Liverpool was the first to make a substitution, while Luton wasn't in a hurry. Gao Bo would wait until Adam was almost physically exhausted before replacing him!
Liverpool's substitution also caught Gao Bo's attention.
Gao Bo originally thought Riera would replace Mascherano or one of the center-backs, Carragher or Skrtel. But Gao Bo was wrong.
Riera replaced Riera. And the tall center forward Ngog was still warming up on the sidelines, and it was unknown when Benitez would bring him on.
Winger for winger...
Gao Bo was stunned for a moment when he saw this substitution, and then he chuckled.
This is Benitez's style. He wants to maintain the team's offensive and defensive balance until he dies.
Master Bei is still unwilling to take a gamble. Perhaps he believes that Liverpool's offensive ability is strong enough.
Adam was performing very hard on the field.
He was already feeling quite tired, but at this time, his excited mood was still supporting him to run on the field.
Bang!!!!!
Adam collided with Arbeloa again.
Both of them fell to the ground.
Benitez looked very angry on the sidelines: "This kid should have been sent off with a red card long ago!!"
It's just that the referee ignored Benitez's words. It's not that every foul is worth a yellow card, especially since Adam already has a yellow card. The referee would not give him a second yellow card for such an action—if he didn't want to become the focus of the media after the game.
Luton's players are using the referee's standards to seek benefits for themselves, which is understandable.
Adam lay on the ground where the foul occurred. He looked at the sky, and the Rainbow Bridge was above him.
With the lights shining down, Adam was sweating while breathing heavily.
"Adam is about to collapse!"
John came to Gao Bo's side.
Gao Bo nodded, and he beckoned Lewis Emanuel over.
The reason why he replaced Lewis was because Lewis was also an energetic midfielder with strong running ability, and he was also deeply involved in defense.
In midfield, Gao Bo wants to maintain the intensity of physical confrontation!
If Liverpool is now far ahead of Luton in terms of skills, then it is not necessarily the case in terms of physical fitness.
"Hold off Kuyt and Arbeloa's wing attacks, and don't let them have easy crossing opportunities on the wing!"
Gao Bo said in Lewis's ear.
Lewis nodded repeatedly. He knew what the coach wanted him to do now!
Defense!! Tireless back-and-forth defense!
Arbeloa was just about to kick the ball out when the referee blew his whistle, signaling Luton to complete the substitution first.
Adam simply lay on the ground and refused to get up.
Arbeloa stepped forward and wanted to forcibly pull him up, but as a result, he angered Vardy nearby. Vardy rushed up, butting Arbeloa's forehead, and the two began to trash talk each other.
Push me, push me and I'll fall to the ground...
Vardy was expecting Arbeloa to strike first, because he knew that the opponent was carrying a yellow card. Even if the referee gave each of them a yellow card for this matter, Luton would definitely gain—Arbeloa would likely be sent off, while Vardy would only receive a yellow card.
However, Arbeloa seemed calm. Although he was verbally abusive, he didn't make any physical moves.
In the end, the referee didn't pull out a yellow card for either of them, but he told Adam to get up quickly and complete the substitution.
Adam, who was carrying a yellow card, didn't dare to delay. He hurriedly got up and jogged towards the sidelines.
Luton fans in the stands cheered. Although Adam didn't score in this game, the young starter's performance was absolutely perfect.
Luton's first two goals were largely related to him!
He created the set pieces that led to the goals, and he also created the penalty in the penalty area with his breakthrough.
Adam slowly ran to the sidelines. After he and Lewis slapped each other, Luton completed the substitution.
"Well done! Kid!"
Gao Bo put his arm around Adam and patted him hard on the back.
After Adam was substituted, Gao Bo immediately switched the card.
[Game Card (Green): Defensive positioning increased by 15%, designated player "Hassan Ali" to use!]
[Game Card (Green): Header ability increased by 15%, designated player "Jeffrey" to use!]
These are two cards used to strengthen the defense!
At this time, the game on the field finally started again.
Reina came to serve the ball. Liverpool's players all pressed forward, and Reina directly kicked the ball to the frontcourt.
Jeffrey snatched the ball in front of Torres's head and headed it to the center circle. Mascherano, who was near the center circle, had just taken the ball when Lewis, who had just come on as a substitute, came up to defend.
Another collision, and the two fell to the ground.
Liverpool fans in the stands booed, while Luton fans cheered loudly.
Benitez was jumping on the sidelines, while Gao Bo had a calm expression on his face.
This is the result Luton wanted most, to make the game fragmented and intermittent, so that Liverpool could not organize a smooth attack.
It would be best if there were some conflicts on the field to completely muddy the waters.
Mascherano was very calm, but Skrtel was irritated. He came up and wanted to settle accounts with Lewis, but he was desperately pulled back by Liverpool's vice-captain Carragher.
"Time!! We need time!! Don't fall for their tricks!! Martin!!!!!"
The angry Skrtel was appeased, and a conflict that seemed to be coming was also eliminated.
Lewis shook his head regretfully. If Skrtel had come up, this conflict could have made at least a few minutes of game time pass.
Lewis patted his butt and got up from the ground. He looked at the big screen.
Fifty-nine minutes!
More than thirty minutes left!
Must hold on!!!
Lewis turned around and slowly moved back. Since the foul was in a position near the back of the center circle, Liverpool didn't plan to directly launch a long free kick attack. Mascherano kicked the ball out, and he passed the ball to full-back Aurelio's feet. Aurelio then passed the ball straight to find Riera, who had just come on as a substitute.
Riera was facing Kevin Keane's defense. He turned without taking the ball and directly passed Kevin.
However, Charlie Austin had already retreated behind Kevin. He directly went up to steal the ball and cleared it with a big kick, but the ball directly hit Riera's body and went out of bounds.
Luton's throw-in was opened, and Liverpool didn't give Luton a chance to take the ball. They quickly regained possession.
Riera protected the ball on the wing, and then passed the ball horizontally to the center.
Xabi Alonso had just received the ball when he was double-teamed by Drinkwater and Vardy.
The three were entangled together, and when the referee's whistle sounded, Xabi Alonso was almost pressed under Vardy and the others.
Such high-intensity physical confrontation in the midfield, tireless entanglement, and frequent fouls made it very difficult for Liverpool to organize their offense.
Especially after Adam was off the field, Lewis returned to the midfield to participate in the defense, and the two forwards in the frontcourt also returned to the midfield to start pressing Liverpool's ball-holding players.
This is a suffocating defensive network. From the midfield to the backcourt, every Luton player is involved in the defense.
Faced with the dense crowd in the thirty-meter area in front of Luton's goal, Liverpool's offense did not come out, and the field seemed to have become a wrestling arena. Players on both sides frequently fell to the ground, and the game process was intermittent.
Benitez looked very anxious on the sidelines. He shouted loudly, telling Liverpool's players not to get entangled with Luton in the physical confrontation in the midfield.
After Kante felled Gerrard to the ground like cutting down a tree again, Benitez called Xabi Alonso over.
"Run to receive the ball!! Don't stay in place!! Don't let them get entangled!!"
"Speed!! Speed!!!"
"Pass the ball up!! Use the speed of the two wings!!!"
Benitez gestured constantly with his hands, and Xabi Alonso nodded frequently.