now moving higher up, received the ball near the center circle. He turned quickly and released Jesus Navas on the right flank.

Navas drove inside, sidestepped Moreno, and fired a low shot from just outside the box. It was on target—but Sakho read it well, getting his body in the way to block.

Garry Neville:"City aren't panicking. Navas had time there, but Sakho does his job. Liverpool can't lose their heads now."

As the pace of the match slowed momentarily, Pellegrini made a subtle change. Silva, having shaken off the earlier knock, dropped deeper beside . Adriano moved into the No. 10 role behind Aguero. De Bruyne pushed forward, often drifting centrally alongside Aguero, forming a fluid attacking triangle.

Martin Tyler:"David Silva deeper now. That gives Adriano more space in between the lines. Liverpool's midfield will need to adjust."

Garry Neville:"Exactly. With De Bruyne almost playing off Aguero now, they've got two forwards floating—difficult to track."

Liverpool attempted to play out from the back. Lallana misjudged a pass under pressure, and Hazard intercepted cleanly near halfway.

City broke instantly.

Hazard passed it to Silva. Silva took one touch forward and laid it off wide to De Bruyne, who was already in motion down the right.

De Bruyne shaped to shoot but instead fizzed a low cross into the crowded box. It was partially cleared by Sakho—but only as far as Adriano, 25 yards out. He calmly stepped over and passed Skirtel, then shifted right to make space.

Martin Tyler (tense):"Adriano... does he hit it—"

Adriano shifted his body, let the ball bounce once, then struck it with his right foot—an elegant chip with minimal backlift.

The ball soared over Mignolet—who had rushed out to claim the loose ball—and dropped perfectly under the bar.

Gooooaaaaalllll! Adriano makes it 2-1 for Mnachester City! What a goal!

Martin Tyler (shouting):"Oh my words, that is glorious! Adriano, the moat expensive footballer strikes! A moment of pure class! Manchester City back in front right before halftime!"

Garry Neville:"That's composure. That's sheer confidence. Mignolet committed too early—and Adriano just picked his spot like it was training. I have never seen a goal like this Martin!"

Adriano stood still for a second, arms open, letting the noise settle. Then he walked to the corner, hands on hips, eyes scanning the roaring away section. He pointed towards the City fans, took off his imaginary crown from the head, and tossed it to the crowd.

The away fans Burst into cheers 'The King Is Here!' as they jumped and danced in the gallery. He turned, pointed to De Bruyne and Silva in sequence, then sprinted back, grinning as they crowded him.

In the away end, the City fans bounced and sang. Some hugged, others high-fived strangers. In the VIP box, Julio leapt to his feet, applauding and cheering 'That's my boy!'. Rosa stood beside him, smiling warmly, clapping rhythmically.

Liverpool tried to mount a quick reply, but City attacked once more. Navas surged forward but was hauled down by Skrtel with a cynical tug just past the halfway line. The referee didn't hesitate this time—a yellow card for Skrtel.

Garry Neville:"Skrtel knew exactly what he was doing. Tactical foul—textbook. Liverpool can't let this slip before half-time."

Liverpool upped the urgency as the half ticked down. Henderson carried the ball forward and fed Sterling in the right channel. Sterling paused, then slipped a perfectly weighted pass into Sturridge, who peeled off Hummels.

Sturridge looked set to shoot—but Kompany read it early, flying in with a perfectly timed sliding block that deflected the ball wide.

Alan Smith:"Brilliant defending. Kompany waited just long enough to commit—Sturridge thought he had the angle."

Anfield groaned in unison, knowing how close that was.

City failed to fully clear the resulting throw-in. The ball dropped to Coutinho just outside the box. One quick touch onto his right foot—then the trademark curler.

Martin Tyler:"Coutinho! Looking for the top corner again—"

Joe Hart stretched, fingertips brushing the ball and just managing to flick it onto the roof of the net.

Alan Smith:"It' was definitely going in without the touch—top keeping from Hart. You've got to be sharp when Coutinho shapes like that."

City reorganized quickly for the corner, slowing Liverpool's rhythm.

As City looked to settle the tempo with one last sequence before the whistle, De Bruyne attempted to drive through midfield on the counter. Henderson cut across him with a hard challenge just inside Liverpool's half.

The referee immediately reached for a yellow card.

Martin Tyler:"A clear booking—City had space to run. Henderson took one for the team there."

City took their time over the free-kick. Adriano and De Bruyne stood over it, delaying. The referee signaled to hurry—but the seconds ticked down.

The Anfield crowd booed the delay, but Pellegrini's men had done the job: slow the pace, reach the break.

The referee's whistle pierced the evening air just as the ball trickled harmlessly out of play near the Liverpool penalty area.

The first half was done. Players began to walk off—some with heads bowed in frustration, others still composed, mentally reviewing every move as they headed into the tunnel.

Martin Tyler (calm but energized):

"And that will be the final act of a pulsating first half at Anfield."

As replays cycled through on the broadcast—Aguero's opener, Coutinho's inch-perfect free-kick, and Adriano's sensational strike—Martin Tyler continued.

Martin Tyler:

"A breathless half of football, played at pace, filled with individual brilliance and tactical discipline. Three goals, each telling its own story. Aguero's opener—clinical and efficient—was born from a defensive lapse punished instantly. Liverpool's response was electric.

Coutinho with a moment of magic, bending it beyond Hart. And just as it looked like momentum had shifted, Adriano struck—technical brilliance, exceptional composure under pressure, and a reminder of why he's fast becoming City's new talisman."

Garry Neville:

"City approached that half smartly. They didn't come out to control the game through possession from the start—they let Liverpool carry the ball in non-threatening areas, trusted their back line, and waited for the right moments to spring.

It was measured, disciplined. Once the spaces opened up—Adriano, Silva, and De Bruyne exploited them. And Aguero... well, he's lethal if you give him even a second."

Martin Tyler:

"And what about Liverpool, Garry? We saw flashes of urgency. Sterling's runs, Henderson's energy, Coutinho's influence growing..."

Garry Neville:

"Yes, they're not out of this. Far from it. They've had decent moments, but too many of their attacking plays have been isolated. Sturridge looked cut off, and when he did get the ball, Kompany was on him quickly.

Gerrard and Henderson need to be braver in their positioning. They've been dropping a little too deep when Liverpool are in possession, which leaves Coutinho crowded when trying to link things in the final third."

A slow-motion replay showed Adriano's goal again—how he dribbled past Skrtel and took the ball with a single soft touch before lofting it perfectly over Mignolet.

Martin Tyler:

"That finish by Adriano—his first goal at Anfield—is the difference going into the second half. A mix of vision, calm, and supreme technique."

Garry Neville:

"And it wasn't just the finish. Look at how he positions himself between Liverpool's midfield and back line. He never rushes. He reads the next two steps before the ball arrives. That's the difference between good players and game-changers."

As the teams disappeared into the tunnel, viewers were shown heat maps and passing statistics. City's midfield triangle—Adriano, Silva, De Bruyne—was buzzing with connectivity, while Liverpool had been more direct but lacked precision in the final third.

Martin Tyler:

"At the break, it's Liverpool 1, Manchester City 2. But you sense this one's far from settled. Anfield's energy, Liverpool's fight, and the stakes of this match—it's all still to play for."

Garry Neville:

"If I'm Pellegrini, I'm telling my midfield to stay compact, keep rotating who presses and who holds. The wide areas are key—Hazard and Navas have space to exploit. Liverpool will need to push higher now, and that could leave gaps behind."

Martin Tyler:

"And Jurgen Klopp? He'll need a stronger link from midfield to attack. More bodies forward, more risk—but they'll need to manage City's counter. Because with De Bruyne and Adriano lurking, one lapse could be fatal."

The final image before the halftime break showed City's players in quiet conversation heading down the tunnel, while Liverpool's squad looked pensive, listening intently to coaches shouting instructions near the mouth of the tunnel.

Martin Tyler:

"Don't go anywhere. This one's got more twists to come. We'll be back shortly for what promises to be a massive second half at Anfield."

***

The whistle had blown, but the tension still lingered in the cool Anfield air. Players trudged off, jerseys clinging to their backs, boots caked with grass and sweat. Some walked in silence, others exchanged brief words.

Liverpool's shoulders were slightly slumped—frustrated but not defeated. City's men, by contrast, moved with a quiet confidence. The scoreline had tilted their way, and they knew the battle was far from over.

As they entered the tunnel, a few glances were exchanged—Sterling and Kompany locking eyes briefly, then looking away. Hummels and Hart exchanged a nod. Adriano wiped his brow, lips pressed into a focused line. Gerrard and Henderson clung to him the first half, making it difficult to show his usual flairs.

Inside City's dressing room, water bottles hissed open. Trainers applied ice towels. The players sank into the benches, catching their breath.

Pellegrini, composed as ever, stepped in front of the squad. He didn't shout—he didn't need to.

Pellegrini (measured, calm):"Excellent shape. First twenty, we absorbed. Then we punished. That's how you win here. But it's only half the job."(He looks toward Adriano and De Bruyne)"Keep switching the point of attack. Use your angles. Be sharp between the lines."

He turned to Silva .

Pellegrini:"Control their counters. Delay, don't dive in. We're ahead. That means they must open up. So… be unpredictable. Wide or central, switch instinctively. Don't chase—read."

He gave a final look to Aguero, resting against the physio table.

Pellegrini:"Kun. Keep dragging them. Your movement is killing Sakho and Skrtel. If you get tired, I'll sub you off later."

The room nodded in quiet agreement. A few players bumped fists—Adriano and Hazard spoke briefly, focused and composed. Salah and Kane was preparing for warm up. De Bruyne and Silva spoke hushedly and laughed at a shared joke. 

Across the tunnel, Liverpool's dressing room was tense. Klopp gestured with urgency over the whiteboard, drawing quick arrows.

Klopp:"City are pulling us apart. Kompany is controlling the line—we're not exploiting space. We need width. Raheem—go at Zabaleta. Don't wait. Philippe—cut in quicker, take shots earlier."

He looked directly at Gerrard.

Klopp:"Steve, we need your fire. They're dictating pace. Break their rhythm."

Gerrard nodded, jaw clenched.

Gerrard:"Let's wake this crowd up."

Sturridge rolled his neck, tapping his boots on the floor. Lallana downed a full bottle of water. In the background, the Anfield roar never died—it hummed through the concrete, impatient and unrelenting.

***

The break had done little to dull the intensity. Both teams emerged from their dressing rooms with fresh legs and clearer heads, the tunnel humming with focus and low murmurs.

From the stands, the noise swelled again. The Kop roared out "You'll Never Walk Alone", arms raised, voices unified. Across the pitch, the travelling City fans held their own—belting out "Blue Moon Galacticos!" followed by a rhythmic chant of "The King is here! The King is here!"

Adriano heard it. He didn't react outwardly, but a small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Adriano (quietly to Silva):"Second half, I'm going for more goals. You hold the line, maestro."

Silva gave a subtle nod, stretching his calves against the tunnel wall.

Silva (smirking):"Go on then, King. We'll keep the place tidy while you go hunting."

Hazard, leaning forward to lace up his boots, chimed in without looking up.

Hazard:"Just don't forget who carried Lille on his back, eh?"

De Bruyne (deadpan):"You haven't even carried your scoring boots into this stadium yet, mate."

That got a few chuckles. Adriano raised his hands in mock surrender.

Adriano:"Alright, alright. One goal each then. But I'm not passing in the box."

Fernandinho (from behind them):"As long as you run back when we lose the ball, deal."

Aguero (grinning):"He won't. He'll be up there posing for the cameras."

Zabaleta (dry):"I just hope someone actually helps defend. My lungs are still in the first half."

Hart, pulling on his gloves:"Can we all agree to not give away any more free-kicks in Coutinho's range?"

The lightness in tone broke the tension. It wasn't arrogance—they knew the game still hung in the balance. But this was the calm before the next storm. Controlled. Focused.

They walked out onto the pitch shoulder to shoulder, the lights hitting their faces again as they stepped into the cauldron. Liverpool's players were already out, lined up and bouncing on their toes, fired up by the Kop's anthem.

Adriano jogged across the pitch, glancing once at the scoreboard: Machester City 2-1 Liverpool.Still work to be done.

The referee blew his whistle. The second half of the storm officialy began.

*** First half done, and it's still not over. 

Next up: Anfield is Bleeding Blue!

Keep the votes coming! I'm already working on the bonus chapter, let's see if you guys can break the power stone goals set for it! ***